Elections for local offices are held the first Tuesday in April every year. Elected offices for the Town of Cottage Grove include the Town Board (one Chairperson and four Town Supervisors) and the Municipal Judge. Town Board terms run for two years and are staggered, with the Chairperson and Supervisors 1 and 2 elected in odd years, Supervisors 3 and 4 elected in even years. Town Supervisors are elected to a specific seat (1 - 4) but do not represent any particular district. The Municipal Judge term is 4 years, with the current term beginning on May 1, 2023.

Candidates for Town of Cottage Grove elected offices are selected by the Nomination Paper method. Please see ELIS-7 Ballot Access Checklist - Spring 2025 - Municipal-Nomination Papers  specific requirements.

Candidates may begin circulating nomination papers no earlier than December 1st in the year preceding the election. Completed EL-169 Nomination Paper for Nonpartisan Office (with at least 20 signatures of Town residents), a CF-1 Campaign Registration Statement, and EL-162 Declaration of Candidacy must all be turned in to the Clerk by 5:00 P.M. on the first Tuesday in January (or Wednesday, if Tuesday is a holiday).  If more than two candidates turn completed nomination papers for the same office, a primary election will be held on the third Tuesday of February.

Placement (order) of candidate names on the ballot will be determined by a random drawing at a time and location noticed by the Clerk.

In addition to the above, Municipal Judge candidates must also complete and submit a Statement of Economic Interests (SEI) to the Wisconsin Ethics Commission office using the website https://sei.wi.gov, no later than the third day following the deadline for nomination papers, or the candidate’s name will not appear on the ballot. Wis. Stat. §§ 8.10(5), 8.30(3), 19.43(4).

For more information on campaign finance reporting requirements, see https://ethics.wi.gov/Pages/CampaignFinance/CampaignFinance.aspx

For more information on running for local office, see the Non-Partisan Local Office area at https://elections.wi.gov/candidates/local-candidates#230548828-1556562227