LRB-2652/1
ZDW:emw
2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE
July 28, 2015 - Introduced by Senators Harris Dodd, Risser, Wirch, C. Larson, L.
Taylor
and Vinehout, cosponsored by Representatives Barnes, Sargent,
Genrich, Mason, Doyle, C. Taylor, Brostoff, Young, Kessler, Zepnick,
Pope, Subeck, Spreitzer, Berceau, Goyke and Sinicki. Referred to Committee
on Elections and Local Government.
SB220,1,3 1An Act to renumber 6.36 (1) (a); to amend 6.20 and 6.36 (2) (a); and to create
26.03 (1) (c), 6.31, 6.36 (1) (ab) and 6.36 (2) (d) of the statutes; relating to:
3allowing 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:
SB220,1 1Section 1. 6.03 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
SB220,2,32 6.03 (1) (c) Any person who preregistered to vote under s. 6.31 but who is not
3age 18 or older on election day.
SB220,2 4Section 2. 6.20 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB220,2,7 56.20 Absent electors. Any qualified elector of this state who registers, and
6any person who preregisters and will be age 18 or older on election day,
may vote by
7absentee ballot under ss. 6.84 to 6.89.
SB220,3 8Section 3. 6.31 of the statutes is created to read:
SB220,2,11 96.31 Preregistration. Any U.S. citizen age 16 or 17 who has resided in an
10election district or ward for 28 consecutive days may preregister by any method
11provided in s. 6.30.
SB220,4 12Section 4. 6.36 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 6.36 (1) (am).
SB220,5 13Section 5. 6.36 (1) (ab) of the statutes is created to read:
SB220,2,1614 6.36 (1) (ab) In this subsection, "elector" means any U.S. citizen age 16 or older
15who has registered or preregistered and will be eligible to vote under s. 6.02 on or
16before the date of the next election.
SB220,6 17Section 6. 6.36 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB220,3,1418 6.36 (2) (a) Except as provided in par. (b) and (d), each registration list prepared
19for use as a poll list at a polling place or for purposes of canvassing absentee ballots
20at an election shall contain the full name and address of each registered elector; a
21blank column for the entry of the serial number of the electors when they vote or the

1poll list number used by the municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers in
2canvassing absentee ballots; an indication next to the name of each elector for whom
3proof of residence under s. 6.34 is required; a space for entry of the type of and the
4name of the entity or institution that issued the identifying document submitted by
5the elector as proof of residence when proof of residence under s. 6.34 is required; a
6space for entry of the elector's signature, or if another person signed the elector's
7registration form for the elector by reason of the elector's physical disability, the word
8"exempt"; and a form of certificate bearing the certification of the administrator of
9the elections division of the board stating that the list is a true and complete
10registration list of the municipality or the ward or wards for which the list is
11prepared. The board shall, by rule, prescribe the space and location for entry of each
12elector's signature on the poll list which shall provide for entry of the signature
13without changing the orientation of the poll list from the orientation used by the
14election officials.
SB220,7 15Section 7. 6.36 (2) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
SB220,3,1716 6.36 (2) (d) The list shall not contain the name of any person who preregistered
17under s. 6.31 unless the person will be age 18 or older on election day.
SB220,3,1818 (End)
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