AB947-SSA1,1 1Section 1 . 5.02 (12n) of the statutes is created to read:
AB947-SSA1,2,72 5.02 (12n) “Overseas elector" means a U.S. citizen who is residing outside of
3the United States, who is not disqualified from voting under s. 6.03, who has attained
4or will attain the age of 18 by the date of an election at which the citizen proposes to
5vote, who was last domiciled in this state or whose parent was last domiciled in this
6state immediately prior to the parent's departure from the United States, and who
7is not registered to vote or voting in any other state, territory, or possession.
AB947-SSA1,2 8Section 2 . 5.02 (20) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,3,5
15.02 (20) “Special primary" means the primary held 4 8 weeks before the
2special election except when the special election is held on the same day as the
3general election the special primary shall be held on the same day as the general
4primary or if the special election is held concurrently with the spring election, the
5primary shall be held concurrently with the spring primary.
AB947-SSA1,3 6Section 3 . 5.05 (13) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,3,107 5.05 (13) (c) The commission shall maintain a freely accessible system under
8which a military elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (a), or an overseas elector, as defined
9in s. 6.34 (1) (b),
who casts an absentee ballot may ascertain whether the ballot has
10been received by the appropriate municipal clerk.
AB947-SSA1,4 11Section 4 . 5.05 (13) (d) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,3,1512 5.05 (13) (d) 1. To permit a military elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (a), or an
13overseas elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (b), to request a voter registration
14application or an application for an absentee ballot at any election at which the
15elector is qualified to vote in this state.
AB947-SSA1,5 16Section 5 . 6.22 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,3,1817 6.22 (2) (b) A military elector shall make and subscribe to the certification
18under s. 6.87 (2) before a witness who is an adult U.S. citizen.
AB947-SSA1,6 19Section 6 . 6.22 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,4,220 6.22 (2) (e) A military elector may file an application for an absentee ballot by
21means of electronic mail or facsimile transmission in the manner prescribed in s. 6.86
22(1) (ac). Upon receipt of a valid application, the municipal clerk shall send the elector
23an absentee ballot or, if the elector is a military elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (a),
24and the elector so requests, shall transmit an absentee ballot to the elector by means

1of electronic mail or facsimile transmission in the manner prescribed in s. 6.87 (3)
2(d).
AB947-SSA1,7 3Section 7 . 6.22 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,4,94 6.22 (4) (a) Upon receiving a timely request for an absentee ballot under par.
5(b) by an individual who qualifies as a military elector, the municipal clerk shall send
6or, if the individual is a military elector as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (a), shall transmit
7to the elector upon the elector's request an absentee ballot for all elections that occur
8in the municipality or portion thereof where the elector resides in the same calendar
9year in which the request is received, unless the individual otherwise requests.
AB947-SSA1,8 10Section 8 . 6.22 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,4,1611 6.22 (4) (c) A military elector may indicate an alternate address on his or her
12absentee ballot application. If the elector's ballot is returned as undeliverable prior
13to the deadline for return of absentee ballots under s. 6.87 (6), and the elector remains
14eligible to receive absentee ballots under this section, the municipal clerk shall
15immediately send or, if the elector is a military elector as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (a),
16transmit an absentee ballot to the elector at the alternate address.
AB947-SSA1,9 17Section 9 . 6.24 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,4,2418 6.24 (2) Eligibility. An overseas elector under sub. (1) may vote in any election
19for national office, including the partisan primary and presidential preference
20primary and any special primary or election. Such elector may not vote in an election
21for state or local office unless the elector qualifies as a resident of this state under
22s. 6.10
. An overseas elector shall vote in the ward or election district in which the
23elector was last domiciled or in which the elector's parent was last domiciled prior
24to departure from the United States.
AB947-SSA1,10 25Section 10 . 6.24 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,5,15
16.24 (4) (c) Upon receipt of a timely application from an individual who
2qualifies as an overseas elector and who has registered to vote in a municipality
3under sub. (3), the municipal clerk of the municipality shall send, or if the individual
4is an overseas elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (b), shall transmit an absentee ballot
5to the individual upon the individual's request for all subsequent elections for
6national office to be held during the year in which the ballot is requested, except as
7otherwise provided in this paragraph, unless the individual otherwise requests or
8until the individual no longer qualifies as an overseas elector of the municipality.
9The clerk shall not send an absentee ballot for an election if the overseas elector's
10name appeared on the registration list in eligible status for a previous election
11following the date of the application but no longer appears on the list in eligible
12status. The municipal clerk shall ensure that the envelope containing the absentee
13ballot is clearly marked as not forwardable. If an overseas elector who files an
14application under this subsection no longer resides at the same address that is
15indicated on the application form, the elector shall so notify the municipal clerk.
AB947-SSA1,11 16Section 11 . 6.24 (4) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,5,2517 6.24 (4) (d) An overseas elector, regardless of whether the elector qualifies as
18a resident of this state under s. 6.10,
who is not registered may request both a
19registration form and an absentee ballot at the same time, and the municipal clerk
20shall send or transmit the ballot automatically if the registration form is received
21within the time prescribed in s. 6.28 (1). The commission shall prescribe a special
22certificate form for the envelope in which the absentee ballot for such overseas
23electors is contained, which shall be substantially similar to that provided under s.
246.87 (2). An The overseas elector shall make and subscribe to the special certificate
25form before a witness who is an adult U.S. citizen.
AB947-SSA1,12
1Section 12. 6.24 (4) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,6,92 6.24 (4) (e) An overseas elector, regardless of whether the elector qualifies as
3a resident of this state under s. 6.10,
may file an application for an absentee ballot
4by means of electronic mail or facsimile transmission in the manner prescribed in s.
56.86 (1) (ac). Upon receipt of a valid application, the municipal clerk shall send the
6elector an absentee ballot or, if the elector is an overseas elector, as defined in s. 6.34
7(1) (b) and the elector
so requests, shall transmit an absentee ballot to the elector by
8means of electronic mail or facsimile transmission in the manner prescribed in s. 6.87
9(3) (d).
AB947-SSA1,13 10Section 13 . 6.25 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,6,2011 6.25 (1) (b) Any individual who qualifies as an overseas elector under s. 6.24
12(1)
, regardless of whether the elector qualifies as a resident of this state under s. 6.10,
13and who transmits an application for an official absentee ballot for an election for
14national office
, including a primary election, no later than the latest time specified
15for an elector in s. 6.86 (1) (b) may, in lieu of the official ballot, cast a federal write-in
16absentee ballot prescribed under 42 USC 1973ff-2 for any candidate or for all
17candidates of any recognized political party for national office listed on the official
18ballot at that election, if the federal write-in absentee ballot is received by the
19appropriate municipal clerk no later than the applicable time prescribed in s. 6.87
20(6).
AB947-SSA1,14 21Section 14 . 6.276 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,6,2322 6.276 (1) In this section, “military elector" and “overseas elector" have has the
23meanings meaning given in s. 6.34 (1).
AB947-SSA1,15 24Section 15 . 6.34 (1) (intro.) and (a) of the statutes are consolidated,
25renumbered 6.34 (1) and amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,7,8
16.34 (1) In this section: (a) “Military, “military elector" means a member of a
2uniformed service on active duty who, by reason of that duty, is absent from the
3residence where the member is otherwise qualified to vote; a member of the
4merchant marine, as defined in s. 6.22 (1) (a), who by reason of service in the
5merchant marine, is absent from the residence where the member is otherwise
6qualified to vote; or the spouse or dependent of any such member who, by reason of
7the duty or service of the member, is absent from the residence where the spouse or
8dependent is otherwise qualified to vote.
AB947-SSA1,16 9Section 16 . 6.34 (1) (b) of the statutes is repealed.
AB947-SSA1,17 10Section 17 . 6.865 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,7,1211 6.865 (1) In this section, “military elector" and "overseas elector" have has the
12meanings meaning given under s. 6.34 (1).
AB947-SSA1,18 13Section 18 . 6.87 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,8,214 6.87 (2) Except as authorized under sub. (3) (d), the municipal clerk shall place
15the ballot in an unsealed envelope furnished by the clerk. The envelope shall have
16the name, official title and post-office address of the clerk upon its face. The other
17side of the envelope shall have a printed certificate which shall include a space for
18the municipal clerk or deputy clerk to enter his or her initials indicating that if the
19absentee elector voted in person under s. 6.86 (1) (ar), the elector presented proof of
20identification to the clerk and the clerk verified the proof presented. The certificate
21shall also include a space for the municipal clerk or deputy clerk to enter his or her
22initials indicating that the elector is exempt from providing proof of identification
23because the individual is a military elector or an overseas elector who does not
24qualify as a resident of this state under s. 6.10
or is exempted from providing proof

1of identification under sub. (4) (b) 2. or 3. The certificate shall be in substantially the
2following form:
AB947-SSA1,8,33 [STATE OF ....
AB947-SSA1,8,44 County of ....]
AB947-SSA1,8,66 [(name of foreign country and city or other jurisdictional unit)]
AB947-SSA1,8,197 I, ...., certify subject to the penalties of s. 12.60 (1) (b), Wis. Stats., for false
8statements, that I am a resident of the [.... ward of the] (town) (village) of ...., or of
9the .... aldermanic district in the city of ...., residing at ....* in said city, the county
10of ...., state of Wisconsin, and am entitled to vote in the (ward) (election district) at
11the election to be held on ....; that I am not voting at any other location in this election;
12that I am unable or unwilling to appear at the polling place in the (ward) (election
13district) on election day or have changed my residence within the state from one ward
14or election district to another later than 28 days before the election. I certify that I
15exhibited the enclosed ballot unmarked to the witness, that I then in (his) (her)
16presence and in the presence of no other person marked the ballot and enclosed and
17sealed the same in this envelope in such a manner that no one but myself and any
18person rendering assistance under s. 6.87 (5), Wis. Stats., if I requested assistance,
19could know how I voted.
AB947-SSA1,8,2020 Signed ....
AB947-SSA1,8,2121 Identification serial number, if any: ....
AB947-SSA1,8,2222 The witness shall execute the following:
AB947-SSA1,9,323 I, the undersigned witness, subject to the penalties of s. 12.60 (1) (b), Wis.
24Stats., for false statements, certify that I am an adult U.S. citizen ** and that the
25above statements are true and the voting procedure was executed as there stated.

1I am not a candidate for any office on the enclosed ballot (except in the case of an
2incumbent municipal clerk). I did not solicit or advise the elector to vote for or against
3any candidate or measure.
AB947-SSA1,9,44 ....(Name Printed name)
AB947-SSA1,9,55 ....(Address)***
AB947-SSA1,9,6 6Signed ....
AB947-SSA1,9,87 * — An elector who provides an identification serial number issued under s.
86.47 (3), Wis. Stats., need not provide a street address.
AB947-SSA1,9,12 9** — An individual who serves as a witness for a military elector or an overseas
10elector voting absentee, regardless of whether the elector qualifies as a resident of
11this state under s. 6.10, Wis. Stats., need not be a U.S. citizen but must be 18 years
12of age or older.
AB947-SSA1,9,1413 *** — If this form is executed before 2 special voting deputies under s. 6.875 (6),
14Wis. Stats., both deputies shall witness and sign.
AB947-SSA1,19 15Section 19 . 6.87 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,9,2516 6.87 (3) (d) A municipal clerk shall, if the clerk is reliably informed by a military
17elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (a), or an overseas elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (b)
18regardless of whether the elector qualifies as a resident of this state under s. 6.10,
19of a facsimile transmission number or electronic mail address where the elector can
20receive an absentee ballot, transmit a facsimile or electronic copy of the elector's
21ballot to that elector in lieu of mailing under this subsection. An elector may receive
22an absentee ballot only if the elector is a military elector or an overseas elector under
23s. 6.34 (1)
and has filed a valid application for the ballot as provided in s. 6.86 (1).
24If the clerk transmits an absentee ballot to a military or overseas elector
25electronically, the clerk shall also transmit a facsimile or electronic copy of the text

1of the material that appears on the certificate envelope prescribed in sub. (2),
2together with instructions prescribed by the commission. The instructions shall
3require the military or overseas elector to make and subscribe to the certification as
4required under sub. (4) (b) and to enclose the absentee ballot in a separate envelope
5contained within a larger envelope, that shall include the completed certificate. The
6elector shall then affix sufficient postage unless the absentee ballot qualifies for
7mailing free of postage under federal free postage laws and shall mail the absentee
8ballot to the municipal clerk. Except as authorized in s. 6.97 (2), an absentee ballot
9received from a military or overseas elector who receives the ballot electronically
10shall not be counted unless it is cast in the manner prescribed in this paragraph and
11sub. (4) and in accordance with the instructions provided by the commission.
AB947-SSA1,20 12Section 20 . 6.87 (4) (a) (intro.) and 1. of the statutes are consolidated,
13renumbered 6.87 (4) (a) and amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,10,1514 6.87 (4) (a) In this subsection: 1. “Military, “military elector" has the meaning
15given in s. 6.34 (1) (a).
AB947-SSA1,21 16Section 21 . 6.87 (4) (a) 2. of the statutes is repealed.
AB947-SSA1,22 17Section 22 . 6.87 (4) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,11,2318 6.87 (4) (b) 1. Except as otherwise provided in s. 6.875, the an elector voting
19absentee, other than a military elector or an overseas elector, shall make and
20subscribe to the certification before one witness who is an adult U.S. citizen. A
21military elector or an overseas elector, regardless of whether the elector qualifies as
22a resident of this state under s. 6.10, voting absentee shall make and subscribe to the
23certification before one witness who is an adult but who need not be a U.S. citizen.

24The absent elector, in the presence of the witness, shall mark the ballot in a manner
25that will not disclose how the elector's vote is cast. The elector shall then, still in the

1presence of the witness, fold the ballots so each is separate and so that the elector
2conceals the markings thereon and deposit them in the proper envelope. If a
3consolidated ballot under s. 5.655 is used, the elector shall fold the ballot so that the
4elector conceals the markings thereon and deposit the ballot in the proper envelope.
5If proof of residence under s. 6.34 is required and the document enclosed by the
6elector under this subdivision does not constitute proof of residence under s. 6.34, the
7elector shall also enclose proof of residence under s. 6.34 in the envelope. Except as
8provided in s. 6.34 (2m), proof of residence is required if the elector is not a military
9elector or an overseas elector and the elector registered by mail or by electronic
10application and has not voted in an election in this state. If the elector requested a
11ballot by means of facsimile transmission or electronic mail under s. 6.86 (1) (ac), the
12elector shall enclose in the envelope a copy of the request which bears an original
13signature of the elector. The elector may receive assistance under sub. (5). The
14return envelope shall then be sealed. The witness may not be a candidate. The
15envelope shall be mailed by the elector, or delivered in person, to the municipal clerk
16issuing the ballot or ballots. If the envelope is mailed from a location outside the
17United States, the elector shall affix sufficient postage unless the ballot qualifies for
18delivery free of postage under federal law. Failure to return an unused ballot in a
19primary does not invalidate the ballot on which the elector's votes are cast. Return
20of more than one marked ballot in a primary or return of a ballot prepared under s.
215.655 or a ballot used with an electronic voting system in a primary which is marked
22for candidates of more than one party invalidates all votes cast by the elector for
23candidates in the primary.
AB947-SSA1,23 24Section 23 . 6.88 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,12,16
16.88 (1) When an absentee ballot arrives at the office of the municipal clerk,
2or at an alternate site under s. 6.855, if applicable, the clerk shall enclose it,
3unopened, in a carrier envelope which shall be securely sealed and endorsed with the
4name and official title of the clerk, and the words “This envelope contains the ballot
5of an absent elector and must be opened in the same room where votes are being cast
6at the polls during polling hours on election day or, in municipalities where absentee
7ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, stats., at a meeting of the municipal board of
8absentee ballot canvassers under s. 7.52, stats.". If the elector is a military elector,
9as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (a), or an overseas elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (b)
10regardless of whether the elector qualifies as a resident of this state under s. 6.10,
11and the ballot was received by the elector by facsimile transmission or electronic mail
12and is accompanied by a separate certificate, the clerk shall enclose the ballot in a
13certificate envelope and securely append the completed certificate to the outside of
14the envelope before enclosing the ballot in the carrier envelope. The clerk shall keep
15the ballot in the clerk's office or at the alternate site, if applicable until delivered, as
16required in sub. (2).
AB947-SSA1,24 17Section 24 . 6.97 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,13,2318 6.97 (1) Whenever any individual who is required to provide proof of residence
19under s. 6.34 in order to be permitted to vote appears to vote at a polling place and
20cannot provide the required proof of residence, the inspectors shall offer the
21opportunity for the individual to vote under this section. Whenever any individual,
22other than a military elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (a), or an overseas elector, as
23defined in s. 6.34 (1) (b),
or an elector who has a confidential listing under s. 6.47 (2),
24appears to vote at a polling place and does not present proof of identification under
25s. 6.79 (2), whenever required, the inspectors or the municipal clerk shall similarly

1offer the opportunity for the individual to vote under this section. If the individual
2wishes to vote, the inspectors shall provide the elector with an envelope marked
3“Ballot under s. 6.97, stats." on which the serial number of the elector is entered and
4shall require the individual to execute on the envelope a written affirmation stating
5that the individual is a qualified elector of the ward or election district where he or
6she offers to vote and is eligible to vote in the election. The inspectors shall, before
7giving the elector a ballot, write on the back of the ballot the serial number of the
8individual corresponding to the number kept at the election on the poll list or other
9list maintained under s. 6.79 and the notation “s. 6.97". If voting machines are used
10in the municipality where the individual is voting, the individual's vote may be
11received only upon an absentee ballot furnished by the municipal clerk which shall
12have the corresponding number from the poll list or other list maintained under s.
136.79 and the notation “s. 6.97" written on the back of the ballot by the inspectors
14before the ballot is given to the elector. When receiving the individual's ballot, the
15inspectors shall provide the individual with written voting information prescribed
16by the commission under s. 7.08 (8). The inspectors shall indicate on the list the fact
17that the individual is required to provide proof of residence or proof of identification
18under s. 6.79 (2) but did not do so. The inspectors shall notify the individual that he
19or she may provide proof of residence or proof of identification to the municipal clerk
20or executive director of the municipal board of election commissioners. The
21inspectors shall also promptly notify the municipal clerk or executive director of the
22name, address, and serial number of the individual. The inspectors shall then place
23the ballot inside the envelope and place the envelope in a separate carrier envelope.
AB947-SSA1,25 24Section 25 . 7.15 (1) (cm) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,14,15
17.15 (1) (cm) Prepare official absentee ballots for delivery to electors requesting
2them, and except as provided in this paragraph, send an official absentee ballot to
3each elector who has requested a ballot by mail, and to each military elector, as
4defined in s. 6.34 (1) (a), and overseas elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (b), who has
5requested a ballot by mail, electronic mail, or facsimile transmission no later than
6the 47th day before each partisan primary and general election and no later than the
721st day before each other primary and election if the request is made before that
8day; otherwise, the municipal clerk shall send or transmit an official absentee ballot
9within one business day of the time the elector's request for such a ballot is received.
10The clerk shall send or transmit an absentee ballot for the presidential preference
11primary to each elector who has requested that ballot no later than the 47th day
12before the presidential preference primary if the request is made before that day, or,
13if the request is not made before that day, within one business day of the time the
14request is received. For purposes of this paragraph, “business day" means any day
15from Monday to Friday, not including a legal holiday under s. 995.20.
AB947-SSA1,26 16Section 26 . 7.15 (1) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,14,2017 7.15 (1) (j) Send an absentee ballot automatically to each elector and send or
18transmit an absentee ballot to each military elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (a), and
19each overseas elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (b), making an authorized request
20therefor in accordance with s. 6.22 (4), 6.24 (4) (c), or 6.86 (2) or (2m).
AB947-SSA1,27 21Section 27 . 8.50 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,15,622 8.50 (2) Date of special election. (a) The date for the special election shall
23be not less than 62 124 nor more than 77 154 days from the date of the order except
24when the special election is held to fill a vacancy in a national office or the special
25election is held on the day of the general election or spring election. If a special

1election is held concurrently with the spring election, the special election may be
2ordered not earlier than 92 days prior to the spring primary and not later than 49
360 days prior to that primary. If a special election is held concurrently with the
4general election or a special election is held to fill a national office, the special election
5may be ordered not earlier than 122 days prior to the partisan primary or special
6primary, respectively, and not later than 92 days prior to that primary.
AB947-SSA1,15,147 (b) If a primary is required, the primary shall be on the day 4 8 weeks before
8the day of the special election except when the special election is held on the same
9day as the general election the special primary shall be held on the same day as the
10partisan primary or if the special election is held concurrently with the spring
11election, the primary shall be held concurrently with the spring primary, and except
12when the special election is held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November
13of an odd-numbered year, the primary shall be held on the 2nd Tuesday of August
14in that year.
AB947-SSA1,28 15Section 28 . 8.50 (4) (d) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
AB947-SSA1,15,1816 8.50 (4) (d) No special election for the office of state senator or representative
17to the assembly shall be held after the spring election in the year in which a regular
18election is held to fill that seat.
AB947-SSA1,29 19Section 29 . 11.0101 (30) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB947-SSA1,15,2120 11.0101 (30) (intro.) “Special primary" means the primary held 4 8 weeks
21before the special election, except as follows:
AB947-SSA1,30 22Section 30 . Initial applicability.
AB947-SSA1,16,3
1(1) This act first applies to a vacancy existing on the effective date of this
2subsection, notwithstanding any other law, court order, or order of the governor
3under section 8.50 (4) (d), 2015 stats.
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