May the same person run for more than one municipal office at the same election? For example, may a person run for the office of village president and village trustee in the same election?

Yes. The same person may run for more than one local nonpartisan office at the same election. However, if a person is elected to both offices, the law of compatibility prohibits holding two incompatible offices.

Wis. Stat. section 8.03(2m) provides that “A candidate may appear on the ballot for more than one local nonpartisan office at the same election.” See also In re Appeal of Board of Canvassers of City of Bayfield, 147 Wis.2d 467, 433 N.W.2d 266 (Ct. App. 1988), in which the court upheld the validity of ballots on which the same person received votes for mayor and alderperson. The court, however, noted that the law allows a person to hold only one of two incompatible offices, and that when a second incompatible office is taken, the first is vacated. Thus, for example, although the same person may run for village trustee and president, that person may hold only one of those offices. Presumably a person winning both seats would choose to be sworn in as village president, which would mean that the trustee’s office would be vacant. In such cases, the village board would fill the village trustee vacancy pursuant to Wis. Stat. sec. 17.24.