AB377, s. 4 22Section 4. 6.221 of the statutes is created to read:
AB377,4,2 236.221 Counting of absentee ballots for certain military electors;
24September primary and general election. (1)
In this section, "military elector"

1has the meaning given in s. 6.36 (2) (c) and active duty status for any election is
2determined as of election day.
AB377,4,5 3(2) Each certificate envelope that is mailed or transmitted to a military elector
4under this section shall be clearly labeled as "Cast by a military elector under s.
56.221, Wis. Stats., and may be eligible to be counted after election day."
AB377,4,10 6(3) (a) At the September primary, a ballot that is cast under s. 6.22 by an elector
7who is a military elector, that is received by mail from the U. S. postal service, and
8that is postmarked no later than election day shall be counted as provided in this
9section if it is received by a municipal clerk no later than 5 p.m. on the 7th day after
10the election.
AB377,4,1511 (b) At the general election, a ballot that is cast under s. 6.22 by an elector who
12is a military elector, that is received by mail from the U.S. postal service, and that
13is postmarked no later than election day shall be counted as provided in this section
14if it is received by a municipal clerk no later than 5 p.m. on the 10th day after the
15election.
AB377,4,21 16(4) For purposes of sub. (3), if a certificate envelope is not postmarked or has
17a postmark that is not legible to the board of canvassers, and the envelope was
18received by mail from the U.S. postal service in the manner and within the period
19prescribed in sub. (3), it is presumed that the envelope was placed in the mail on or
20before election day, unless established by a preponderance of the evidence to the
21contrary.
AB377,5,4 22(5) No later than the closing hour of the polls on the day of the September
23primary and the day of the general election, the municipal clerk of each municipality
24shall post at his or her office and on the Internet at a site announced by the clerk
25before the polls open, and shall make available to any person upon request, a

1statement of the number of absentee ballots that the clerk has mailed or transmitted
2to military electors under this section and that have not been returned to the polling
3places where the electors reside by the closing hour on election day. The posting shall
4not include the names or addresses of any military electors.
AB377,5,12 5(6) (a) Whenever the municipal clerk of any municipality receives an absentee
6ballot cast by an elector who is a military elector under this section and the ballot is
7not received in sufficient time for delivery to the polling place serving the residence
8of the elector on election day but is received within the time specified in sub. (3), the
9clerk shall promptly provide written notice to the board of canvassers of each
10municipality, special purpose district, and county that is responsible for canvassing
11the election of the number of such ballots that have been cast received by the clerk
12in each ward or election district.
AB377,5,2213 (b) Whenever a board of canvassers receives notification from a municipal clerk
14under par. (a), the board of canvassers shall reconvene no later than 9 a.m. on the
15day after the last day permitted for acceptance of absentee ballots under sub. (3) and
16shall proceed to open and record the names of the military electors whose ballots
17have been received. If the ballot cast by a military elector is otherwise valid, the
18board of canvassers shall count the ballot and adjust the statements, certifications,
19and determinations accordingly. If the municipal clerk transmits returns of the
20election to the county clerk, the municipal clerk shall transmit to the county clerk
21a copy of the amended returns together with all additional ballots and envelopes
22reviewed by the board of canvassers and with amended tally sheets.
AB377, s. 5 23Section 5. 6.36 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB377,6,1224 6.36 (1) (a) The board shall compile and maintain electronically an official
25registration list. The list shall contain the name and address of each registered

1elector in the state, the date of birth of the elector, the ward and aldermanic district
2of the elector, if any, and, for each elector, a unique registration identification number
3assigned by the board, the number of a valid operator's license issued to the elector
4under ch. 343, if any, or the last 4 digits of the elector's social security account
5number, if any, any identification serial number issued to the elector under s. 6.47
6(3), the date of any election in which the elector votes, an indication of whether the
7elector is a military elector, as defined in sub. (2) (c), who has so certified under s.
86.865 (3m),
an indication of whether the elector is an overseas elector, as defined in
9s. 6.24 (1), an indication of any accommodation required under s. 5.25 (4) (a) to permit
10voting by the elector, an indication of the method by which the elector's registration
11form was received, and such other information as may be determined by the board
12to facilitate administration of elector registration requirements.
AB377, s. 6 13Section 6. 6.86 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB377,7,714 6.86 (1) (b) Except as provided in this section, if application is made in writing,
15the application, signed by the elector, shall be received no later than 5 p.m. on the
16Friday immediately preceding the election. If application is made in person, the
17application shall be made no later than 5 p.m. on the day preceding the election. If
18the elector is making written application for an absentee ballot at the September
19primary or general election and the application indicates that the elector is a military
20elector, as defined in s. 6.36 (2) (c), the application shall be received by the municipal
21clerk no later than 5 p.m. on election day.
If the elector is making written application
22and the application indicates that the reason for requesting an absentee ballot is that
23the elector is a sequestered juror, the application shall be received no later than 5
24p.m. on election day. If the application is received after 5 p.m. on the Friday
25immediately preceding the election, the municipal clerk or the clerk's agent shall

1immediately take the ballot to the court in which the elector is serving as a juror and
2deposit it with the judge. The judge shall recess court, as soon as convenient, and
3give the elector the ballot. The judge shall then witness the voting procedure as
4provided in s. 6.87 and shall deliver the ballot to the clerk or agent of the clerk who
5shall deliver it to the polling place as required in s. 6.88. If application is made under
6sub. (2), the application may be received no later than 5 p.m. on the Friday
7immediately preceding the election.
AB377, s. 7 8Section 7. 6.865 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB377,7,209 6.865 (3) If Except as provided in sub. (3m), if the elector making a timely
10request for an absentee ballot is a military elector or an overseas elector and the
11elector requests that he or she be sent an absentee ballot for the next 2 general
12elections, the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners shall comply with
13the request except that no ballot shall be sent for a succeeding general election if the
14elector's name appeared on the registration list for a previous general election and
15no longer appears on the registration list for the succeeding general election. If the
16elector's address for the succeeding general election is in a municipality that is
17different from the municipality in which the elector resided for the first general
18election, the clerk or board of election commissioners shall forward the request to the
19clerk or board of election commissioners of the municipality where the elector
20resides.
AB377, s. 8 21Section 8. 6.865 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB377,8,722 6.865 (3m) (a) Except as provided in par. (c), if any elector who certifies that
23he or she will be a military elector on election day requests an absentee ballot, the
24municipal clerk shall send or transmit to the elector an absentee ballot for all
25elections that occur in the municipality or portion thereof where the elector resides

1beginning on the date that the clerk receives the request and ending on the day after
2the 3rd successive general election that follows receipt of the request, unless the
3elector otherwise requests. In addition, the municipal clerk shall continue to send
4or transmit to the elector an absentee ballot for all elections ending on the day after
5the 3rd successive general election that follows any election at which the elector
6returns an absentee ballot under this section or renews his or her request under par.
7(c).
AB377,8,138 (b) A military elector may indicate an alternate address on his or her absentee
9ballot application. If the elector's ballot is returned as undeliverable prior to the
10deadline for receipt and return of absentee ballots under sub. (3) and the elector
11remains eligible to receive absentee ballots under this subsection, the municipal
12clerk shall immediately send or transmit an absentee ballot to the elector at the
13alternate address.
AB377,9,1014 (c) If there occur 3 successive general elections at which a military elector fails
15to return an absentee ballot sent or transmitted to the elector under this subsection
16and the elector has not cast an absentee ballot at any intervening election, if the clerk
17is reliably informed that the elector is no longer a military elector or no longer resides
18in the municipality, or if the elector so requests, the clerk shall discontinue sending
19or transmitting absentee ballots to the elector under this subsection. If a military
20elector is subject to a registration requirement and the name of the military elector
21no longer appears on the registration list, the municipal clerk shall discontinue
22sending or transmitting absentee ballots to the elector under this subsection. If a
23military elector who has requested an absentee ballot changes his or her residence
24from the municipality where a request is filed to another municipality in this state,
25the municipal clerk of the municipality who received the request shall notify the

1clerk of the municipality to which the elector's residence is changed of the date of the
2request or latest renewal and the date of the most recent absentee ballot returned
3by the elector, and the municipal clerk who is so notified shall treat the request as
4having been made to him or her. Prior to any discontinuance of the service provided
5to a military elector under this subsection solely for failure to return absentee ballots,
6the municipal clerk shall mail the elector a 1st class letter or postcard notifying the
7elector that absentee ballots will no longer be sent to the elector unless the elector
8renews his or her request within 30 days of the date of the notification. The clerk
9shall notify a military elector of any action under this paragraph that is not taken
10at the elector's request within 5 days of taking that action, if possible.
AB377, s. 9 11Section 9. 6.87 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB377,9,1512 6.87 (6) The Except as provided in s. 6.221 (3), the ballot shall be returned so
13it is received by the municipal clerk in time for delivery to the polls before the closing
14hour. Any Except as provided in s. 6.221 (3), the ballot not mailed or delivered as
15provided in this subsection may not be counted.
AB377, s. 10 16Section 10. 7.51 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB377,9,2417 7.51 (5) (b) The municipal clerk shall arrange for delivery of all ballots,
18statements, tally sheets, lists, and envelopes relating to a school district election to
19the school district clerk. The municipal clerk shall deliver the ballots, statements,
20tally sheets, lists, and envelopes for his or her municipality relating to any county,
21technical college district, state, or national election to the county clerk by no later
22than
2 p.m. on the day following each such election, and no later than 2 p.m. on the
23day after receiving any corrected returns under s. 6.221 (6) (b)
. The person delivering
24the returns shall be paid out of the municipal treasury. Each clerk shall retain

1ballots, statements, tally sheets, or envelopes received by the clerk until destruction
2is authorized under s. 7.23 (1).
AB377, s. 11 3Section 11. 7.60 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB377,10,214 7.60 (5) (a) Immediately following the canvass, the county clerk shall deliver
5or send to the elections board, by 1st class mail, a certified copy of each statement of
6the county board of canvassers for president and vice president, state officials,
7senators and representatives in congress, state legislators, justice, court of appeals
8judge, circuit judge, district attorney, and metropolitan sewerage commissioners, if
9the commissioners are elected under s. 200.09 (11) (am). The statement shall record
10the returns for each office or referendum by ward, unless combined returns are
11authorized under s. 5.15 (6) (b) in which case the statement shall record the returns
12for each group of combined wards. Following primaries the county clerk shall enclose
13on forms prescribed by the elections board the names, party or principle designation,
14if any, and number of votes received by each candidate recorded in the same manner.
15The county clerk shall deliver or transmit the certified statement to the elections
16board no later than 7 days after each primary and except the September primary, no
17later than 10 days after the September primary and any other election except the
18general election, and no later than 14 days after the general election
. The board of
19canvassers shall deliver or transmit a certified copy of each statement for any
20technical college district referendum to the secretary of the technical college district
21board.
AB377, s. 12 22Section 12. 7.70 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB377,11,423 7.70 (3) (a) The chairperson of the board or a designee of the chairperson
24appointed by the chairperson to canvass a specific election shall publicly canvass the
25returns and make his or her certifications and determinations on or before the 2nd

1Tuesday following a spring primary, the 15th day of May following a spring election,
2the 4th Tuesday in September 3rd Wednesday following a September primary, the
3first day of December following a general election, the 2nd Thursday following a
4special primary, or within 18 days after any special election.
AB377, s. 13 5Section 13. 9.01 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB377,12,106 9.01 (1) (a) Any candidate voted for at any election or any elector who voted
7upon any referendum question at any election may request a recount. The petitioner
8shall file a verified petition or petitions with the proper clerk or body under par. (ar)
9not earlier than the time of completion of the canvass and not later than 5 p.m. on
10the 3rd business day following the last meeting day of the municipal or county board
11of canvassers determining the election for that office or on that referendum question
12prior to issuance of any amended return under s. 6.221 (6) (b) or, if more than one
13board of canvassers makes the determination not later than 5 p.m. on the 3rd
14business day following the last meeting day of the last board of canvassers which
15makes a determination prior to issuance of any amended return under s. 6.221 (6)
16(b)
. If the chairperson of the board or chairperson's designee makes the
17determination for the office or the referendum question, the petitioner shall file the
18petition not earlier than the last meeting day of the last county board of canvassers
19to make a statement in the election or referendum and not later than 5 p.m. on the
203rd business day following the day on which the elections board receives the last
21statement from a county board of canvassers for the election or referendum. Each
22verified petition shall state that at the election the petitioner was a candidate for the
23office in question or that he or she voted on the referendum question in issue; that
24the petitioner is informed and believes that a mistake or fraud has been committed
25in a specified ward or municipality in the counting and return of the votes cast for

1the office or upon the question; or shall specify any other defect, irregularity or
2illegality in the conduct of the election. The petition shall specify each ward, or each
3municipality where no wards exist, in which a recount is desired. If a recount is
4requested for all wards within a jurisdiction, each ward need not be specified. The
5petition may be amended to include information discovered as a result of the
6investigation of the board of canvassers or the chairperson of the board or
7chairperson's designee after the filing of the petition, if the petitioner moves to
8amend the petition as soon as possible after the petitioner discovered or reasonably
9should have discovered the information which is the subject of the amendment and
10the petitioner was unable to include information in the original petition.
AB377, s. 14 11Section 14. 9.01 (1) (ag) 1., 1m. and 2. of the statutes are amended to read:
AB377,12,1712 9.01 (1) (ag) 1. If the difference between the votes cast for the leading candidate
13and those cast for the petitioner or the difference between the affirmative and
14negative votes cast upon any referendum question is less than 10 if 1,000 or less votes
15are cast or not more than 0.5% of the total votes cast for the office or on the question
16if more than 1,000 votes are cast prior to issuance of any amended return under s.
176.221 (6) (b)
, the petitioner is not required to pay a fee.
AB377,12,2418 1m. If the difference between the votes cast for the leading candidate and those
19cast for the petitioner or the difference between the affirmative and negative votes
20cast upon any referendum question is at least 10 if 1,000 or less votes are cast or is
21more than 0.5% but not more than 2% if more than 1,000 votes are cast prior to
22issuance of any amended return under s. 6.221 (6) (b)
, the petitioner shall pay a fee
23of $5 for each ward for which the petition requests a ballot recount, or $5 for each
24municipality for which the petition requests a recount where no wards exist.
AB377,13,7
12. If the difference between the votes cast for the leading candidate and those
2cast for the petitioner or the difference between the affirmative and negative votes
3cast upon any referendum question is more than 2% if more than 1,000 votes are cast
4prior to issuance of any amended return under s. 6.221 (6) (b), the petitioner shall
5pay a fee equal to the actual cost of performing the recount in each ward for which
6the petition requests a recount, or in each municipality for which the petition request
7a recount where no wards exist.
AB377, s. 15 8Section 15. 9.01 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
AB377,13,129 9.01 (1) (am) A person who files a petition under par. (a) may withdraw the
10petition. If the petitioner withdraws a petition before any board of canvassers that
11canvassed the original election begins its recount, the clerk or body shall refund any
12fee paid under par. (ag).
AB377, s. 16 13Section 16. 9.01 (1) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB377,13,2214 9.01 (1) (b) (intro.) The proper board of canvassers shall reconvene no earlier
15than 9 a.m. on the day following delivery of notice to all candidates under sub. (2) and
16no later than 9 a.m. on the day following the last day for filing of a petition and, or
17if the original canvass is subject to correction under s. 6.221 (6) (b), immediately after
18issuance of the amended statement and determination in the original canvass,
19whichever is later. The board of canvassers shall then
proceed to recount the ballots
20in the wards or municipalities specified and to review the allegations of fact
21contained in the petition or petitions. The recount shall proceed for each ward or
22municipality as follows:
AB377, s. 17 23Section 17. Initial applicability.
AB377,13,2424 (1) This act first applies with respect to the 2006 spring primary election.
AB377, s. 18 25Section 18. Effective date.
AB377,14,1
1(1) This act takes effect on January 1, 2006.
AB377,14,22 (End)
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