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Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SB 509

Died at session end Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: extending voting rights to certain 17-year-old individuals and requiring a referendum.

Constitution wisconsin Elections Primary elections Referendum Voting Youth

  1. Introduced, stopped here
  2. Passes Senate, not reached
  3. Passes Assembly, not reached
  4. Governor signs, not reached
  5. Law, not reached

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau

Currently, in addition to other qualifications, an individual must be at least 18 years of age to vote at an election in this state. This bill allows an individual who is 17 years of age to vote at a primary if the individual will be 18 years of age on the date on which the election following the primary is held.

Because the bill extends the right to vote to a class of individuals beyond the class currently entitled to vote under the Wisconsin Constitution, the bill cannot become law unless, following enactment, it is approved by the majority of the votes cast at a statewide referendum to be held at the November 2026 general election.

Sponsors

Introduced by: Dassler-Alfheim (D) , Hesselbein (D) , L. Johnson (D) , Larson (D) , Ratcliff (D) , Roys (D) , Spreitzer (D)

19 cosponsors

Andraca (D) , Arney (D) , Brown (D) , Clancy (D) , Emerson (D) , Fitzgerald (D) , J. Jacobson (D) , Johnson (D) , Madison (D) , McCarville (D) , Moore Omokunde (D) , Palmeri (D) , Phelps (D) , Roe (D) , Snodgrass (D) , Stroud (D) , Stubbs (D) , Subeck (D) , Vining (D)

Full history

  1. Oct 9, 2025 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Roys, Dassler-Alfheim, L. Johnson, Larson, Ratcliff, Spreitzer and Hesselbein; cosponsored by Representatives Snodgrass, Palmeri, Andraca, Arney, Brown, Clancy, Emerson, Fitzgerald, Johnson, Madison, McCarville, Moore Omokunde, Phelps, Roe, Stroud and Stubbs

  2. Oct 9, 2025 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development

  3. Oct 10, 2025 · Senate

    Representative Subeck added as a cosponsor

  4. Feb 9, 2026 · Senate

    Representative J. Jacobson added as a cosponsor

  5. Mar 20, 2026 · Senate

    Representative Vining added as a cosponsor

  6. Mar 23, 2026 · Senate

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1