City Clerk John Moe (left) with Council President Jeremy Slowinksi. (City-Times photo)

For the City-Times

Stevens Point City Clerk John Moe says rules for the August 12 Partisan Primary are different than those of the November General Election. 

In November voters can vote for individual candidates of any political party. Tuesday’s Partisan Primary is a “party activity” in which voters assist a single political party in choosing its nominees for the general election.

Wisconsin has had an “open primary” since the early 1900s.

“Our open primary system allows voters to receive a ballot without having to publicly declare their party affiliation. Voters choose their party preference in the privacy of the voting booth,” Moe said. “Therefore, voters cannot crossover and vote for candidates representing different political parties.”

“If a voter makes a mistake and votes for candidates from different parties, they can ask a poll worker for a new ballot,” he added.

The offices that will appear on Tuesday’s partisan primary ballot are:  Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Congress, Representative to the Assembly, Sheriff, Coroner, and Clerk of Circuit Court.

City of Stevens Point voters with questions about Wisconsin’s partisan primary should contact Moe’s office at 715-346-1569 or see the city’s website at stevenspoint.com.