Overview

Municipal Clerks include City Clerks, Town Clerks, Village Clerks, and Executive Directors of City Election Commissions [1] and are the primary officials responsible for conducting elections in each municipality. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 5.02(1); “Manual” at 7. Municipal Clerks are elected by voters or appointed to their positions depending on the municipality type and local ordinance. “Manual” at 7. The Municipal Clerk’s responsibilities include equipping polling places, purchasing and maintaining election equipment, preparing and distributing ballots (including absentee ballots), and training election officials. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 7.15. Municipal Clerks are also responsible for operating absentee ballot sites, providing notice of total absentee ballots cast, and processing and transporting absentee ballots. Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 7.15(2m), 7.52, 6.89. After polls close, the Municipal Clerk posts a statement of the number of provisional ballots cast in the municipality that cannot be counted. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 7.15(15). In addition, Municipal Clerks oversee Election Inspectors and appoint one Election Inspector at each polling place to serve as Chief Election Inspector for that polling place. Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 7.30(6)(b), 7.36.

In municipalities containing two or more polling places, the Municipal Clerk also serves as a member of the Municipal Board of Canvassers along with two other qualified electors appointed by the Municipal Clerk. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 7.53(2)(a)(1). In this role, the Municipal Clerk canvasses and certifies elections for municipal offices or referenda on the ballot. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 7.53. The Municipal Clerk also supervises the delivery of the ballot bags containing all federal, state, county, and technical college ballots to the County Clerk no later than 4:00 p.m. on the day after the election. “Manual” at 138.

Election-Related Duties

The key duties of the Municipal Clerk are:

1. Conducting elections in each municipality. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 5.02(1); “Manual” at 7.
2. Operating and equipping polling places. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 7.15.
3. Training election officials. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 7.15.
4. Overseeing Election Inspectors and appointing Chief Election Inspectors at each polling place. Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 7.30(6)(b), 7.36.
5. Pre-processing absentee ballots. Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 7.15(2m), 7.52, 6.89.
6. Providing notice of the total absentee ballots cast. Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 7.15(2m), 7.52, 6.89.
7. Providing notice of the total provisional ballots cast but not counted. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 7.15(15).
8. Serving as a member of the Municipal Board of Canvassers in municipalities containing two or more polling places and canvassing and certifying municipal election results in that role. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 7.53.
9. Supervising the delivery of the ballot bags containing all federal, state, county, and technical college ballots to the County Clerk. “Manual” at 138.

Selection and Vacancy Information

• **Elected or Appointed: ****Municipal Clerks are elected or appointed, depending on the municipality type and local ordinance. In towns, Municipal Clerks are elected or, if the Town Board enacts an ordinance, they are appointed by the majority of the members of the Town Board. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 60.30. In villages, they are elected. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 61.19. In cities, they are appointed by the Mayor or Common Council or are elected by the voters. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 62.09(3)(b).
• Term of Office: Generally, Municipal Clerks are elected or appointed for a two-year term. Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 60.30(4), 61.19, 62.09(5)(b).
• Qualifications: In towns, the Municipal Clerk must be an elector of the town. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 60.30(2)(a). In villages, the Municipal Clerk must be an elector of the village. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 61.19. In cities, the Municipal Clerk must be a U.S. citizen and an elector of the city. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 62.09(2).
• Vacancy: In towns, the Deputy Clerk performs the Municipal Clerk’s duties in the case of a vacancy, and if there is no Deputy Clerk, the town board appoints a replacement. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 60.30(5). In villages, in the case of a vacancy, the Deputy Clerk performs the duties of the Municipal Clerk until the Village Board appoints a new Municipal Clerk. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 61.19. In cities, the Deputy Clerk performs the Municipal Clerk’s duties in the case of a vacancy. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 62.09(11)(i).