Gov. Walker to sign bill affecting write-in candidates

MADISON (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker plans to sign into law a bill that would allow election officials to stop counting most names entered as write-in candidates.

Current law requires every vote be counted for the candidate it was intended, even if it's Mickey Mouse or Bart Simpson. Election officials say that can be a time-consuming, laborious process.

The bill Walker plans to sign on Wednesday would require in most cases that write-in candidates only be counted for registered candidates. If a certified candidate dies or withdraws before the election, all write-in votes would be counted.

Walker's staff sent lawmakers an email Tuesday notifying them that he planned to sign the bill and six others privately on Wednesday.