LRB-1034/1
RJM&JTK:kmg:jf
2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE
January 16, 2001 - Introduced by Representatives Ladwig, Freese, Krawczyk,
McCormick, Starzyk, Albers, Duff, Grothman, Hahn, Hoven, Huebsch,
Jeskewitz, Kedzie, Kestell, F. Lasee, M. Lehman, Montgomery, Musser, Nass,
Stone, Townsend, Urban, Vrakas, Wade, Gunderson
and Ott, cosponsored by
Senators Farrow, Cowles, Roessler and Schultz. Referred to Committee on
Campaigns and Elections.
AB12,1,3 1An Act to amend 6.79 (1), 6.79 (2), 6.82 (1) (a) and 10.02 (3) (a) of the statutes;
2relating to: requiring individuals to present identification in order to vote at
3a polling place.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Currently, before being permitted to vote at any polling place, an elector must
provide or confirm his or her name and address. This bill requires an elector, in
addition, to present a valid Wisconsin driver's license issued to the elector that
contains a photograph of the license holder, a valid Wisconsin identification card
issued to the elector, or a copy of the elector's birth certificate. This bill does not affect
the absentee voting procedure.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB12, s. 1 4Section 1. 6.79 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB12,2,225 6.79 (1) Municipalities without registration. Except as provided in sub. (6)
6(a), where there is no registration, before being permitted to vote, each person shall
7state his or her full name and address and present to the officials a valid operator's

1license issued to the person under ch. 343 that contains a photograph of the license
2holder, a valid identification card issued to the person under s. 343.50, or a copy of
3the person's birth certificate
. The officials shall enter each name and address on a
4poll list in the same order as the votes are cast. If the residence of the elector does
5not have a number, the election officials shall, in the appropriate space, enter "none".
6Alternatively, the municipal clerk may maintain a poll list consisting of the full name
7and address of electors compiled from previous elections. Whenever an elector
8appears to vote, the officials shall verify the correctness of the elector's name and
9address, and shall enter a serial number next to the name of the elector in the order
10that the votes are cast, beginning with the number one. If the name and address of
11an elector do not appear on the prepared poll list, the officials shall enter the name,
12address and serial number of the elector at the bottom of the list. Before being
13permitted to vote, each elector shall present to the officials a valid operator's license
14issued to the elector under ch. 343 that contains a photograph of the license holder,
15a valid identification card issued to the elector under s. 343.50, or a copy of the
16elector's birth certificate.
The officials may require any elector to provide
17identification, including acceptable proof of residence, or to have another elector
18corroborate his or her information in accordance with the procedure specified in s.
196.55 (2) (b) before permitting the elector to vote. An elector who presents an
20identification card under sub. (6) (a) is not required to provide separate
21identification.
The officials shall maintain a separate list of those persons voting
22under ss. 6.15 and 6.24.
AB12, s. 2 23Section 2. 6.79 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB12,3,1024 6.79 (2) Municipalities with registration. Except as provided in sub. (6) (b),
25where there is registration, each person, before receiving a voting number, shall state

1his or her full name and address and present to the officials a valid operator's license
2issued to the person under ch. 343 that contains a photograph of the license holder,
3a valid identification card issued to the person under s. 343.50, or a copy of the
4person's birth certificate
. Upon the prepared registration list, after the name of each
5elector, the officials shall enter the serial number of the vote as it is polled, beginning
6with number one. Each elector shall receive a slip bearing the same serial number.
7A separate list shall be maintained for electors who are voting under s. 6.15, 6.29 or
86.55 (2) or (3) and electors who are reassigned from another polling place under s.
95.25 (5) (b). Each such elector shall have his or her full name, address and serial
10number likewise entered and shall be given a slip bearing such number.
AB12, s. 3 11Section 3. 6.82 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB12,4,412 6.82 (1) (a) When any inspectors are informed that an elector is at the entrance
13to the polling place who as a result of disability is unable to enter the polling place,
14they shall permit the elector to be assisted in marking or punching a ballot by any
15individual selected by the elector, except the elector's employer or an agent of that
16employer or an officer or agent of a labor organization which represents the elector.
17The individual selected by the elector shall provide all information necessary for the
18elector to obtain a ballot under s. 6.79 (1) or (2).
The inspectors shall then issue a
19ballot to the individual selected by the elector and shall accompany the individual
20to the polling place entrance where the assistance is to be given. If the ballot is a
21paper ballot, the assisting individual shall fold the ballot after the ballot is marked
22or punched by the assisting individual. The assisting individual shall then
23immediately take the ballot into the polling place and give the ballot to an inspector.
24The inspector shall distinctly announce that he or she has "a ballot offered by ....
25(stating person's name), an elector who, as a result of disability, is unable to enter the

1polling place without assistance". The inspector shall then ask, "Does anyone object
2to the reception of this ballot?" If no objection is made, the inspectors shall record
3the elector's name under s. 6.79 and deposit the ballot in the ballot box, and shall
4make a notation on the registration or poll list: "Ballot received at poll entrance".
AB12, s. 4 5Section 4. 10.02 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB12,4,146 10.02 (3) (a) Upon entering the polling place, an elector shall give his or her
7name and address and present a valid Wisconsin driver's license, a valid Wisconsin
8identification card, or a copy of the elector's birth certificate
before being permitted
9to vote. Where ballots are distributed to electors, the initials of 2 inspectors must
10appear on the ballot. Upon being permitted to vote, the elector shall retire alone to
11a voting booth or machine and cast his or her ballot, except that an elector who is a
12parent or guardian may be accompanied by the elector's minor child or minor ward.
13An election official may inform the elector of the proper manner for casting a vote,
14but the official may not in any manner advise or indicate a particular voting choice.
AB12,4,1515 (End)
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