Here's why voters will vote twice on 1 ballot in the race to replace Mike Gallagher
WASHINGTON – Voters in northeast Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District will be asked to vote twice on the same ballot this summer and fall for their preferred House candidate to replace retired U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher.
Gov. Tony Evers' order for a special election in the district, made after Gallagher left Congress in mid-April before the end of his term, set the special election primary for Aug. 13 and general for Nov. 5 — the same dates as the regularly scheduled partisan primary and general elections.
That means the ballot for those voting in the 8th Congressional District race will look different. Here's what you need to know:
What will the ballot look like?
Even though the special and regularly scheduled elections for the same 8th Congressional District seat fall on the same dates, they are being treated on the ballot as different contests.
In fact, the winner of the special general election will assume office after the election and serve until Jan. 3, 2025 — for just under two months. After that, the winner of the regular general election will take office and serve a normal two-year term ending in January 2027.
Candidates for the House seat will need to file nomination papers for both the special and regular elections. Under the format, it is technically possible for one candidate to win the special election and another to win the regular election. It's also possible for different candidates to appear on the two ballots, depending on who files nomination papers.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission on Thursday sought to clarify the situation to voters. They voted to include the term dates on the ballot next to the respective elections. They also voted to provide elections clerks with an informational sheet to accompany each ballot that explains to voters why the 8th District seat is on the ballot twice and lets voters know they can vote in both contests.
Commissioners indicated they would approve the exact wording of the informational sheet and the format of the ballot at their next meeting in early June.
Why is there a special election anyway?
The confusion stems from Gallagher's decision to leave Congress before the end of his term.
For congressional offices, state law holds "that a vacancy in that office occurring between the 2nd Tuesday in April and the 2nd Tuesday in May in the year of the general election shall be filled at the partisan primary and general election."
Since U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher officially left Congress on April 20 — after that second Tuesday and before May — his vacancy will be filled in the August and November primary and general elections.
Who will be on the ballot?
There are currently three Republicans running to replace Gallagher: Former state Sen. Roger Roth, an Appleton Republican who ran for lieutenant governor in 2022; state Sen. Andre Jacque, a Republican from De Pere; and former gas station chain owner Tony Wied, who entered the race with the backing of former President Donald Trump.
OB-GYN Kristin Lyerly is the only Democrat in the race.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Voters will vote twice on 1 ballot in race to replace Mike Gallagher
