Absentee voting in residential care apartment complexes and adult family
homes
Currently, municipalities must send two special voting deputies (one
designated by each major political party if the party wishes) to conduct absentee
voting in nursing homes. Municipalities may also send the deputies to conduct
absentee voting in community-based residential facilities and retirement homes
that qualify for the service in accordance with standards prescribed by law. This
substitute amendment permits municipal clerks and boards of election
commissioners to send two special voting deputies to conduct absentee voting in

adult family homes and residential care apartment complexes that qualify for the
service in accordance with similar standards prescribed by law.
Currently, with limited exceptions, an elector must be registered in order to
vote in an election in this state. In order to register, an elector must provide certain
information on a registration form and affirm the correctness of the information with
his or her signature. If an elector is unable, due to physical disability, to sign his or
her registration form, the elector may have another person sign on his or her behalf.
An elector who has not previously registered may register at the polling place serving
his or her residence on election day. Currently, when appearing to vote, an elector
must provide his or her name and address to the election officials and in some cases
must also provide proof of residence. Currently, an absentee elector may vote by mail
or at the office of the municipal clerk of the municipality where he or she resides. The
names of registered electors are checked against a poll list consisting of the names
of registered electors and the names of other electors are entered on a separate list.
Signature requirement for electors voting in person
This substitute amendment provides, with limited exceptions, that an elector
must also enter his or her signature on the poll list or other separate list when voting
in person at an election. Under the substitute amendment, the election officials or,
if an elector votes at the office of the municipal clerk or board of election
commissioners, the municipal clerk or a deputy, must require each elector to enter
his or her signature on the poll list or other separate list before being permitted to
vote. If an elector registers at a polling place on election day, the officials must
require the elector to enter the elector's signature on a separate list. The substitute
amendment also provides that if an elector, due to physical disability, authorized
another elector to sign his or her registration form on his or her behalf, the elector
is exempt from the signature requirement. In addition, if an elector signed his or her
registration form but claims to be unable, due to physical disability, to enter his or
her signature on the poll list or other separate list when voting at a particular
election, the substitute amendment permits the election officials or the municipal
clerk or board of election commissioners or a deputy to waive the signature
requirement if they find that, due to physical disability, the elector is unable to enter
his or her signature.
Durational residency requirement for voting
Under current law, with certain limited exceptions, an individual must be a
resident of this state and of the municipality and ward, if any, where the elector is
voting for ten days before an election to be eligible to vote in the election. This
substitute amendment increases this durational residency requirement to 28 days.
Under the substitute amendment, if an elector who does not meet this residency
requirement formerly resided at another location in this state within the 27-day
period preceding an election, the elector may vote at that location if the elector is
otherwise qualified to vote at that location.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB6-SSA1, s. 1
1Section 1. 5.02 (6m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB6-SSA1,7,32 5.02 (6m) "Identification" means any of the following documents issued to an
3individual:
SB6-SSA1,7,54 (a) One of the following documents that is unexpired or if expired has expired
5after the date of the most recent general election:
SB6-SSA1,7,66 1. An operator's license issued under ch. 343.
SB6-SSA1,7,77 2. An identification card issued under s. 343.50.
SB6-SSA1,7,88 3. An identification card issued by a U.S. uniformed service.
SB6-SSA1,7,99 4. A U.S. passport.
SB6-SSA1,7,1110 (b) A certificate of U.S. naturalization that was issued not earlier than 2 years
11before the date of an election at which it is presented.
SB6-SSA1,7,1212 (c) An unexpired driving receipt under s. 343.11.
SB6-SSA1,7,1313 (d) An unexpired identification card receipt issued under s. 343.50.
SB6-SSA1,7,1514 (e) An identification card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in this
15state.
SB6-SSA1, s. 2 16Section 2. 5.02 (16c) of the statutes is created to read:
SB6-SSA1,7,2117 5.02 (16c) "Proof of identification" means identification that contains the name
18of the individual to whom the document was issued, which name conforms to the
19individual's voter registration form, if the individual is required to register to vote,
20and that contains a photograph of the individual, except as authorized in s. 343.14
21(3m) or 343.50 (4g).
SB6-SSA1, s. 3 22Section 3. 5.35 (6) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB6-SSA1,7,2523 5.35 (6) (a) 2. A copy of the election fraud laws provided in s. 12.13 (1) and (3)
24(intro), (d), (f), (g), (k), (L), (o), (q), (r), (u), (v) and (x), together with the applicable
25penalties provided in s. 12.60 (1).
SB6-SSA1, s. 4
1Section 4 . 5.35 (6) (a) 4a. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB6-SSA1,8,42 5.35 (6) (a) 4a. Instructions prescribed by the board for electors for whom proof
3of identification is required under s. 6.79 (2) or for whom
proof of residence under s.
46.34 is required under s. 6.55 (2).
SB6-SSA1, s. 5 5Section 5. 6.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB6-SSA1,8,86 6.02 (1) Every U.S. citizen age 18 or older who has resided in an election district
7or ward for 10 28 days before any election where the citizen offers to vote is an eligible
8elector.
SB6-SSA1, s. 6 9Section 6. 6.02 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB6-SSA1,8,1410 6.02 (2) Any U.S. citizen age 18 or older who moves within this state later than
1110 28 days before an election shall vote at his or her previous ward or election district
12if the person is otherwise qualified. If the elector can comply with the 10-day 28-day
13residence requirement at the new address and is otherwise qualified, he or she may
14vote in the new ward or election district.
SB6-SSA1, s. 7 15Section 7. 6.10 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB6-SSA1,8,2416 6.10 (3) When an elector moves from one ward to another or his or her residence
17from one ward or municipality to another ward or municipality within the state after
18the last registration day but
at least 10 28 days before the election, the elector may
19vote in and be considered a resident of the new ward or municipality where residing
20upon transferring registration under s. 6.40 (1) or upon registering at the proper
21polling place or other registration location in the new ward or municipality under s.
226.55 (2) or 6.86 (3) (a) 2. If the elector moves within 10 his or her residence later than
2328
days of before an election, the elector shall vote in the elector's old former ward
24or municipality if otherwise qualified to vote there.
SB6-SSA1, s. 8 25Section 8. 6.10 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB6-SSA1,9,11
16.10 (4) The residence of an unmarried person sleeping in one ward and
2boarding in another is the place where the person sleeps. The residence of an
3unmarried person in a transient vocation, a teacher or a student who boards at
4different places for part of the week, month, or year, if one of the places is the
5residence of the person's parents, is the place of the parents' residence unless through
6registration or similar act the person elects to establish a residence elsewhere. If the
7person has no parents and if the person has not registered elsewhere, the person's
8residence shall be at the place which that the person considered his or her residence
9in preference to any other for at least 10 28 days before an election. If this place is
10within the municipality, the person is entitled to all the privileges and subject to all
11the duties of other citizens having their residence there, including voting.
SB6-SSA1, s. 9 12Section 9. 6.15 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB6-SSA1,9,1813 6.15 (1) Qualifications. Any person who was or who is a qualified an eligible
14elector under ss. 6.02 and 6.03, except that he or she has been a resident of this state
15for less than 10 28 days prior to the date of the presidential election, is entitled to vote
16for the president and vice president but for no other offices. The fact that the person
17was not registered to vote in the state from which he or she moved does not prevent
18voting in this state if the elector is otherwise qualified.
SB6-SSA1, s. 10 19Section 10. 6.15 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB6-SSA1,9,2520 6.15 (2) (a) The elector's request for the application form may be made in person
21to the municipal clerk of the municipality where the person resides. Application may
22be made not sooner than 9 27 days nor later than 5 p.m. on the day before the election,
23or may be made at the proper polling place in the ward or election district in which
24the elector resides. If an elector makes application before election day, the
25application form shall be returned to the municipal clerk after the affidavit has been

1signed in the presence of the clerk or any officer authorized by law to administer
2oaths. The affidavit shall be in substantially the following form:
SB6-SSA1,10,33 STATE OF WISCONSIN
SB6-SSA1,10,44 County of ....
SB6-SSA1,10,155 I, ...., do solemnly swear that I am a citizen of the United States; that prior to
6establishing Wisconsin residence, my legal residence was in the .... (town) (village)
7(city) of ...., state of ...., residing at .... (street address); that on the day of the next
8presidential election, I shall be at least 18 years of age and that I have been a legal
9resident of the state of Wisconsin since ...., .... (year), residing at .... (street address),
10in the [.... ward of the .... aldermanic district of] the (town) (village) (city) of ...., county
11of ....; that I have resided in the state less than 10 28 days, that I am qualified to vote
12for president and vice president at the election to be held November ...., .... (year),
13that I am not voting at any other place in this election and that I hereby make
14application for an official presidential ballot, in accordance with section 6.15 of the
15Wisconsin statutes.
SB6-SSA1,10,1616 Signed ....
SB6-SSA1,10,1717 P.O. Address ....
SB6-SSA1,10,1818 Subscribed and sworn to before me this .... day of ...., .... (year)
SB6-SSA1,10,1919 ....(Name)
SB6-SSA1,10,2020 ....(Title)
SB6-SSA1, s. 11 21Section 11 . 6.15 (2) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
SB6-SSA1,11,322 6.15 (2) (bm) Except as authorized in s. 6.79 (7), when making application in
23person at the office of the municipal clerk, each applicant shall present proof of
24identification. If any document presented by the applicant is not proof of residence
25under s. 6.34, the applicant shall also present proof of residence under s. 6.34. The

1clerk shall verify that the name on the proof of presented by the elector conforms to
2the name on the elector's application and shall verify that any photograph appearing
3on that document reasonably resembles the elector.
SB6-SSA1, s. 12 4Section 12. 6.15 (2) (d) 1r. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB6-SSA1,11,155 6.15 (2) (d) 1r. Upon proper completion of the application and cancellation card,
6the municipal clerk shall require the elector to provide proof of residence under s.
76.34. If the elector cannot provide proof of residence, the elector may have his or her
8residence corroborated in a statement that is signed by another elector of the
9municipality and that contains the current street address of the corroborating
10elector. If the residence is corroborated by another elector, that elector shall then
11provide proof of residence under s. 6.34
permit the elector to cast his or her ballot for
12president and vice president
. The elector shall then mark the ballot in the clerk's
13presence in a manner that will not disclose his or her vote. The elector shall then fold
14the ballot so as to conceal his or her vote. The clerk or elector shall then place the
15ballot in an envelope furnished by the clerk.
SB6-SSA1, s. 13 16Section 13. 6.15 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB6-SSA1,12,917 6.15 (3) Procedure at polling place. An eligible elector may appear at the
18polling place for the ward or election district where he or she resides and make
19application for a ballot under sub. (2). Except as otherwise provided in this
20subsection, an elector who casts a ballot under this subsection shall follow the same
21procedure required for casting a ballot at the municipal clerk's office under sub. (2).
22The inspectors shall perform the duties of the municipal clerk, except that the
23inspectors shall return the cancellation card under sub. (2) (b) to the municipal clerk
24and the clerk shall forward the card as provided in sub. (2) (c) if required. Upon
25proper completion of the application and cancellation card and submittal of proof of

1residence under s. 6.34 or providing corroboration of residence
verification of the
2proof of identification and proof of residence, whenever required, as provided in sub.
3(2) (bm)
, the inspectors shall permit the elector to cast his or her ballot for president
4and vice president. The elector shall mark the ballot and, unless the ballot is utilized
5with an electronic voting system, the elector shall fold the ballot, and deposit the
6ballot into the ballot box or give it to the inspector. The inspector shall deposit it
7directly into the ballot box. Voting machines or ballots utilized with electronic voting
8systems may only be used by electors voting under this section if they permit voting
9for president and vice president only.
SB6-SSA1, s. 14 10Section 14. 6.18 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB6-SSA1,13,2 116.18 Former residents. If ineligible to qualify as an elector in the state to
12which the elector has moved, any former qualified Wisconsin elector may vote an
13absentee ballot in the ward of the elector's prior residence in any presidential election
14occurring within 24 months after leaving Wisconsin by requesting an application
15form and returning it, properly executed, to the municipal clerk of the elector's prior
16Wisconsin residence. When requesting an application form for an absentee ballot,
17the applicant shall specify the applicant's eligibility for only the presidential ballot.
18Unless application is made under s. 6.86 (1) (ac), or the applicant is exempted from
19providing proof of identification under s. 6.87 (4) (b) 2. or 3., or the applicant is a
20military or overseas elector, the elector shall enclose a copy of his or her proof of
21identification or any authorized substitute document with his or her application.
22The municipal clerk shall verify that the name on the proof of identification conforms
23to the name on the application. The clerk shall not issue a ballot to an elector who
24is required to enclose a copy of proof of identification or an authorized substitute
25document with his or her application unless the copy is enclosed and the proof is

1verified by the clerk.
The application form shall require the following information
2and be in substantially the following form:
SB6-SSA1,13,63 This form shall be returned to the municipal clerk's office. Application must be
4received in sufficient time for ballots to be mailed and returned prior to any
5presidential election at which applicant wishes to vote. Complete all statements in
6full.
SB6-SSA1,13,77 APPLICATION FOR PRESIDENTIAL
SB6-SSA1,13,88 ELECTOR'S ABSENTEE BALLOT.
SB6-SSA1,13,99 (To be voted at the Presidential Election
SB6-SSA1,13,1010 on November ...., .... (year)
SB6-SSA1,13,1911 I, .... hereby swear or affirm that I am a citizen of the United States, formerly
12residing at .... in the .... ward .... aldermanic district (city, town, village) of ...., County
13of .... for 10 28 days prior to leaving the State of Wisconsin. I, .... do solemnly swear
14or affirm that I do not qualify to register or vote under the laws of the State of ....(State
15you now reside in) where I am presently residing. A citizen must be a resident of:
16State ....(Insert time) County ....(Insert time) City, Town or Village ....(Insert time),
17in order to be eligible to register or vote therein. I further swear or affirm that my
18legal residence was established in the State of ....(the State where you now reside)
19on .... Month .... Day .... Year.
SB6-SSA1,13,2020 Signed ....
SB6-SSA1,13,2121 Address ....(Present address)
SB6-SSA1,13,2222 ....(City) ....(State)
SB6-SSA1,13,2323 Subscribed and sworn to before me this .... day of .... .... (year)
SB6-SSA1,13,2424 ....(Notary Public, or other officer authorized to administer oaths.)
SB6-SSA1,13,2525 ....(County)
SB6-SSA1,14,1
1My Commission expires
SB6-SSA1,14,22 MAIL BALLOT TO:
SB6-SSA1,14,33 NAME ....
SB6-SSA1,14,44 ADDRESS ....
SB6-SSA1,14,55 CITY .... STATE .... ZIP CODE ....
SB6-SSA1,14,10 6Penalties for Violations. Whoever swears falsely to any absent elector affidavit
7under this section may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than
86 months or both. Whoever intentionally votes more than once in an election may
9be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 3 years and 6 months
10or both.
SB6-SSA1,14,1111 ....(Municipal Clerk)
SB6-SSA1,14,1212 ....(Municipality)
SB6-SSA1, s. 15 13Section 15. 6.22 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB6-SSA1,14,1614 6.22 (7) Extension of privilege. This section applies to all military electors for
1510 28 days after the date of discharge from a uniformed service or termination of
16services or employment of individuals specified in sub. (1) (b) 1. to 4.
SB6-SSA1, s. 16 17Section 16. 6.29 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB6-SSA1,14,2218 6.29 (1) No names may be added to a registration list for any election after the
19close of registration, except as authorized under this section or s. 6.55 (2) or 6.86 (3)
20(a) 2. Any person whose name is not on the registration list but who is otherwise a
21qualified elector is entitled to vote at the election upon compliance with this section,
22if the person complies with all other requirements for voting at the polling place
.
SB6-SSA1, s. 17 23Section 17. 6.29 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB6-SSA1,15,1924 6.29 (2) (a) Any qualified elector of a municipality who has not previously filed
25a registration form or whose name does not appear on the registration list of the

1municipality may register after the close of registration but not later than 5 p.m. or
2the close of business, whichever is later, on the day before an election at the office of
3the municipal clerk and at the office of the clerk's agent if the clerk delegates
4responsibility for electronic maintenance of the registration list to an agent under
5s. 6.33 (5) (b). The elector shall complete, in the manner provided under s. 6.33 (2),
6a registration form containing all information required under s. 6.33 (1). The
7registration form shall also contain the following certification: "I, ...., hereby certify
8that, to the best of my knowledge, I am a qualified elector, having resided at ... for
9at least 10 28 days immediately preceding this election, and I have not voted at this
10election". The elector shall also provide proof of residence under s. 6.34.
11Alternatively, if the elector is unable to provide proof of residence under s. 6.34, the
12information contained in the registration form shall be corroborated in a statement
13that is signed by any other elector of the municipality and that contains the current
14street address of the corroborating elector. The corroborating elector shall then
15provide proof of residence under s. 6.34.
If the elector is registering after the close
16of registration for the general election and the elector presents a valid an unexpired
17driver's license issued by another state, the municipal clerk or agent shall record on
18a separate list the name and address of the elector, the name of the state, and the
19license number and expiration date of the license.
SB6-SSA1, s. 18 20Section 18. 6.33 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB6-SSA1,16,2521 6.33 (1) The board shall prescribe the format, size, and shape of registration
22forms. All forms shall be printed on cards and each item of information shall be of
23uniform font size, as prescribed by the board. The municipal clerk shall supply
24sufficient forms to meet voter registration needs. The forms shall be designed to
25obtain from each applicant information as to name; date; residence location;

1citizenship; date of birth; age; the number of a current and valid operator's license
2issued to the elector under ch. 343 or the last 4 digits of the elector's social security
3account number; whether the applicant has resided within the ward or election
4district for at least 10 28 days; whether the applicant has been convicted of a felony
5for which he or she has not been pardoned, and if so, whether the applicant is
6incarcerated, or on parole, probation, or extended supervision; whether the applicant
7is disqualified on any other ground from voting; and whether the applicant is
8currently registered to vote at any other location. The form shall include a space for
9the applicant's signature and the signature of any corroborating elector. The form
10shall include a space to enter the name of any special registration deputy under s.
116.26 or 6.55 (6) or inspector, municipal clerk, or deputy clerk under s. 6.55 (2) who
12obtains the form and a space for the deputy, inspector, clerk, or deputy clerk to sign
13his or her name, affirming that the deputy, inspector, clerk, or deputy clerk has
14accepted the form. The form shall include a space for entry of the ward and
15aldermanic district, if any, where the elector resides and any other information
16required to determine the offices and referenda for which the elector is certified to
17vote. The form shall also include a space where the clerk may record an indication
18of whether the form is received by mail, a space where the clerk may record an
19indication of the type of identifying document submitted by the elector as proof of
20residence under s. 6.34, whenever required, and a space where the clerk, for any
21applicant who possesses a valid voting identification card issued to the person under
22s. 6.47 (3), may record the identification serial number appearing on the voting
23identification card. Each county clerk shall obtain sufficient registration forms for
24completion by an elector who desires to register to vote at the office of the county clerk
25under s. 6.28 (4).
SB6-SSA1, s. 19
1Section 19. 6.33 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB6-SSA1,17,62 6.33 (2) (b) Except as provided in s. 6.86 (3) (a) 2., the registration form shall
3be signed by the registering elector and any corroborating elector under s. 6.29 (2)
4(a) or 6.55 (2)
before the clerk, issuing officer or registration deputy. The form shall
5contain a certification by the registering elector that all statements are true and
6correct.
SB6-SSA1, s. 20 7Section 20. 6.34 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB6-SSA1,17,198 6.34 (2) Except as authorized in ss. 6.29 (2) (a) and 6.86 (3) (a) 2., upon Upon
9completion of a registration form prescribed under s. 6.33, each eligible elector who
10is required to register under s. 6.27, who is not a military elector or an overseas
11elector, and who registers after the close of registration under s. 6.29 or 6.86 (3) (a)
122., shall provide an identifying document that establishes proof of residence under
13sub. (3). Each eligible elector who is required to register under s. 6.27, who is not a
14military elector or an overseas elector, who registers by mail, and who has not voted
15in an election in this state shall, if voting in person, provide an identifying document
16that establishes proof of residence under sub. (3) or, if voting by absentee ballot,
17provide a copy of an identifying document that establishes proof of residence under
18sub. (3). If the elector registered by mail, the identifying document may not be a
19residential lease.
SB6-SSA1, s. 21 20Section 21. 6.36 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB6-SSA1,18,721 6.36 (2) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), each registration list prepared for use
22as a poll list at a polling place or for purposes of canvassing absentee ballots at an
23election shall contain the full name and address of each registered elector; a blank
24column for the entry of the serial number of the electors when they vote or the poll
25list number used by the municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers in canvassing

1absentee ballots; an indication next to the name of each elector for whom proof of
2residence under s. 6.34 is required; a space for entry of the elector's signature, or if
3another person signed the elector's registration form for the elector by reason of the
4elector's physical disability, the word "exempt";
and a form of certificate bearing the
5certification of the administrator of the elections division of the board stating that
6the list is a true and complete registration list of the municipality or the ward or
7wards for which the list is prepared.
SB6-SSA1, s. 22 8Section 22. 6.36 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
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