The Capitol Report

Candidates seeking to get their name on the fall ballot have gotten creative as they try to collect signatures on nomination papers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In normal circumstances, candidates would spend the time between April 15 to June 1 going door to door or showing up at festivals, farmer’s markets or the local library to collect enough signatures. The signature requirements range from a minimum of 200 for the Assembly to a minimum of 400 for the state Senate to a minimum of 1,000 for congressional candidates. The highest threshold is a minimum of 2,000 signatures for statewide office.

But social distancing requirements and Gov. Tony Evers’ stayat- home order ruled out things like going door to door. And the Wisconsin Elections Commission said it didn’t have authority to make changes to the number of signatures required on nomination papers. So candidates have found other methods of reaching out.

“The traditional route is not available, so that means getting creative,” said Rep. Evan Goyke, D-Milwaukee.

Goyke said he has circulated nomination papers to supporters by mail, a method WEC commissioner backed during a meeting earlier this month. At the meeting, commissioners reaffirmed the validity of so-called “single signed and circulated” nomination papers, in which a person signs as both a nominator and circulator.

But Goyke said he only wants to use the signatures he collects by mail as an extra boost after he clears the minimum threshold with signatures collected in person.

“There seems to be, every electoral cycle, some kind of nomination signature drama so my strategy is to get the requisite number myself and it’s going pretty well so far,” he said.

That strategy entails setting up a table on his front porch nearly every day with nomination papers, unused pens and sanitary equipment.

“It’s a lot of sitting on a Saturday morning shouting at my neighbors as they walked by to come over and sign,” Goyke said. “That involves a lot more direct outreach to friends and neighbors to ask them to take that proactive step. In place of me coming to them, it’s them coming to me.”

U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Town of Vermont, has taken that idea and supercharged it.

In an interview with WisPolitics.com, Pocan said his initial idea was similar to Goyke’s: put the nomination papers out on his porch and ask people to stop by and fill them out. But after a conversation with state Rep. Chris Taylor, D-Madison, he decided to scale up that operation.

“We started thinking in our campaign, ‘Well, what if we had a hundred people do that?’” he said. “If we can get even 10 signatures at 80 percent of the locations — 800 signatures is nearly enough alone to get on the ballot.”

Pocan’s campaign is moving forward with the idea tomorrow. Homes around the 2nd Congressional District, denoted by a “Sign Nomination Papers for Mark Pocan Here” yard sign, will have tables, nomination forms and a new pen for each signer.

Pocan says he hopes the yard signs, which have been up for a week in most cases, will be the primary driver of traffic to the locations. He also plans to put out the locations on social media and through an email campaign.

“We’re hoping it works out as a really powerful day of getting signatures,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher is opting for a more mobile approach.

The Green Bay Republican, in partnership with the Brown County Republican Party, is holding a drive-thru nomination paper signing event today.

A spokesman for Gallagher’s campaign said the event at the Brown County GOP headquarters in Allouez is designed to allow people to either sign or drop off nomination papers that have already been filled out for both Gallagher and other candidates.

Under the drive-thru process, people will provide their addresses and will be informed of candidates they can sign for. Papers for those candidates will be brought to their cars where they can then sign and drive away, all while practicing social distancing and good hygiene.

Both state parties are playing a role in helping candidates collect signatures as well.

Spokeswoman Alesha Guenther told WisPolitics.com the state GOP is providing an online database of nomination papers for the party’s state and federal candidates.

“People can go on and find their districts, find out who the elected officials are running for office in their districts, download the papers, sign them and send them in,” she said.

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin is also providing an online database. Spokeswoman Courtney Beyer told WisPolitics.com the state party is encouraging county party leaders to distribute the link to their members.

Of the dozen lawmakers and candidates who spoke to Wis-Politics.com for this story, most said the restrictions on face-toface interaction created an advantage for incumbents.

Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke was one of the few to disagree. The Kaukauna Republican said both state parties had “significant lists” of donors and supporters and highlighted the work they were doing to support their candidates.