Constitution of Wisconsin (2026 publisher edition) — Article VI

Publisher edition notice: The publisher identifies this complete compilation as published August 5, 2026 and last amended April 2025. Publisher context and source notes are preserved; later amendments have not been independently verified.

Article VI

ARTICLE VI. ADMINISTRATIVE Election of secretary of state, treasurer and attor- ney general; term. SECTION 1. [As amended April 1979] The qualified electors of this state, at the times and places of choosing the members of the legislature, shall in 1970 and ev- ery 4 years thereafter elect a secretary of state, treasurer and at- torney general who shall hold their offices for 4 years. [1977 J.R. 32, 1979 J.R. 3, vote April 1979] Secretary of state; 4-year term. SECTION 1m. [Created April 1967; repealed April 1979; see 1965 J.R. 80, 1967 J.R. 10 and 15, vote April 1967; 1977 J.R. 32, 1979 J.R. 3, vote April 1979.] Treasurer; 4-year term. Section 1n. [Created April 1967; repealed April 1979; see 1965 J.R. 80, 1967 J.R. 10 and 15, vote April 1967; 1977 J.R. 32, 1979 J.R. 3, vote April 1979.] Attorney general; 4-year term. Section 1p. [Created April 1967; repealed April 1979; see 1965 J.R. 80, 1967 J.R. 10 and 15, vote April 1967; 1977 J.R. 32, 1979 J.R. 3, vote April 1979.] Secretary of state; duties, compensation. SECTION 2. [As amended Nov. 1946] The secretary of state shall keep a fair record of the official acts of the legislature and executive department of the state, and shall, when required, lay the same and all matters relative thereto before either branch of the legis- lature. He shall perform such other duties as shall be assigned him by law. He shall receive as a compensation for his services yearly such sum as shall be provided by law, and shall keep his office at the seat of government. [1943 J.R. 60, 1945 J.R. 73, vote Nov. 1946] Treasurer and attorney general; duties, compensa- tion. SECTION 3. The powers, duties and compensation of the treasurer and attorney general shall be prescribed by law. County officers; election, terms, removal; vacan- cies. SECTION 4. [As amended Nov. 1882, April 1929, Nov. 1962, April 1965, April 1967, April 1972, April 1982, Nov. 1998, and April 2005] (1) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c) and sub. (2), coroners, registers of deeds, district attor- neys, and all other elected county officers, except judicial offi- cers, sheriffs, and chief executive officers, shall be chosen by the electors of the respective counties once in every 2 years. (b) Beginning with the first general election at which the Wisconsin Constitution updated by the Legislative Reference Bureau. Published August 5, 2026. Click for the Coverage of Annotations for the Annotated Constitution. Report errors at 608.504.5801 or lrb.legal@legis.wisconsin.gov.

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Published August 5, 2026. 11 ART. VII, §5, WIS. CONSTITUTION governor is elected which occurs after the ratification of this paragraph, sheriffs shall be chosen by the electors of the respec- tive counties, or by the electors of all of the respective counties comprising each combination of counties combined by the leg- islature for that purpose, for the term of 4 years and coroners in counties in which there is a coroner shall be chosen by the elec- tors of the respective counties, or by the electors of all of the re- spective counties comprising each combination of counties combined by the legislature for that purpose, for the term of 4 years. (c) Beginning with the first general election at which the president is elected which occurs after the ratification of this paragraph, district attorneys, registers of deeds, county clerks, and treasurers shall be chosen by the electors of the respective counties, or by the electors of all of the respective counties com- prising each combination of counties combined by the legisla- ture for that purpose, for the term of 4 years and surveyors in counties in which the office of surveyor is filled by election shall be chosen by the electors of the respective counties, or by the electors of all of the respective counties comprising each combination of counties combined by the legislature for that purpose, for the term of 4 years. (2) The offices of coroner and surveyor in counties having a population of 500,000 or more are abolished. Counties not hav- ing a population of 500,000 shall have the option of retaining the elective office of coroner or instituting a medical examiner system. Two or more counties may institute a joint medical ex- aminer system. (3) (a) Sheriffs may not hold any other partisan office. (b) Sheriffs may be required by law to renew their security from time to time, and in default of giving such new security their office shall be deemed vacant. (4) The governor may remove any elected county officer mentioned in this section except a county clerk, treasurer, or surveyor, giving to the officer a copy of the charges and an op- portunity of being heard. (5) All vacancies in the offices of coroner, register of deeds or district attorney shall be filled by appointment. The person appointed to fill a vacancy shall hold office only for the unex- pired portion of the term to which appointed and until a succes- sor shall be elected and qualified. (6) When a vacancy occurs in the office of sheriff, the va- cancy shall be filled by appointment of the governor, and the person appointed shall serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified. [1881 J.R. 16A, 1882 J.R. 3, 1882 c. 290, vote Nov. 1882; 1927 J.R. 24, 1929 J.R. 13, vote April 1929; 1959 J.R. 68, 1961 J.R. 64, vote Nov. 1962; 1963 J.R. 30, 1965 J.R. 5, vote April 1965; 1965 J.R. 61, 1967 J.R. 12, vote April 1967; 1969 J.R. 33, 1971 J.R. 21, vote April 1972; 1979 J.R. 38, 1981 J.R. 15, vote April 1982; 1995 J.R. 23, 1997 J.R. 18, vote Nov. 1998; 2003 J.R. 12, 2005 J.R. 2, vote April 2005]