State desk
Ranks 28th of 50 on the Liberty Index.
Where Wisconsin stands on 12 policies, sourced from our 50-state trackers, with the latest headlines from 11 Wisconsin outlets.
12 policies · each strip is all 50 states, grouped by rule · Wisconsin in red. Free to cite with attribution.
A license is required; the state must issue a concealed-carry license to qualified applicants who complete training.
Wisconsin is 1 of 15 states with this rule
29 · Constitutional (Permitless) Carry6 · Restrictive: Permit Required
Wisconsin taxes individual income at graduated rates rising to 7.65 percent across 4 brackets, ranking 9 of 41 among the states that tax income.
Wisconsin is 1 of 26 states with this rule
8 · No Income Tax1 · Capital Gains Only15 · Single Flat Rate
Wisconsin charges 32.90 cents per gallon in state tax, ranking 20 of 50, which is near the middle nationally. With the federal 18.40 cents added, a driver pays 51.30 cents per gallon in tax. Diesel is taxed at 32.90 cents.
Wisconsin is 1 of 16 states with this rule
17 · Among the Highest17 · Among the Lowest
Abolished in 1853.
Wisconsin is 1 of 23 states with this rule
23 · Retains the death penalty4 · Retains it, executions paused
Right-to-work by statute since 2015.
Wisconsin is 1 of 26 states with this rule
24 · No Right-to-Work Law
State minimum wage matches the federal rate at $7.25.
Wisconsin is 1 of 12 states with this rule
30 · Above the Federal Floor3 · Below Federal, So Federal Applies5 · No State Minimum Wage Law
Voters must show an accepted photo ID; without one, a provisional ballot counts only if they verify identity within days.
Wisconsin is 1 of 10 states with this rule
14 · Photo ID Requested4 · Strict Non-Photo ID8 · ID Requested (No Photo)14 · No Document Required
Milwaukee, Racine, and statewide voucher programs plus a special-needs scholarship remain income-limited.
Wisconsin is 1 of 16 states with this rule
17 · Universal / Near-Universal17 · No Private-Choice Program
NCSL does not list Wisconsin among no-duty-to-retreat states, and does not state a rule for it here. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages. Verify with a primary source before relying on it.
Wisconsin is 1 of 12 states with this rule
31 · No Duty to Retreat7 · Recognized by Court Decision
Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail without giving a reason.
Wisconsin is 1 of 29 states with this rule
8 · All-Mail13 · Excuse Required
Wisconsin's unemployment rate was 3.2% in September 2026, seasonally adjusted, unchanged from August. It ranks 9th lowest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), down from 8th. A year earlier, in September 2025, it was 3.1%. The U.S. rate was 4.2%.
Data retrieved from the BLS public API on October 30, 2026. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.
Elected statewide to a four-year term.
Wisconsin is 1 of 43 states with this rule
5 · Appointed by the governor1 · Chosen by the legislature1 · Appointed by the state supreme court