1. (1) A judicial officer who properly files a certification of residence and has been issued an acknowledgement by the commission may, in lieu of providing their residential address on nomination papers or a declaration of candidacy, include the words “Residence Certified with WEC.” If “Residence Certified with WEC” has been included at least once on an appropriate form for an individual with a certificate on file, subsequent spaces requiring residence information may use an abbreviated version.
2. (2) If a judicial officer or judicial candidate does not include the words in sub. (1), that omission shall not invalidate the nomination paper, signature, line, circulator statement, or declaration of candidacy if the commission or filing officer can determine that the judicial officer or judicial candidate properly filed a certification of residence.
3. (3) If the space for a mailing address on a nomination paper is left blank for a judicial candidate that has filed a certificate of residence with the commission, the filing officer shall conclude that the mailing address is the same as the residential address for voting purposes that has been certified. If the mailing address is different than the residential address for voting purposes but still identifies the same residence, the candidate may leave the space blank or write “Residence Certified with WEC” in that space. Candidates may include a mailing address that is separate from the residence, and, if included, that information shall not be confidential.
4. (4) If a judicial candidate indicates on the application that he or she intends to run as a candidate for an office for which the commission is not the filing officer, the commission shall provide the appropriate filing officer with the information provided on the certification of residence. The commission shall also provide the same information to the county clerks covering the applicable districts.
5. (5) Filing officers may also contact the commission directly to determine whether a certification of residence has been filed.
6. (6) A judicial officer or a judicial candidate to fill the office of a judicial officer may only place “Residence Certified with WEC” on a nomination paper or declaration of candidacy if the information on file is accurate. If the information is inaccurate, including residence address, office sought, or election date, the judicial officer or judicial candidate must resubmit the form with updated information to qualify for the provisions of this chapter.

7. (7) If a filing officer receives nomination papers or a declaration of candidacy containing “Residence Certified with WEC,” and the filing officer has reason to believe that the certified address is no longer the current address, a filing officer may request:

   1. (a) That the judicial candidate or judicial officer confirm in writing that the address that was certified by the commission is still his or her residential address or,
   2. (b) That the judicial candidate or judicial officer file updated certification of residence with the commission pursuant to s. EL 19.02

History

History: CR 25-031: cr. Register December 2025 No. 840, eff. 1-1-26; correction in (2) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register December 2025 No. 840.