Wisconsin Assembly Bill AJR17

Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/22/23
• Refer: 3/22/23
• Failed: 4/15/24

Caption

Calling on the governor to call a special election to fill a vacancy in the Office of Secretary of State.

Impact

If enacted, AJR17 would require Governor Tony Evers to exercise his powers as outlined in section 8.50 (4) (c) of the Wisconsin Statutes to call for an immediate special election. This could expedite the process of filling the Secretary of State position, which is responsible for numerous critical functions, including maintaining state government records and affixing the state's seal to official documents. The urgency of this resolution underscores the importance of having elected officials in key government roles to ensure accountability and representation.

Summary

AJR17 is a Joint Resolution introduced in the Wisconsin legislature that calls upon the governor to initiate a special election to fill a vacancy in the Office of Secretary of State. The vacancy arose following the resignation of Douglas J. La Follette on March 17, 2023. This resolution seeks to reaffirm the voters' right to elect their state constitutional officers, reflecting the democratic principle that elected positions should be filled through elections rather than appointments.

Contention

The resolution may lead to discussions regarding the appropriate use of gubernatorial powers and the timeframe deemed acceptable for filling such vacancies. Supporters of AJR17 are likely to argue that a special election upholds democratic processes, while potential detractors might raise concerns about the feasibility and urgency of conducting a special election, especially in terms of costs and logistics involved in the electoral process during a potentially tight timeframe.