Wisconsin towns facing clerk shortages seek an easier way to hire election officials
A couple of years ago, Lorraine Beyersdorff was ready to retire from her job as clerk of the town of Texas, Wisconsin, after 34 years of service.
“I will not run again,” she said in a community Facebook post in late 2022. “Nomination papers can be circulated for signatures beginning December 1st. If interested, call me for more information.”
About a dozen people thanked her for a job well done. But no one filed nomination papers. Nobody called. And because of a quirk in Wisconsin law, no one from outside of the 1,600-person town could take the job.
State law requires all elected town clerks — and the appointees who replace clerks departing mid-term — to live in the town where they serve.
https://wisconsinwatch.org/2025/05/wisconsin-town-clerk-election-law-appoint-vote-candidate-job/
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