LRB-0131/1
JTK:kjf:jf
2011 - 2012 LEGISLATURE
November 23, 2011 - Introduced by Representatives Berceau, Bewley, Pocan,
Hebl, Turner, Roys, Sinicki, Grigsby
and C. Taylor, cosponsored by Senators
Taylor and Risser. Referred to Committee on Election and Campaign Reform.
AB393,1,5 1An Act to repeal 7.22 (5); to renumber 12.01; to amend 5.05 (2m) (a), 5.05 (2m)
2(c) 11., 5.05 (2m) (c) 15., 5.05 (2m) (c) 16., 5.05 (2m) (c) 17., 12.60 (1) (a), 12.60
3(4) and 978.05 (1); and to create 7.15 (1) (m) and (n), 12.01 (2), 12.10, 12.61 and
4165.25 (12) of the statutes; relating to: voter intimidation or suppression,
5authorized activities at or near polling places, and providing a penalty.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Currently, with certain exceptions, no person who is not acting for official
purposes may post or distribute any election-related material (material that
describes or purports to describe the rights or responsibilities of individuals voting
or registering to vote) during polling hours on election day at a polling place, or on
public property within 100 feet of an entrance to a building containing a polling place.
Similar restrictions apply at the office of a municipal clerk or board of election
commissioners during absentee balloting or at an alternate site where absentee
balloting is being conducted. In addition, no person may use or threaten to use force
to induce any person to vote or refrain from voting in an election; no person may
impede the free exercise of the franchise at an election; and no person may induce
or compel any elector to vote or refrain from voting for or against any candidate or
question at an election.
This bill prohibits any person who is within 500 feet of a polling place on election
day, with intent to intimidate, suppress, or deter a prospective voter from exercising
his or her right to vote in an election, from posing as a law enforcement or

immigration officer; falsely warning or implying that one or more law enforcement
or immigration officers are present; falsely warning or implying that voting may
result in incarceration; making a false statement concerning voter eligibility,
concerning when, where, or how to vote in an election, or concerning the penalties
for voting improperly; or interfering with, impeding, or obstructing the act of voting.
The bill prohibits any person acting on behalf of this state or a county or municipal
government, with intent to intimidate, suppress, or deter a prospective voter from
voting in an election, from placing a traffic or pedestrian barrier or initiating a
construction project on a public roadway or sidewalk within 500 feet of a polling place
during the 72-hour period ending with election day, or from establishing a
checkpoint at which individuals are stopped without specific cause within 500 feet
of a polling place during the 48-hour period ending with election day. With certain
exceptions, the bill prohibits any person, in the presence of or within view of voters
who are engaged in voting at a polling place on election day, from engaging in publicly
identifiable action as a law enforcement officer or private security guard or detective
or purport to be doing so, or from parking or leaving in a parked position a motor
vehicle that bears the markings of a law enforcement officer or private security guard
or detective. The bill prohibits any person, by means of distribution, dissemination,
transmission, broadcast, or posting, with intent to intimidate, suppress, or deter a
prospective voter from voting in an election, from falsely warning of or implying the
presence of law enforcement or immigration officers at a polling place; or from falsely
warning of or implying that voting in the election may result in arrest, conviction,
forfeitures, fines, or imprisonment; or that voting in the election may result in
deportation, academic discipline, loss of academic standing, loss of child custody or
placement, or loss of financial benefits. The bill similarly prohibits any person, by
the same means, with the same intent, from falsely warning of or implying that any
of the following will disqualify a voter: an outstanding parking or traffic citation;
outstanding child support obligations; overdue rent; an arrest warrant; a criminal
or civil arrest or conviction history, except as currently provided by law for convicted
felons who have not completed their sentences; or nonresident student status at an
institution of higher education. The bill prohibits any person, by means of
distribution, dissemination, transmission, broadcast, or posting, from making a false
statement concerning voter eligibility, concerning when, where, or how to vote in an
election, or concerning the penalties for voting improperly. In addition, the bill
prohibits any person, with intent to intimidate, suppress, or deter a prospective voter
from exercising his or her right to vote in an election, from urging a prospective voter
not to complete or return an absentee ballot. No similar provisions exist currently.
Violators are guilty of a felony and may be fined not more than $10,000 or
imprisoned for not more than three years and six months, or both. Under the bill,
prosecutions of alleged violations may be brought by the district attorney for the
county where a violation is alleged to occur or by the attorney general. The bill also
permits an elector, after first notifying the appropriate district attorney and the
attorney general, to sue for a court order to compel compliance with the provisions
created by the bill. In addition, the bill permits any person who is injured by a

violation of one of the bill's provisions to sue any alleged violator for monetary
damages.
Currently, in cities over 500,000 population, the chief of police must station a
police officer at polling places designated by the board of election commissioners for
each election. This bill repeals that requirement.
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,
the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a
report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to
result if the bill is enacted.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB393, s. 1 1Section 1. 5.05 (2m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB393,3,72 5.05 (2m) (a) The board shall investigate violations of laws administered by the
3board and may prosecute alleged civil violations of those laws, directly or through its
4agents under this subsection, pursuant to all statutes granting or assigning that
5authority or responsibility to the board. Prosecution of alleged criminal violations
6investigated by the board may be brought only as provided in par. (c) 11., 14., 15., and
716. and s. ss. 12.60 (4) and 978.05 (1).
AB393, s. 2 8Section 2. 5.05 (2m) (c) 11. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB393,4,29 5.05 (2m) (c) 11. If Except as provided in s. 12.60 (4), if the board finds that there
10is probable cause to believe that a violation under subd. 2. has occurred or is
11occurring, the board may, in lieu of civil prosecution of any matter by the board, refer
12the matter to the district attorney for the county in which the alleged violator resides,
13or if the alleged violator is a nonresident, to the district attorney for the county where
14the matter arises, or if par. (i) applies, to the attorney general or a special prosecutor.
15For purposes of this subdivision, a person other than a natural person resides within
16a county if the person's principal place of operation is located within that county. If
17the board finds that there is probable cause to believe that a violation of s. 12.10 has

1occurred or is occurring, the board shall refer the matter to the district attorney for
2the county where the violation is alleged to occur and to the attorney general.
AB393, s. 3 3Section 3. 5.05 (2m) (c) 15. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB393,4,184 5.05 (2m) (c) 15. Except as provided in subd. 17., if the board refers a matter
5to the district attorney specified in subd. 11. for prosecution of a potential violation
6under subd. 2. or 14. and the district attorney informs the board that he or she
7declines to prosecute any alleged civil or criminal violation related to any matter
8referred to the district attorney by the board, or the district attorney fails to
9commence a prosecution of any civil or criminal violation related to any matter
10referred to the district attorney by the board within 60 days of the date of the board's
11referral, the board may refer the matter to the district attorney for another
12prosecutorial unit that is contiguous to the prosecutorial unit of the district attorney
13to whom the matter was originally referred. If there is more than one such
14prosecutorial unit, the chairperson of the board shall determine the district attorney
15to whom the matter shall be referred by publicly drawing lots at a meeting of the
16board. The district attorney may then commence a civil or criminal prosecution
17relating to the matter. This subdivision does not apply to alleged violations of s.
1812.10.
AB393, s. 4 19Section 4. 5.05 (2m) (c) 16. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB393,5,420 5.05 (2m) (c) 16. Except as provided in subd. 17., if the board refers a matter
21to a district attorney under subd. 15. for prosecution of a potential violation under
22subd. 2. or 14. and the district attorney informs the board that he or she declines to
23prosecute any alleged civil or criminal violation related to any matter referred to the
24district attorney by the board, or the district attorney fails to commence a
25prosecution of any civil or criminal violation related to any matter referred to the

1district attorney by the board within 60 days of the date of the board's referral, the
2board may refer the matter to the attorney general. The attorney general may then
3commence a civil or criminal prosecution relating to the matter. This subdivision
4does not apply to alleged violations of s. 12.10.
AB393, s. 5 5Section 5. 5.05 (2m) (c) 17. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB393,5,86 5.05 (2m) (c) 17. The board is not authorized to act under subd. 15. or 16. if a
7special prosecutor is appointed under s. 978.045 in lieu of the district attorney
8specified in subd. 11. This subdivision does not apply to alleged violations of s. 12.10.
AB393, s. 6 9Section 6. 7.15 (1) (m) and (n) of the statutes are created to read:
AB393,5,1310 7.15 (1) (m) Whenever a traffic or pedestrian barrier is placed on a public
11roadway or sidewalk within 500 feet of a polling place during the 72-hour period
12specified in s. 12.10 (2), provide effective notice to prospective voters by appropriate
13means, informing them of the presence of the barrier.
AB393,5,1614 (n) Whenever the location of a polling place is changed under s. 7.37 (1), provide
15effective notice to prospective voters by appropriate means, informing them of the
16changed location.
AB393, s. 7 17Section 7. 7.22 (5) of the statutes is repealed.
AB393, s. 8 18Section 8. 12.01 of the statutes is renumbered 12.01 (1).
AB393, s. 9 19Section 9. 12.01 (2) of the statutes is created to read:
AB393,5,2020 12.01 (2) In this chapter:
AB393,5,2221 (a) "Immigration officer" means an individual who has primary responsibility
22for enforcement of the immigration laws of the United States.
AB393,5,2323 (b) "Law enforcement officer" has the meaning given in s. 165.85 (2) (c).
AB393, s. 10 24Section 10. 12.10 of the statutes is created to read:
AB393,6,4
112.10 Voter intimidation and suppression. (1) No person, with intent to
2intimidate, suppress, or deter a prospective voter from exercising his or her right to
3vote in an election, may do any of the following within 500 feet of a polling place on
4election day:
AB393,6,75 (a) Pose as a law enforcement officer or immigration officer. Posing may include
6wearing a uniform that resembles a law enforcement uniform or carrying a firearm
7or a 2-way radio.
AB393,6,98 (b) Falsely warn or imply that one or more law enforcement officers or
9immigration officers are present.
AB393,6,1010 (c) Falsely warn or imply that voting may result in incarceration.
AB393,6,1211 (d) Make a false statement concerning voter eligibility, concerning when,
12where, or how to vote in an election, or concerning the penalties for voting improperly.
AB393,6,1313 (e) Interfere with, impede, or obstruct the act of voting.
AB393,6,18 14(2) No person acting on behalf of this state or any county or municipal
15government, with intent to intimidate, suppress, or deter a prospective voter from
16exercising his or her right to vote at an election, may place a traffic or pedestrian
17barrier on a public roadway or sidewalk within 500 feet of a polling place during the
1872-hour period beginning 48 hours before and ending with election day.
AB393,6,23 19(3) No person acting on behalf of this state or any county or municipal
20government, with intent to intimidate, suppress, or deter a prospective voter from
21exercising his or her right to vote in an election, may initiate a construction project
22on a public roadway or sidewalk within 500 feet of a polling place during the 72-hour
23period beginning 48 hours before and ending with election day.
AB393,7,3 24(4) No person acting on behalf of this state or any county or municipal
25government, with intent to intimidate, suppress, or deter a prospective voter from

1exercising his or her right to vote in an election, may establish a checkpoint at which
2individuals are stopped without specific cause within 500 feet of a polling place
3during the 48-hour period beginning 24 hours before and ending with election day.
AB393,7,5 4(5) (a) No person in the presence of or within view of voters who are engaged
5in voting at a polling place on election day may do any of the following:
AB393,7,76 1. Engage in publicly identifiable action as a law enforcement officer or private
7security guard or detective or purport to be doing so.
AB393,7,98 2. Park or leave in a parked position a motor vehicle that bears the markings
9of a law enforcement officer or private security guard or detective.
AB393,7,1110 (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to an individual who is engaged in the act of
11voting.
AB393,7,1512 (c) Paragraph (a) does not apply to an individual who is called by a municipal
13clerk or the inspectors at a polling place to a polling place or the vicinity of a polling
14place for the purpose of delivering ballots, assisting with the closing of a polling place,
15preserving order, investigating a suspected violation of a law, or enforcing a law.
AB393,7,1816 (d) Paragraph (a) does not apply to an individual who is engaged in routine
17action to enforce or investigate an alleged violation of a law unrelated to the election
18that is being held.
AB393,7,22 19(6) No person, by means of distribution, dissemination, transmission,
20broadcast, or posting, may falsely warn of or imply, with intent to intimidate,
21suppress, or deter a prospective voter from exercising his or her right to vote in an
22election, any of the following:
AB393,7,2323 (a) The presence of law enforcement or immigration officers at a polling place.
AB393,7,2524 (b) That voting in the election may result in arrest, conviction, forfeitures,
25fines, or imprisonment.
AB393,8,3
1(c) That voting in the election may result in deportation, academic discipline,
2loss of academic standing, loss of child custody or placement, or loss of financial
3benefits.
AB393,8,7 4(7) No person, by means of distribution, dissemination, transmission,
5broadcast, or posting, may falsely warn of or imply, with intent to intimidate,
6suppress, or deter a prospective voter from exercising his or her right to vote in an
7election, that any of the following will disqualify an elector from voting:
AB393,8,88 (a) An outstanding parking or traffic citation.
AB393,8,99 (b) Outstanding child support obligations.
AB393,8,1010 (c) Overdue rent.
AB393,8,1111 (d) An arrest warrant.
AB393,8,1212 (e) A criminal arrest or conviction history, except as provided in s. 6.03 (1) (b).
AB393,8,1313 (f) A civil arrest or conviction history.
AB393,8,1414 (g) Nonresident student status at an institution of higher education.
AB393,8,18 15(8) No person, by means of distribution, dissemination, transmission,
16broadcast, or posting, may make a false statement concerning voter eligibility,
17concerning when, where, or how to vote in an election, or concerning the penalties
18for voting improperly.
AB393,8,21 19(9) No person, with intent to intimidate, suppress, or deter a prospective voter
20from exercising his or her right to vote in an election, may urge a prospective voter
21not to complete or return an absentee ballot.
AB393, s. 11 22Section 11. 12.60 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB393,8,2423 12.60 (1) (a) Whoever violates s. 12.09, 12.10, 12.11 or 12.13 (1), (2) (b) 1. to 7.
24or (3) (a), (e), (f), (j), (k), (L), (m), (y) or (z) is guilty of a Class I felony.
AB393, s. 12 25Section 12. 12.60 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB393,9,4
112.60 (4) Prosecutions under this chapter shall be conducted in accordance
2with s. 11.61 (2), except that prosecutions for alleged violations of s. 12.10 may be
3brought by the district attorney for the county where the violation is alleged to occur
4or by the attorney general
.
AB393, s. 13 5Section 13. 12.61 of the statutes is created to read:
AB393,9,18 612.61 Voter intimidation and suppression; enforcement. (1) Any elector
7may sue for injunctive relief to compel compliance with s. 12.10. Before commencing
8an action under this subsection, an elector shall file a verified complaint with the
9district attorney for the county where the violation is alleged to occur and the
10attorney general alleging such facts as are within his or her knowledge to show
11probable cause to believe that a violation has occurred or is proposed to occur. If the
12district attorney and the attorney general both refuse or otherwise fail to commence
13an action within 10 days of the filing of the complaint, the elector may commence an
14action. Separate from any other bond which may be required by the court, the elector
15may be required to post a surety bond in an amount determined by the court
16sufficient to cover the actual costs, including reasonable attorney fees, of both
17parties. If the elector's action is not successful, he or she shall pay the costs of the
18action.
AB393,9,24 19(2) Any person who is injured by a violation of s. 12.10 may bring a civil action
20against the alleged violator for damages resulting from the violation. If the court
21finds that an injury resulted from the violation, the court shall award compensatory
22damages to the injured party, plus exemplary damages of not less than $100. The
23court shall also award the actual and necessary costs of the action, including
24reasonable attorney fees, to the injured party if he or she prevails.
AB393, s. 14 25Section 14. 165.25 (12) of the statutes is created to read:
AB393,10,3
1165.25 (12) Voter intimidation and suppression. Investigate and prosecute
2violations of s. 12.10. All expenses of the proceedings shall be paid from the
3appropriation under s. 20.455 (1) (d).
AB393, s. 15 4Section 15. 978.05 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB393,10,205 978.05 (1) Criminal actions. Except as otherwise provided by law, prosecute
6all criminal actions before any court within his or her prosecutorial unit and have
7sole responsibility for prosecution of all criminal actions arising from violations of
8chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19, except actions arising from
9violations of s. 12.10,
and have sole responsibility for prosecution of criminal actions
10arising
from violations of other laws arising from or in relation to the official
11functions of the subject of the investigation or any matter that involves elections,
12ethics, or lobbying regulation under chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of
13ch. 19, except actions arising from violations of s. 12.10, that are alleged to be
14committed by a resident of his or her prosecutorial unit, or if alleged to be committed
15by a nonresident of this state, that are alleged to occur in his or her prosecutorial unit
16unless another prosecutor is substituted under s. 5.05 (2m) (i) or this chapter or by
17referral of the government accountability board under s. 5.05 (2m) (c) 15. or 16. For
18purposes of this subsection, a person other than a natural person is a resident of a
19prosecutorial unit if the person's principal place of operation is located in that
20prosecutorial unit.
AB393,10,2121 (End)
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