AB316: Bill Text

LRB-2393/1

ZDW:emw

2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE

2015 Assembly BILL 316

August 26, 2015 - Introduced by Representatives Barnes, Sargent, Genrich, Mason, Doyle, C. Taylor, Brostoff, Young, Kessler, Zepnick, Pope, Subeck, Spreitzer, Berceau, Goyke and Sinicki, cosponsored by Senators Harris Dodd, Risser, Wirch, C. Larson, L. Taylor and Vinehout. Referred to Committee on Campaigns and Elections.

AB316,1,3 An Act to renumber 6.36 (1) (a); to amend 6.20 and 6.36 (2) (a); and to create 6.03 (1) (c), 6.31, 6.36 (1) (ab) and 6.36 (2) (d) of the statutes; relating to: allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to preregister to vote.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill allows a person age 16 or 17 to preregister to vote.

Under current law, only qualified electors may register to vote and vote in an election. A qualified elector is a U.S. citizen age 18 or older who has resided in an election district or ward for 28 consecutive days. Under this bill, a person who is age 16 or 17 but is otherwise a qualified elector may preregister to vote. A person who preregistered to vote may not vote in any election unless they are age 18 or older on election day. A person who preregistered may vote by absentee ballot if they will be age 18 or older on election day.

Under current law, the Government Accountability Board must maintain electronically the official registration list. Each registration list prepared for use as a poll list at a polling place must contain the full name and address of each registered elector. Under this bill, for purposes of the official registration list, "elector" means any U.S. citizen age 16 or older who has registered or preregistered and will be eligible to vote on or before the date of the next election. However, a registration list prepared for use as a poll list may not contain the name of any person who preregistered to vote unless the person will be age 18 or older on election day.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

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

AB316,1 Section 1. 6.03 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB316,2,3 6.03 (1) (c) Any person who preregistered to vote under s. 6.31 but who is not age 18 or older on election day.

AB316,2 Section 2. 6.20 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB316,2,7 6.20 Absent electors. Any qualified elector of this state who registers, and any person who preregisters and will be age 18 or older on election day, may vote by absentee ballot under ss. 6.84 to 6.89.

AB316,3 Section 3. 6.31 of the statutes is created to read:

AB316,2,11 6.31 Preregistration. Any U.S. citizen age 16 or 17 who has resided in an election district or ward for 28 consecutive days may preregister by any method provided in s. 6.30.

AB316,4 Section 4. 6.36 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 6.36 (1) (am).

AB316,5 Section 5. 6.36 (1) (ab) of the statutes is created to read:

AB316,2,16 6.36 (1) (ab) In this subsection, "elector" means any U.S. citizen age 16 or older who has registered or preregistered and will be eligible to vote under s. 6.02 on or before the date of the next election.

AB316,6 Section 6. 6.36 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB316,3,14 6.36 (2) (a) Except as provided in par. (b) and (d), each registration list prepared for use as a poll list at a polling place or for purposes of canvassing absentee ballots at an election shall contain the full name and address of each registered elector; a blank column for the entry of the serial number of the electors when they vote or the poll list number used by the municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers in canvassing absentee ballots; an indication next to the name of each elector for whom proof of residence under s. 6.34 is required; a space for entry of the type of and the name of the entity or institution that issued the identifying document submitted by the elector as proof of residence when proof of residence under s. 6.34 is required; a space for entry of the elector's signature, or if another person signed the elector's registration form for the elector by reason of the elector's physical disability, the word "exempt"; and a form of certificate bearing the certification of the administrator of the elections division of the board stating that the list is a true and complete registration list of the municipality or the ward or wards for which the list is prepared. The board shall, by rule, prescribe the space and location for entry of each elector's signature on the poll list which shall provide for entry of the signature without changing the orientation of the poll list from the orientation used by the election officials.

AB316,7 Section 7. 6.36 (2) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB316,3,17 6.36 (2) (d) The list shall not contain the name of any person who preregistered under s. 6.31 unless the person will be age 18 or older on election day.

AB316,3,18 (End)