SB333: Bill Text

LRB-3606/1

JTK:skg:aj

1995 - 1996 LEGISLATURE

1995 Senate BILL 333

September 19, 1995 - Introduced by Senators Fitzgerald, Farrow and Burke, cosponsored by Representatives Ward, Seratti, Lehman, Olsen, Kaufert, Plache and Robson. Referred to Committee on State Government Operations and Corrections.

SB333,1,3 An Act to repeal 6.78 (2) and (3); to consolidate, renumber and amend 6.78 (intro.) and (1); and to amend 67.05 (3) (f) and 120.06 (9) (a) of the statutes; relating to: the opening hour at polling places.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Currently, polling places in 1st, 2nd and 3rd class cities must open at 7 a.m. In 4th class cities, villages and towns, polling places must open at 9 a.m. but may be opened not earlier than 7 a.m. by municipal ordinance. School districts and other special purpose districts that hold special elections concurrently with state or municipal elections use the same election hours that apply in the municipalities where they are located, but if the opening hour for any municipality is later than 7 a.m., they may provide for an opening hour not earlier than 7 a.m.

This bill provides that all polling places in all municipalities at all elections shall open at 7 a.m.

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

SB333, s. 1 Section 1. 6.78 (intro.) and (1) of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 6.78 (1) and amended to read:

SB333,1,7 6.78 (1) The polls at any every election shall be open: (1) In 1st, 2nd and 3rd class cities, from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

SB333, s. 2 Section 2. 6.78 (2) and (3) of the statutes are repealed.

SB333, s. 3 Section 3. 67.05 (3) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB333,2,19 67.05 (3) (f) If a special purpose district calls a referendum to be held in conjunction with a state, county, municipal or judicial election, the polling places for the state, county, municipal or judicial election shall be the polling places for the special purpose district referendum and the municipal election hours specified in s. 6.78 (1) shall apply. If no state, county, municipal or judicial election is held on the day of the special purpose district referendum, the governing body of the special purpose district may set the election hours and specify the polling places to be used, except as otherwise provided in s. 120.06 (9) (b) in the case of a school district. If a polling place located in the special purpose district that was utilized at the most recent spring or general election is not utilized by the special purpose district, the governing body of the special purpose district shall post a notice on the door of the polling place indicating all polling places open for voting. Election hours set by the governing body of the special purpose district for each polling place shall be the same as those provided by the governing body of the municipality in which the polling place is located, except that if the opening hour is later than 7 a.m., the governing body of the special purpose district may extend the opening hour to not earlier than 7 a.m. The municipal clerk of each municipality in which a polling place is located shall provide the necessary equipment to operate the polling place.

SB333, s. 4 Section 4. 120.06 (9) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB333,3,7 120.06 (9) (a) The primary and spring elections for school board members shall be conducted by the election officials for state and municipal elections. In a school board election held in conjunction with a state, county, municipal or judicial election, the polling places for the state, county, municipal or judicial election shall be the polling places for the school board election and the municipal election hours specified in s. 6.78 (1) shall apply. If no state, county, municipal or judicial election is held on the day of the school board election, the school board may set the election hours and specify the polling places to be used. The election costs shall be charged as provided in ss. 5.68 and 7.03. Election hours set by the school board shall be the same as those provided by the municipal governing body in which the polling place is located, except that if the opening hour is later than 7 a.m., the school board may extend the opening hour to not earlier than 7 a.m.

SB333,3,8 (End)