AB904,21,824 7.52 (4) (b) When during the counting of the ballots cast at an election the board
25of absentee ballot canvassers finds that a ballot is so defective that it cannot

1determine with reasonable certainty for whom it was cast, the board of absentee
2ballot canvassers shall so mark the ballot and preserve it. The board of absentee
3ballot canvassers shall not count the vote cast on the ballot for any office for which
4it determines the ballot to be defective. Notwithstanding s. 5.01 (1), the board of
5absentee ballot canvassers shall not count any absentee ballot that does not bear the
6initials of the municipal clerk or a deputy clerk. The board of absentee ballot
7canvassers shall mark, lay aside, and carefully preserve any absentee ballot not
8bearing the initials of the municipal clerk or a deputy clerk.
AB904, s. 32 9Section 32. 7.52 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB904,21,2210 7.52 (4) (c) Whenever the number of ballots exceeds the number of voting
11electors as indicated on the poll list, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall
12place all ballots face up to check for blank ballots. In this paragraph, "blank ballot"
13means a ballot on which no votes are cast for any office or question. The board of
14absentee ballot canvassers shall mark, lay aside, and preserve any blank ballots. If
15the number of ballots still exceeds the number of voting electors, the board of
16absentee ballot canvassers shall place all ballots face down and proceed to check for
17the initials. The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall mark, lay aside, and
18preserve any ballot not bearing the initials of the municipal clerk. During
The board
19of absentee ballot canvassers shall then temporarily separate the absentee ballots
20marked "Military elector s. 6.34 (1) (a) 1. or 2., stats." from the other ballots. Except
21as provided in par. (b), during
the count, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall
22count those ballots cast by challenged electors the same as the other ballots.
AB904, s. 33 23Section 33. 7.52 (4) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB904,22,524 7.52 (4) (d) The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall keep a written
25statement, in duplicate, of the number of ballots set aside, the number of ballots

1separated as military elector ballots,
and the number of defective ballots and
2challenged ballots. The statement shall contain a record of the reasons for setting
3aside each ballot and the reasons why each defective or challenged ballot is defective
4or challenged. The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall certify that the
5statement is correct, sign it, and attach it to the tally sheets.
AB904, s. 34 6Section 34. 7.52 (4) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB904,22,237 7.52 (4) (e) If, after any ballots have been set aside, the number of remaining
8ballots still exceeds the total number of electors recorded on the poll list reduced by
9the number of ballots separated under par. (c)
, the board of absentee ballot
10canvassers shall place the absentee ballots that were not laid aside or separated
11under par. (b) or (c)
in the ballot box and one of the members shall publicly and
12without examination draw therefrom by chance the number of ballots equal to the
13excess number of ballots. All ballots so removed shall not be counted but shall be
14specially marked as having been removed by the board of absentee ballot canvassers
15on original canvass due to an excess number of ballots, set aside, and preserved.
16When the number of ballots and total shown on the poll list agree, the board of
17absentee ballot canvassers shall return all ballots to be counted, including the ballots
18of military electors that were separated under par. (c),
to the ballot box and shall turn
19the ballot box in such manner as to thoroughly mix the ballots. The board of absentee
20ballot canvassers shall then open, count, and record the number of votes. When the
21ballots are counted, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall separate them into
22piles for ballots similarly voted. Objections may be made to placement of ballots in
23the piles at the time the separation is made.
AB904, s. 35 24Section 35. 7.60 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB904,23,5
17.60 (1) Keep office open. On election night the county clerk shall keep the
2clerk's office open to receive reports from the ward inspectors and shall post all
3returns. On the day after election day, the county clerk shall keep the clerk's office
4open until the clerk has received all ballots, statements, tally sheets, lists, and
5envelopes from each municipal clerk.
AB904, s. 36 6Section 36. 9.01 (1) (at) of the statutes is created to read:
AB904,23,157 9.01 (1) (at) 1. The municipal clerk shall assist the municipal board of
8canvassers in conducting any recount that is conducted by the board of canvassers,
9except that if the municipal clerk is found under s. 5.06 or in any judicial action or
10proceeding to have violated the election laws or any applicable requirement
11contained in the election manual published under s. 7.08 (3) or is restrained from
12violating the laws or manual, the municipal clerk shall not participate in assisting
13the board of canvassers. The appointing authority shall designate the municipal
14clerk of another municipality to serve in lieu of the municipal clerk who is not
15participating.
AB904,24,216 2. No individual who serves as a chief inspector, an inspector, or a special
17registration deputy appointed under s. 6.55 (6) may participate in conducting a
18recount if the individual is found under s. 5.06 or in any judicial action or proceeding
19to have violated the election laws or any applicable requirement contained in the
20election manual published under s. 7.08 (3) or is restrained from violating the laws
21or manual until the municipal clerk of the municipality where the individual serves
22certifies that the individual has successfully completed a training program under s.
237.31 or 7.315. No such individual may participate in conducting a recount if a
24complaint against the individual under s. 5.06 is pending before the board or an

1appeal of the decision of the board relating to the individual is pending before a court
2on the day of the election.
AB904, s. 37 3Section 37. 9.01 (1) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB904,24,144 9.01 (1) (b) (intro.) The proper board of canvassers shall reconvene no earlier
5than 9 a.m. on the day following delivery of notice to all candidates under sub. (2) and
6no later than 9 a.m. on the day following the last day for filing of a petition, or if the
7original canvass is subject to correction under s. 6.221 (6) (b), immediately after
8issuance of the amended statement and determination in the original canvass,
9whichever is later. The board of canvassers shall then proceed to recount the ballots
10in the wards or municipalities specified and to review the allegations of fact
11contained in the petition or petitions. Each step performed by the board of
12canvassers shall be consistent with applicable law and applicable requirements of
13the election manual published under s. 7.08 (3).
The recount shall proceed for each
14ward or municipality as follows:
AB904, s. 38 15Section 38. 9.01 (1) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB904,24,2316 9.01 (1) (b) 2. The board of canvassers shall then examine the absentee ballot
17envelopes. Any defective absentee ballot envelopes shall be laid aside, properly
18marked and carefully preserved. The number of voters shall be reduced by the
19number of ballot envelopes set aside under this subdivision. An absentee ballot
20envelope is defective only if it is not witnessed or, if it is not signed by the voter, if the
21envelope was open or unsealed when it was originally received by the inspectors,
or
22if the certificate accompanying an absentee ballot that the voter received by facsimile
23transmission or electronic mail is missing.
AB904, s. 39 24Section 39. 9.01 (1) (b) 4. a. and b. of the statutes are amended to read:
AB904,25,5
19.01 (1) (b) 4. a. When the container or bag has been checked, it shall be opened
2and the contents removed. The board of canvassers shall, without examination other
3than what is necessary to determine that each is a single ballot, count the number
4of ballots in the container or bag, excluding ballots removed under s. 7.51 (2) (b) and
5(e).
AB904,25,186 b. The board of canvassers shall then, for each opened absentee ballot envelope
7that was laid aside as defective under subd. 2., without inspection, randomly draw
8one absentee ballot that was not laid aside under s. 7.51 (2) (b) from the container
9or bag. In differentiating absentee ballots from other ballots, the board of canvassers
10shall presume that a ballot initialed only by the municipal clerk, the executive
11director of the board of election commissioners, or a deputy clerk or secretary is an
12absentee ballot. If there are more defective absentee ballot envelopes than there are
13probable absentee ballots, all of the probable absentee ballots that were not laid aside
14under s. 7.51 (2) (b)
shall be removed from the container or bag. Additional ballots
15shall be removed only if the number of remaining ballots still exceeds the number of
16voting electors recorded under subd. 1., reduced by the number of defective envelopes
17set aside under subd. 2. All ballots removed shall not be counted, but shall be marked
18as to the reason for their removal, set aside and carefully preserved.
AB904, s. 40 19Section 40. 9.01 (1) (b) 4. c. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB904,25,2520 9.01 (1) (b) 4. c. If, after completing the steps set forth in subd. 4. b., the number
21of ballots still exceeds the number of voters, the board of canvassers shall place all
22ballots face up to check for blank ballots. Any blank ballots shall be so marked, set
23aside and carefully preserved. The board of canvassers shall then temporarily
24separate the absentee ballots marked "Military elector s. 6.34 (1) (a) 1. or 2., stats."
25from the other ballots.
AB904, s. 41
1Section 41. 9.01 (1) (b) 4. d. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB904,26,122 9.01 (1) (b) 4. d. If, after completing the steps set forth in subd. 4. c., the number
3of remaining ballots still exceeds the total number of voters reduced by the number
4of defective envelopes set aside under subd. 2. and by the number of ballots
5temporarily separated under subd. 4. c.
, the board of canvassers shall place all
6ballots face down to
then check the initials. Any ballot not properly initialed by 2
7inspectors or any absentee ballot not properly initialed by the municipal clerk, the
8executive director of the board of election commissioners, or a deputy clerk or
9secretary shall be temporarily set aside and the board of canvassers shall, without
10inspection, randomly draw from these ballots as many as are necessary to reduce the
11number of ballots to equal the number of voters. Any ballots removed for lack of
12initials shall not be counted but shall be marked, set aside and carefully preserved.
AB904, s. 42 13Section 42. 9.01 (1) (b) 4. e. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB904,26,2214 9.01 (1) (b) 4. e. If, after completing the steps set forth in subd. 4. d., the number
15of remaining ballots still exceeds the number of voters reduced by the number of
16defective envelopes set aside under subd. 2. and by the number of ballots temporarily
17separated under subd. 4. c.
, the remaining ballots shall be returned to the container
18or bag and the board of canvassers shall draw a number of ballots equal to the excess
19number of ballots by chance and without inspection from the container or bag. These
20ballots shall not be counted but shall be marked as having been removed by the
21canvassers on recount due to an excess number of ballots, set aside and carefully
22preserved.
AB904, s. 43 23Section 43. 9.01 (1) (b) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB904,27,324 9.01 (1) (b) 5. When the number of ballots and voters agree, or after noting that
25the number of voters exceeds the number of ballots, the board of canvassers shall

1return all ballots to be counted, including the ballots of military electors that were
2separated under subd. 4. c.,
to the ballot box and shall turn the ballot box in such
3manner as to thoroughly mix the ballots. The recount shall then begin.
AB904, s. 44 4Section 44. 9.01 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB904,27,245 9.01 (5) (a) The board of canvassers or the chairperson of the board or the
6chairperson's designee shall keep complete minutes of all proceedings before the
7board of canvassers or the chairperson or designee. The minutes shall include a
8description of each step in the recount process that is performed by the board of
9canvassers or the chairperson or designee and the findings of the board of canvassers
10or the chairperson or designee with respect to that step, if any.
The minutes shall
11include a record of objections and offers of evidence. If the board of canvassers or the
12chairperson or chairperson's designee receives exhibits from any party, the board of
13canvassers or the chairperson or designee shall number and preserve the exhibits.
14The board of canvassers or the chairperson or chairperson's designee shall make
15specific findings of fact with respect to any irregularity raised in the petition or
16discovered during the recount. Any member of the board of canvassers or the
17chairperson or chairperson's designee may receive testimony, administer oaths,
18certify official acts and issue subpoenas for purposes of this section. The board of
19canvassers or the chairperson of the board or the chairperson's designee may
20question an elector concerning the process of voting or assistance provided to the
21elector, but shall not question an elector as to which candidates or questions the
22elector voted for or against.
Witness fees shall be paid by the county. In the case of
23proceedings before the chairperson of the board or chairperson's designee, witness
24fees shall be paid by the board.
AB904, s. 45 25Section 45. 10.02 (3) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB904,28,7
110.02 (3) (g) An elector may select an individual to assist in casting his or her
2vote if the elector declares to the presiding official that he or she is unable to read,
3has difficulty reading, writing or understanding English or that due to disability is
4unable to cast his or her ballot. The selected individual rendering assistance may
5not be a municipal clerk or a deputy clerk, the elector's employer or an agent of that
6employer, or an officer or agent of a labor organization which represents the elector
7and shall not advise the elector to vote for or against any candidate.
AB904, s. 46 8Section 46. 12.13 (2) (b) 9. of the statutes is created to read:
AB904,28,99 12.13 (2) (b) 9. Duplicate a ballot that bears the initials of an election inspector.
AB904, s. 47 10Section 47. 12.13 (2) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB904,28,1411 12.13 (2) (c) No municipal clerk or deputy clerk may assist an elector who
12declares that he or she is unable to read, has difficulty in reading, writing, or
13understanding English, or due to disability is unable to mark his or her ballot, in
14marking the elector's ballot.
AB904, s. 48 15Section 48. 12.13 (3) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB904,28,2416 12.13 (3) (j) When called upon to assist an elector who cannot read or write, has
17difficulty in reading, writing or understanding English, or is unable to mark a ballot
18or depress a lever or button on a voting machine, inform the elector that a ballot
19contains names or words different than are printed or displayed on the ballot with
20the intent of inducing the elector to vote contrary to his or her inclination,
21intentionally fail to cast a vote in accordance with the elector's instructions, advise
22the elector to vote for or against any candidate,
or reveal the elector's vote to any 3rd
23person. For purposes of this paragraph, advice includes any gesture or other visual
24or verbal indication of a preferred candidate.
AB904, s. 49 25Section 49. 12.13 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
AB904,29,5
112.13 (4) Canvassers. If any member of a board or canvassers, or the
2chairperson of the board or chairperson's designee, questions an elector in violation
3of s. 9.01 (5) (a), the member, chairperson or designee may be fined not more than
4$1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both, and for a 2nd or
5subsequent offense within 5 years is guilty of a Class I felony.
AB904, s. 50 6Section 50. 12.60 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB904,29,97 12.60 (1) (b) Whoever violates s. 12.03, 12.05, 12.07, 12.08 or 12.13 (2) (b) 8. or
89. or (c)
, (3) (b), (c), (d), (g), (i), (n) to (x), (ze), (zm) or (zn) may be fined not more than
9$1,000, or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both.
AB904,29,1010 (End)
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