AB375: Bill Text

LRB-2615/1

TKK:jld

2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE

2017 Assembly BILL 375

June 6, 2017 - Introduced by Representatives C. Taylor, Kessler, Zamarripa, Fields, Young, Hesselbein, Sinicki, Berceau, Sargent, Goyke, Spreitzer, Brostoff, Zepnick, Pope, Crowley, Ohnstad, Considine and Wachs, cosponsored by Senators Ringhand, Larson, Vinehout and L. Taylor. Referred to Committee on Campaigns and Elections.

AB375,1,3 An Act to repeal 6.50 (1), 6.50 (2), 6.50 (2g) and 6.50 (2r); and to amend 6.50 (8) of the statutes; relating to: review and modification of voter registration lists.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill eliminates the Elections Commission's responsibility to change the registration status of electors who have not voted within the previous four years from eligible to ineligible under certain circumstances. Under current law, the commission must, after each general election, review the voter registration list maintained by each municipality and mail a notice of suspension of registration and application for continuation of registration to each elector who has not voted within the previous four years. If the elector does not respond to the notice in a timely manner, the commission must change the elector's registration status from eligible to ineligible. This bill also eliminates the authority of the commission to delegate these responsibilities to the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners of a municipality.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB375,1 Section 1. 6.50 (1) of the statutes is repealed.

AB375,2 Section 2. 6.50 (2) of the statutes is repealed.

AB375,3 Section 3. 6.50 (2g) of the statutes is repealed.

AB375,4 Section 4. 6.50 (2r) of the statutes is repealed.

AB375,5 Section 5. 6.50 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB375,2,21 6.50 (8) Any municipal governing body may direct the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners to arrange with the U.S. postal service pursuant to applicable federal regulations, to receive change of address information with respect to individuals residing within the municipality for revision of the elector registration list. If required by the U.S. postal service, the governing body may create a registration commission consisting of the municipal clerk or executive director of the board of election commissioners and 2 other electors of the municipality appointed by the clerk or executive director for the purpose of making application for address changes and processing the information received. The municipal clerk or executive director shall act as chairperson of the commission. Any authorization under this subsection shall be for a definite period or until the municipal governing body otherwise determines. The procedure shall apply uniformly to the entire municipality whenever used. The procedure shall provide for receipt of complete change of address information on an automatic basis, or not less often than once every 2 years during the 60 days preceding the close of registration for the partisan primary. If a municipality adopts the procedure for obtaining address corrections under this subsection, it need not comply with the procedure for mailing address verification cards under subs. (1) and (2).

AB375,2,22 (End)