7.50 Elector intent.

393 words·~2 min read·/wi/chapter-7/7-50

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(1)Requirements and restrictions.

(a)Except as provided in s. 7.15

(6), only ballots provided by the person authorized to have them printed shall be cast and counted in any election.

(b)When an elector casts more votes for any office or measure than he or she is entitled to cast at an election, all the elector’s votes for that office or measure are invalid and the elector is deemed to have voted for none of them, except as provided in par.

(c)and sub.

(d). If an elector casts less votes for any office or measure than he or she is entitled to cast at an election, all votes cast by the elector shall be counted but no vote shall be counted more than once.

(c)If an elector casts more than one vote for the same candidate for the same office, the first vote is valid and the remaining votes are invalid.

(d)Whenever an electronic voting system is used at a polling place in a partisan primary, and the same ballot is utilized to cast votes for candidates of more than one recognized political party or candidates of a party and independent candidates, if an elector designates a preference for a party or for independent candidates, only votes cast within that preference category may be counted. If an elector does not designate a preference and makes a mark opposite candidates of more than one recognized political party or opposite a candidate in the independent candidates’ column and a candidate of a recognized political party, no votes cast by the elector for any candidate for partisan office are valid. Votes for other candidates and votes on ballot questions, if any, shall be counted if otherwise valid.

(2)Ascertainment of intent. All ballots cast at an election which bear the initials of 2 inspectors shall be counted for the person or referendum question for whom or for which they were intended, so far as the electors’ intent can be ascertained from the ballots notwithstanding informality or failure to fully comply with other provisions of chs. 5 to 12 . To determine intent:

(b)A ballot cast without any marks may not be counted. A ballot without a mark at the top of a party column may be counted only for persons for whom marks are applicable.