LRB-0380/1
ZDW&JK:amn
2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
October 23, 2023 - Introduced by Senators Roys, Hesselbein, L. Johnson, Larson,
Smith, Spreitzer and Agard, cosponsored by Representatives Shelton,
Snodgrass, Palmeri, J. Anderson, Baldeh, Bare, Conley, Emerson,
Jacobson, Joers, Moore Omokunde, Ratcliff, Sinicki, Stubbs, Vining and
Haywood. Referred to Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and
Consumer Protection.
SB552,1,3 1An Act to amend 5.02 (12n), 6.02 (1), 6.02 (2), 6.05, 6.22 (6), 6.24 (1), 6.94 and
27.52 (5) (b) of the statutes; relating to: extending voting rights to certain
317-year-old individuals and requiring a referendum.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Currently, in addition to other qualifications, an individual must be at least 18
years of age to vote at an election in this state. This bill allows an individual who is
17 years of age to vote at a primary if the individual will be 18 years of age on the date
on which the election following the primary is held.
Because the bill extends the right to vote to a class of individuals beyond the
class currently entitled to vote under the Wisconsin Constitution, the bill cannot
become law unless, following enactment, it is approved by the majority of the votes
cast at a statewide referendum to be held at the November 2024 general election.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB552,1 4Section 1. 5.02 (12n) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB552,2,65 5.02 (12n) “Overseas elector" means a U.S. citizen who is residing outside of
6the United States, who is not disqualified from voting under s. 6.03, who has attained

1or will attain the age of
will be at least 18 by years of age on the date of an election
2at which the citizen proposes to vote or, if voting in a primary, will be 18 years of age
3on the date of the election following the primary
, who was last domiciled in this state
4or whose parent was last domiciled in this state immediately prior to the parent's
5departure from the United States, and who is not registered to vote or voting in any
6other state, territory, or possession.
SB552,2 7Section 2. 6.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB552,2,118 6.02 (1) Every U.S. citizen age 18 or older, or age 17 on the date of a primary
9for an election to be held on a date on which the citizen will be age 18,
who has resided
10in an election district or ward for 28 consecutive days before any election where the
11citizen offers to vote is an eligible elector.
SB552,3 12Section 3. 6.02 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB552,2,1813 6.02 (2) Any U.S. citizen age 18 or older, or age 17 on the date of a primary for
14an election to be held on a date on which the citizen will be age 18,
who moves within
15this state later than 28 days before an election shall vote at his or her previous ward
16or election district if the person is otherwise qualified. If the elector can comply with
17the 28-day residence requirement at the new address and is otherwise qualified, he
18or she may vote in the new ward or election district.
SB552,4 19Section 4. 6.05 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB552,3,2 206.05 Election day age determines elector's voting rights. Any person
21who will be at least 18 years old of age on or before election day is entitled to vote at
22an election
if the person is otherwise qualified to vote and the person complies with
23this chapter. Any person who is 17 years of age on the date of a primary for an election
24to be held on a date on which the person will be 18 years of age is entitled to vote at

1the primary if the person is otherwise qualified to vote and the person complies with
2this chapter.
SB552,5 3Section 5. 6.22 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB552,3,164 6.22 (6) Military elector list. Each municipal clerk shall keep an up-to-date
5list of all eligible military electors who reside in the municipality in the format
6prescribed by the commission. The list shall contain the name, latest-known
7military residence and military mailing address of each military elector. The list
8shall indicate whether each elector whose name appears on the list is a military
9elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1), and has so certified under s. 6.865 (3m). All persons
10over who are at least 18 years of age or who will be 18 years old prior to of age on the
11date of
an election or, if voting in a primary, will be 18 years of age on the date of the
12election following the primary
shall be listed and remain on the list for the duration
13of their tour of duty. The list shall be kept current through all possible means. Each
14clerk shall exercise reasonable care to avoid duplication of names or listing anyone
15who is not eligible to vote. Each clerk shall distribute one copy of the list to the each
16polling place in the municipality for use on election day.
SB552,6 17Section 6. 6.24 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB552,4,218 6.24 (1) Definition. In this section, except as otherwise provided, “overseas
19elector" means a U.S. citizen who is not disqualified from voting under s. 6.03, who
20has attained or will attain the age of 18 by will be at least 18 years of age on the date
21of an election at which the citizen proposes to vote or, if voting in a primary, will be
2218 years of age on the date of the election following the primary,
and who does not
23qualify as a resident of this state under s. 6.10, but who was last domiciled in this
24state or whose parent was last domiciled in this state immediately prior to the

1parent's departure from the United States, and who is not registered to vote or voting
2in any other state, territory or possession.
SB552,7 3Section 7. 6.94 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB552,4,20 46.94 Challenged elector oath. If the person challenged refuses to answer
5fully any relevant questions put to him or her by the inspector under s. 6.92, the
6inspectors shall reject the elector's vote. If the challenge is not withdrawn after the
7person offering to vote has answered the questions, one of the inspectors shall
8administer to the person the following oath or affirmation: “You do solemnly swear
9(or affirm) that: you are at least 18 years of age or, if voting in a primary, will be 18
10years of age on the date of the election following the primary
; you are a citizen of the
11United States; you are now and for 28 consecutive days have been a resident of this
12ward except under s. 6.02 (2); you have not voted at this election; you have not made
13any bet or wager or become directly or indirectly interested in any bet or wager
14depending upon the result of this election; you are not on any other ground
15disqualified to vote at this election". If the person challenged refuses to take the oath
16or affirmation, the person's vote shall be rejected. If the person challenged answers
17fully all relevant questions put to the elector by the inspector under s. 6.92, takes the
18oath or affirmation, and fulfills the applicable registration requirements, and if the
19answers to the questions given by the person indicate that the person meets the
20voting qualification requirements, the person's vote shall be received.
SB552,8 21Section 8. 7.52 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB552,5,1722 7.52 (5) (b) For the purpose of deciding upon ballots that are challenged for any
23reason, the board of absentee ballot canvassers may call before it any person whose
24absentee ballot is challenged if the person is available to be called. If the person
25challenged refuses to answer fully any relevant questions put to him or her by the

1board of absentee ballot canvassers under s. 6.92, the board of absentee ballot
2canvassers shall reject the person's vote. If the challenge is not withdrawn after the
3person offering to vote has answered the questions, one of the members of the board
4of absentee ballot canvassers shall administer to the person the following oath or
5affirmation: “You do solemnly swear (or affirm) that: you are at least 18 years of age
6or, if voting in a primary, will be 18 years of age on the date of the election following
7the primary
; you are a citizen of the United States; you are now and for 28
8consecutive days have been a resident of this ward except under s. 6.02 (2), stats.; you
9have not voted at this election; you have not made any bet or wager or become directly
10or indirectly interested in any bet or wager depending upon the result of this election;
11you are not on any other ground disqualified to vote at this election." If the person
12challenged refuses to take the oath or affirmation, the person's vote shall be rejected.
13If the person challenged answers fully all relevant questions put to the elector by the
14board of absentee ballot canvassers under s. 6.92, takes the oath or affirmation, and
15fulfills the applicable registration requirements, and if the answers to the questions
16given by the person indicate that the person meets the voting qualification
17requirements, the person's vote shall be received.
SB552,9 18Section 9 . Nonstatutory provisions.
SB552,5,2519 (1) The following question shall be submitted to the vote of the electors at the
20general election to be held in November 2024: “Shall 2023 Wisconsin Act .... (this act),
21which extends the right to vote in a primary to an individual who is 17 years of age
22if the individual will be 18 years of age on the date on which the election following
23the primary is held, become effective on January 1, 2025?" If the question is approved
24by the majority of all votes cast on the question at the election, this act shall become
25law; otherwise, this act shall not take effect.
SB552,10
1Section 10. Effective dates. This act takes effect on January 1, 2025, if the
2condition set forth in Section 9 (1) of this act is satisfied, except as follows:
SB552,6,33 (1) Section 9 (1 ) of this act takes effect on the day after publication.
SB552,6,44 (End)
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