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Wisconsin will cast its 2024 electoral votes in line with federal law, not state law
Wisconsin's 2024 slate of 10 Republican electors will meet on Dec. 17 as required under federal law to cast the state's Electoral College votes for President-elect Donald Trump, not the day earlier as called for under state law.
Associated Press
December 12, 2024
The Wisconsin State Capitol dome is seen on June 22, 2023. The state's 10 Republican presidential electors will follow federal law and cast their votes for President-Elect Donald Trump on Dec. 17 as required by federal law instead of the Dec. 16 date set by state law. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Republicans will meet on Dec. 17 as required under federal law to cast the state’s Electoral College votes for President-elect Donald Trump, not a day earlier as state law calls for, after elections officials and the state Department of Justice agreed that is the proper day to do it.
The Wisconsin Republican Party sued on Dec. 6 seeking an order to resolve which of the two dates it should meet. The state Department of Justice and the Wisconsin Elections Commission agreed that the votes should be cast on Dec. 17 in accordance with federal law. The Justice Department asked that the case be dismissed.
U.S. District Judge James Pederson dismissed the case on Dec. 12 because everyone agreed that federal law should be followed, essentially making the lawsuit moot.
State law calls for the electors to meet on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December. But federal law requires the meeting to be the first Tuesday following the second Wednesday.
The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature, recognizing the conflict, attempted to bring the state into compliance with federal law last session. The Senate passed the bill 31-1, but it never got a vote in the Assembly.
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