Getting 60 signatures can’t be that hard, can it?

Really?!?!?

Fun fact: the new rules to get on the ballot as a candidate for Chair of the WI Dem party are more particular than the requirements to get on the ballot for U.S. Senate!

Rowan Viva Facebook

For the record, getting on the ballot as an official candidate for Chair of the Democratic Party of Wiscosnin requires just 60 signatures, with at least ten signatures from at least six of Wisconsin’s Congressional districts (SOURCE).

For the record, I’m not sure why Rowan Viva thinks the new rules for getting on the ballot as a candidate for Chair of the DPW are more “particular” than the requirements for getting on the ballot as a candidate for the U.S. Senate. In fact, here’s a chart outlining how easy it is to become a candidate for DPW Chair as opposed to becoming a candidate for the U.S. Senate.


Conditions required for ballot access for DPW Chair & U.S. Senate

DPW Chair U.S. Senate
Minimum of 60 signatures needed 2,000-4,000 signatures required
Signatories must be party members in good standing Signatories must be qualified electors
Signatures cannot be collected too early & must be submitted by a deadline Signatures cannot be collected too early & must be submitted by a deadline


Looking at all the requirements for gaining ballot access as a candidate for DPW Chair and as a candidate for the U.S. Senate, I’m failing to see how the rules for getting on the ballot as a candidate for DPW Chair are more particular than the rules for getting on the ballot as a U.S. Senate candidate.

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7 thoughts on “Getting 60 signatures can’t be that hard, can it?

  1. To get on the Ballot for US Senate you can get 2000 signatures from only people in oostburg and you qualify, yet to get on the ballot for DPW officer you need to travel the state and get qualifiying signatures from people all over …..yes it is! I get that its a rule but it is a dumb rule that should really be changed….it vastly favors the sitting leader.

    1. Rules always favor the sitting leadership. I certainly agree that the rule should be changed. If you can’t get support from across the whole state you won’t win the election, but in a party that stands for giving everyone a voice and opening up the democratic system it seems like it is no reach to let them be heard and get on the ballot. Why is it only people with the time and resources to travel all over the state deserve the chance to be on the ballot? Regular working people should have a voice as well

    2. To add to my earlier comment, I’d also like to note that if it’s that hard for Rowan Viva (r any other candidate) to get 10 signatures from six different Congressional districts, then perhaps she doesn’t have the organizing chops that being Party Chair would necessitate.

      If Viva’s as “grassroots” as she claims, getting 60 signatures shouldn’t be an issue.

  2. A party member in good standing is someone who currently is a dues memeber to a local democratic party organization. Most liberals/progressives may support most of the party positions, but are not dues paying members. Dues paying members are much harder to find than just qualified electors.

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