AB849: Bill Text

AB849,10,15 6.82 (3) Use of paper ballots. Whenever, in a municipality in which voting machines are used, an elector declares to the chief inspector that, due to physical disability, the elector is unable to depress a button or lever on a voting machine, the inspectors shall permit the elector to vote using a paper ballot and voting booth.

AB849, s. 22 Section 22. 7.15 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB849,10,21 7.15 (3) (a) Where voting machines are used or where electronic voting systems are employed, the municipal clerk shall provide at least 2 duplicate sample ballots for each ward in diagram form showing the board or screen inside each voting machine or the front of each ballot as it will appear in the voting machines or booths on election day.

AB849, s. 23 Section 23. 7.23 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB849,11,2 7.23 (1) (f) Except as authorized in pars. (b) and (g) par. (b), ballots, applications for absentee ballots, registration forms, or other records and papers requisite to voting at any federal election, other than registration cards, may be destroyed after 22 months.

AB849, s. 24 Section 24. 7.23 (1) (g) of the statutes is repealed.

AB849, s. 25 Section 25. 7.37 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB849,11,14 7.37 (4) Balloting procedure. At polling places which utilize paper ballots or electronic voting systems in which ballots are distributed to electors, 2 inspectors shall be assigned to take charge of the official ballots. They shall write their initials on the back of each ballot and deliver to each elector as he or she enters the voting booth one ballot properly endorsed by each of them. Where paper ballots are used, the inspectors shall fold each ballot in the proper manner to be deposited before delivering it to the elector. If asked, inspectors may instruct any elector as to the proper manner of marking the ballot, but they may not give advice, suggestions, express any preferences or make any requests as to the person for whom, the question on which or the ballot on which the elector shall vote.

AB849, s. 26 Section 26. 7.51 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB849,11,22 7.51 (6) Electronic voting systems. The procedure for canvassing of votes cast at polling places utilizing an electronic voting system in which ballots are distributed to electors shall follow the procedure for canvassing paper ballots insofar as applicable, and the procedure for canvassing of votes cast at polling places utilizing an electronic voting machine shall follow the procedure for canvassing of mechanical voting machines insofar as applicable, except as otherwise provided in ss. 5.85 to 5.89.

AB849, s. 27 Section 27. 9.01 (1) (b) 6., 8. and 10. of the statutes are amended to read:

AB849,12,5 9.01 (1) (b) 6. In recounting the votes cast on a voting machine in which the record of the votes cast is contained in the machine, the board of canvassers shall make a record of the number of the seal, if any, the number of the protective counter or other device, if one is provided, and shall open the recording compartment of the machine, and without unlocking the machine against voting, shall recount the votes thereon. If the machine is an electronic voting machine utilizing a detachable record of votes cast, the record shall be retabulated under s. 5.90.

AB849,12,14 8. If upon the recount it is found that the original canvass of the returns has been correctly made from a voting machine and that a discrepancy still remains unaccounted for, the board of canvassers shall publicly unlock the voting and counting mechanism of the machine, and shall proceed to examine and test the machine to determine the cause of the discrepancy in returns from the machine. A similar test shall be performed for electronic voting machines to ascertain whether there is any malfunction in the machine. After the completion of the examination and test, the board of canvassers shall prepare a statement giving the results of the examination and test. The statement shall be witnessed by at least one witness.

AB849,12,20 10. Recounts at polling places utilizing an electronic voting system in which ballots are distributed to electors shall be performed in accordance with the procedure for recounting paper ballots insofar as applicable, except as provided in s. 5.90. Recounts at polling places utilizing electronic voting machines shall be performed in accordance with the procedure for recounting votes cast on mechanical voting machines, insofar as applicable, except as provided in s. 5.90.

AB849, s. 28 Section 28. 10.01 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB849,13,5 10.01 (2) (b) Type B—The type B notice shall include the relevant facsimile ballots and the relevant portions of voting instructions to electors under s. 10.02 for each office or referendum and shall specify the date of the election. In counties or municipalities where an electronic voting system in which ballots are distributed to electors is used, the notice shall include the information specified in s. 5.94. The type B notice shall be published once by the county clerks, and for primaries and other elections in municipalities or special purpose districts, once by the clerk of the municipality or special purpose district on the day preceding each primary and other election.

AB849, s. 29 Section 29. 10.02 (3) (b) 1., 2., 2m., 3. and 4. of the statutes are amended to read:

AB849,13,17 10.02 (3) (b) 1. If an elector wishes to vote for all candidates nominated by any party, the elector shall make a cross (7) or depress the lever or button next to the party designation shown at the top of the ballot. Unless a name has been erased or crossed out, another name written in, a cross made next to the name of a candidate for the same office in another column or a sticker applied, a cross next to a party designation at the top of the column is a vote for all the party's candidates listed in the column. If an elector does not wish to vote for all the candidates nominated by one party, the elector shall make a cross (7) next to or separately depress the levers or buttons next to each candidate's name for whom he or she intends to vote, or shall insert or write in the name of a candidate.

AB849,13,21 2. At a special partisan primary, the elector shall select the party ballot of his or her choice and shall make a cross (7) next to or depress the lever or button next to the candidate's name for each office for whom the elector intends to vote, or shall insert or write in the name of the elector's choice for a candidate.

AB849,14,5 2m. At the September primary, the elector shall select the party ballot of his or her choice or the ballot containing the names of the independent candidates for state office, and make a cross (7) next to or depress the lever or button next to the candidate's name for each office for whom the elector intends to vote or insert or write in the name of the elector's choice for a party candidate, if any. In order to qualify for participation in the Wisconsin election campaign fund, a candidate for state office at the September primary, other than a candidate for district attorney, must receive at least 6% of all votes cast on all ballots for the office for which he or she is a candidate, in addition to other requirements.

AB849,14,11 3. When casting a presidential preference vote, the elector shall select the party ballot of his or her choice and make a cross (7) next to or depress the button or lever next to the candidate's name for whom he or she intends to vote or shall, in the alternative, make a cross (7) next to or depress the button or lever next to the words "Uninstructed delegation", or shall write in the name of his or her choice for a candidate.

AB849,14,15 4. At a nonpartisan primary, the elector shall make a cross (7) next to or depress the button or lever next to the candidate's name for each office for whom he or she intends to vote, or insert or write in the name of his or her choice for a candidate.

AB849, s. 30 Section 30. 10.02 (3) (c) and (d) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB849,14,21 10.02 (3) (c) In presidential elections, unless the elector wishes to vote for all candidates nominated by any party, the elector shall make a cross (7) next to or depress the button or lever next to the set of candidates for president and vice president for whom he or she intends to vote. A vote for candidates for president and vice president is a vote for the presidential electors of those candidates.

AB849,14,23 (d) On referenda questions, the elector shall make a cross (7) next to or depress the button or lever next to the answer which he or she intends to give.

AB849, s. 31 Section 31. 10.06 (3) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB849,15,6 10.06 (3) (e) When electronic or mechanical voting machines or electronic voting systems in which ballots are distributed to electors are used in a municipality at a municipal election, the municipal clerk shall publish a type B notice on the Monday before the election. The notice shall include all offices and questions to be voted on at the election. The cost of this notice shall be shared under s. 5.68 (2) and (3).

AB849, s. 32 Section 32. 12.13 (3) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB849,15,14 12.13 (3) (j) When called upon to assist an elector who cannot read or write, has difficulty in reading, writing or understanding English, or is unable to mark a ballot or depress a lever or button on a voting machine, inform the elector that a ballot contains names or words different than are printed or displayed on the ballot with the intent of inducing the elector to vote contrary to his or her inclination, intentionally fail to cast a vote in accordance with the elector's instructions or reveal the elector's vote to any 3rd person.

AB849,15,15 (End)