2011 Wisconsin Act 75

75,39 Section 39. 6.50 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

6.50 (8) Any municipal governing body may direct the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners to arrange with the U.S. postal service pursuant to applicable federal regulations, to receive change of address information with respect to individuals residing within the municipality for revision of the elector registration list. If required by the U.S. postal service, the governing body may create a registration commission consisting of the municipal clerk or executive director of the board of election commissioners and 2 other electors of the municipality appointed by the clerk or executive director for the purpose of making application for address changes and processing the information received. The municipal clerk or executive director shall act as chairperson of the commission. Any authorization under this subsection shall be for a definite period or until the municipal governing body otherwise determines. The procedure shall apply uniformly to the entire municipality whenever used. The procedure shall provide for receipt of complete change of address information on an automatic basis, or not less often than once every 2 years during the 60 days preceding the close of registration for the September partisan primary. If a municipality adopts the procedure for obtaining address corrections under this subsection, it need not comply with the procedure for mailing address verification cards under subs. (1) and (2).

75,40 Section 40. 6.86 (1) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

6.86 (1) (a) (intro.) Any elector of a municipality who is registered to vote whenever required and who qualifies under ss. 6.20 and 6.85 as an absent elector may make written application to the municipal clerk of that municipality for an official ballot by one of the following methods:

75,41 Section 41. 6.86 (1) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

6.86 (1) (a) 3. By signing a statement and filing a request to receive absentee ballots under sub. (2) or (2m) (a) or s. 6.22 (4), 6.24 (4), or 6.25 (1) (c).

75,42 Section 42. 6.86 (1) (ac) of the statutes is amended to read:

6.86 (1) (ac) Any elector qualifying under par. (a) may make written application to the municipal clerk for an official ballot by means of facsimile transmission or electronic mail. Any application under this paragraph shall need not contain a copy of the applicant's original signature. An elector requesting a ballot under this paragraph shall return with the voted ballot a copy of the request bearing an original signature of the elector as provided in s. 6.87 (4).

75,43 Section 43. 6.86 (1) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 23, is amended to read:

6.86 (1) (b) Except as provided in this section, if application is made by mail, the application shall be received no later than 5 p.m. on the 5th day immediately preceding the election. If application is made in person, the application shall be made no earlier than the opening of business on the 3rd Monday preceding the election and no later than 5 p.m. or the close of business, whichever is later, on the Friday preceding the election. Except as provided in par. (c), if the elector is making written application for an absentee ballot at the September partisan primary or, the general election , the presidential preference primary, or a special election for national office, and the application indicates that the elector is a military elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1), the application shall be received by the municipal clerk no later than 5 p.m. on election day. If the application indicates that the reason for requesting an absentee ballot is that the elector is a sequestered juror, the application shall be received no later than 5 p.m. on election day. If the application is received after 5 p.m. on the Friday immediately preceding the election, the municipal clerk or the clerk's agent shall immediately take the ballot to the court in which the elector is serving as a juror and deposit it with the judge. The judge shall recess court, as soon as convenient, and give the elector the ballot. The judge shall then witness the voting procedure as provided in s. 6.87 and shall deliver the ballot to the clerk or agent of the clerk who shall deliver it to the polling place or, in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, to the municipal clerk as required in s. 6.88. If application is made under sub. (2) or (2m), the application may be received no later than 5 p.m. on the Friday immediately preceding the election.

75,44 Section 44. 6.865 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

6.865 (title) Federal absentee ballot requests ballots.

75,45 Section 45. 6.865 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

75,46 Section 46. 6.865 (3m) (a) of the statutes is repealed.

75,47 Section 47. 6.865 (3m) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 6.865 (3m) and amended to read:

6.865 (3m) A military elector may indicate an alternate address on his or her absentee ballot application. If the elector's ballot is returned as undeliverable prior to the deadline for receipt and return of absentee ballots under sub. (3) s. 6.87 (6) and the elector remains eligible to receive absentee ballots under this subsection, the municipal clerk shall immediately send or transmit an absentee ballot to the elector at the alternate address.

75,48 Section 48. 6.865 (3m) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

75,49 Section 49. 6.869 of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 23, is amended to read:

6.869 Uniform instructions. The board shall prescribe uniform instructions for municipalities to provide to absentee electors. The instructions shall include the specific means of electronic communication that an absentee elector may use to file an application for an absentee ballot and, if the absentee elector is required to register, to request a registration form or change his or her registration. The instructions shall include information concerning whether proof of identification is required to be presented or enclosed under s. 6.86 (1) (ar) or 6.87 (4) (b) 1. The instructions shall also include information concerning the procedure for correcting errors in marking a ballot and obtaining a replacement for a spoiled ballot. The procedure shall, to the extent possible, respect the privacy of each elector and preserve the confidentiality of each elector's vote.

75,50 Section 50. 6.87 (3) (d) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 23, is amended to read:

6.87 (3) (d) A municipal clerk shall, if the clerk is reliably informed by an absent elector a military elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (a), or an overseas elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (b), of a facsimile transmission number or electronic mail address where the elector can receive an absentee ballot, transmit a facsimile or electronic copy of the absent elector's ballot to that elector in lieu of mailing under this subsection. An elector may receive an absentee ballot only if the elector is a military elector or an overseas elector under s. 6.34 (1) and has filed a valid application for the ballot under as provided in s. 6.86 (1). If the clerk transmits an absentee ballot to an absentee a military or overseas elector electronically, the clerk shall also transmit a facsimile or electronic copy of the text of the material that appears on the certificate envelope prescribed in sub. (2), together with instructions prescribed by the board. The instructions shall require the absent military or overseas elector to make and subscribe to the certification as required under sub. (4) (b) and to enclose the absentee ballot in a separate envelope contained within a larger envelope, that shall include the completed certificate. The elector shall then affix sufficient postage unless the absentee ballot qualifies for mailing free of postage under federal free postage laws and shall mail the absentee ballot to the municipal clerk. Except as authorized in s. 6.97 (2), an absentee ballot received from an a military or overseas elector who receives the ballot electronically shall not be counted unless it is cast in the manner prescribed in this paragraph and in accordance with the instructions provided by the board.

75,51 Section 51. 6.87 (6) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 23, is amended to read:

6.87 (6) Except as provided in s. 6.221 7.515 (3), the ballot shall be returned so it is received by the municipal clerk no later than 8 p.m. on election day. Except in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, if the municipal clerk receives an absentee ballot on election day, the clerk shall secure the ballot and cause the ballot to be delivered to the polling place serving the elector's residence before the closing hour. Except as provided in s. 6.221 7.515 (3), any ballot not mailed or delivered as provided in this subsection may not be counted.

75,52 Section 52. 6.875 (3) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 23, is amended to read:

6.875 (3) An occupant of a nursing home or qualified retirement home, qualified community-based residential facility, qualified residential care apartment complex, or qualified adult family home who qualifies as an absent elector and desires to receive an absentee ballot shall make application under s. 6.86 (1), (2), or (2m) with the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners of the municipality in which the elector is a resident. The clerk or board of election commissioners of a municipality receiving an application from an elector who is an occupant of a nursing home or qualified retirement home, qualified community-based residential facility, qualified residential care apartment complex, or qualified adult family home located in a different municipality shall, as soon as possible, notify and transmit send an absentee ballot for the elector to the clerk or board of election commissioners of the municipality in which the home, facility, or complex is located. The clerk or board of election commissioners of a municipality receiving an application from an elector who is an occupant of a nursing home or qualified retirement home, qualified community-based residential facility, qualified residential care apartment complex, or qualified adult family home located in the municipality but who is a resident of a different municipality shall, as soon as possible, notify and request transmission of an absentee ballot from the clerk or board of election commissioners of the municipality in which the elector is a resident. The clerk or board of election commissioners shall make a record of all absentee ballots to be transmitted sent, delivered, and voted under this section.

75,53 Section 53. 6.88 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

6.88 (1) When an absentee ballot arrives at the office of the municipal clerk, or at an alternate site under s. 6.855, if applicable, the clerk shall enclose it, unopened, in a carrier envelope which shall be securely sealed and endorsed with the name and official title of the clerk, and the words "This envelope contains the ballot of an absent elector and must be opened in the same room where votes are being cast at the polls during polling hours on election day or, in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, stats., at a meeting of the municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers under s. 7.52, stats.". If the elector is a military elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (a), or an overseas elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (b), and the ballot was received by the elector by facsimile transmission or electronic mail and is accompanied by a separate certificate, the clerk shall enclose the ballot in a certificate envelope and securely append the completed certificate to the outside of the envelope before enclosing the ballot in the carrier envelope. The clerk shall keep the ballot in the clerk's office or at the alternate site, if applicable until delivered, as required in sub. (2).

75,54 Section 54. 6.88 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

6.88 (3) (b) When the inspectors find that a certification is insufficient, that the applicant is not a qualified elector in the ward or election district, that the ballot envelope is open or has been opened and resealed, that the ballot envelope contains more than one ballot of any one kind or, except in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, that the certificate of an a military or overseas elector who received an absentee ballot by facsimile transmission or electronic mail is missing, or if proof is submitted to the inspectors that an elector voting an absentee ballot has since died, the inspectors shall not count the ballot. The inspectors shall endorse every ballot not counted on the back, "rejected (giving the reason)". The inspectors shall reinsert each rejected ballot into the certificate envelope in which it was delivered and enclose the certificate envelopes and ballots, and securely seal the ballots and envelopes in an envelope marked for rejected absentee ballots. The inspectors shall endorse the envelope, "rejected ballots" with a statement of the ward or election district and date of the election, signed by the chief inspector and one of the inspectors representing each of the 2 major political parties and returned to the municipal clerk in the same manner as official ballots voted at the election.

75,55 Section 55. 7.08 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.08 (2) (b) The certified list of candidates for president and vice president nominated at a national convention by a party entitled to a September partisan primary ballot or for whom electors have been nominated under s. 8.20 shall be sent as soon as possible after the closing date for filing nomination papers, but no later than the deadlines established in s. 10.06.

75,56 Section 56. 7.10 (3) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 45, is amended to read:

7.10 (3) (a) The county clerk shall distribute the ballots to the municipal clerks no later than 31 48 days before each September partisan primary and general election and no later than 22 days before each other primary and election. Election forms prepared by the board shall be distributed at the same time. If the board transmits an amended certification under s. 7.08 (2) (a) or if the board or a court orders a ballot error to be corrected under s. 5.06 (6) or 5.72 (3) after ballots have been distributed, the county clerk shall distribute corrected ballots to the municipal clerks as soon as possible.

75,57 Section 57. 7.15 (1) (cm) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Acts 23 and 45, is amended to read:

7.15 (1) (cm) Prepare official absentee ballots for delivery to electors requesting them, and except as provided in this paragraph, send or transmit an official absentee ballot to each elector who has requested a ballot by mail, and to each military elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (a), and overseas elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (b), who has requested a ballot by mail, electronic mail, or facsimile transmission no later than the 30th 47th day before each September partisan primary and general election and no later than the 21st day before each other primary and election if the request is made before that day; otherwise, the municipal clerk shall send or transmit an official absentee ballot within one day of the time the elector's request for such a ballot is received. The clerk shall send or transmit an absentee ballot for the presidential preference primary to each elector who has requested that ballot no later than the 47th day before the presidential preference primary if the request is made before that day, or, if the request is not made before that day, within one day of the time the request is received.

75,58 Section 58. 7.15 (1) (cs) of the statutes is repealed.

75,59 Section 59. 7.15 (1) (j) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 23, is amended to read:

7.15 (1) (j) Send or transmit an absentee ballot automatically to each person elector and send or transmit an absentee ballot to each military elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (a), and each overseas elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (b), making an authorized request therefor in accordance with s. 6.22 (4), 6.24 (4) (c), or 6.86 (2) or (2m).

75,60 Section 60. 7.51 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.51 (5) (b) The municipal clerk shall deliver all ballots, statements, tally sheets, lists, and envelopes relating to a school district election to the school district clerk by 4 p.m. on the day following each such election. The municipal clerk shall deliver the ballots, statements, tally sheets, lists, and envelopes for his or her municipality relating to any county, technical college district, state, or national election to the county clerk no later than 4 p.m. on the day following each such election or, in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, by 4 p.m. on the 2nd day following each such election, and no later than 4 p.m. on the day after receiving any corrected returns under s. 6.221 7.515 (6) (b). The person delivering the returns shall be paid out of the municipal treasury. Each clerk shall retain ballots, statements, tally sheets, or envelopes received by the clerk until destruction is authorized under s. 7.23 (1).

75,61 Section 61. 7.52 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.52 (3) (b) When the board of absentee ballot canvassers finds that a certification is insufficient, that the applicant is not a qualified elector in the ward or election district, that the ballot envelope is open or has been opened and resealed, that the ballot envelope contains more than one ballot of any one kind, or that the certificate of an a military or overseas elector who received an absentee ballot by facsimile transmission or electronic mail is missing, or if proof is submitted to the board of absentee ballot canvassers that an elector voting an absentee ballot has since died, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall not count the ballot. Each member of the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall endorse every ballot not counted on the back as "rejected (giving the reason)." The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall reinsert each rejected ballot into the certificate envelope in which it was delivered and enclose the certificate envelopes and ballots, and securely seal the ballots and envelopes in an envelope marked for rejected absentee ballots. The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall endorse the envelope as "rejected ballots," with a statement of the ward or election district and date of the election, and each member of the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall sign the statement. The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall then return the envelope containing the ballots to the municipal clerk.

75,62 Section 62. 7.60 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.60 (5) (a) Immediately following the canvass, the county clerk shall deliver or send to the government accountability board, by 1st class mail, a certified copy of each statement of the county board of canvassers for president and vice president, state officials, senators and representatives in congress, state legislators, justice, court of appeals judge, circuit judge, district attorney, and metropolitan sewerage commissioners, if the commissioners are elected under s. 200.09 (11) (am). The statement shall record the returns for each office or referendum by ward, unless combined returns are authorized under s. 5.15 (6) (b) in which case the statement shall record the returns for each group of combined wards. Following primaries the county clerk shall enclose on forms prescribed by the government accountability board the names, party or principle designation, if any, and number of votes received by each candidate recorded in the same manner. The county clerk shall deliver or transmit the certified statement to the government accountability board no later than 7 days after each primary except the September partisan primary, no later than 10 days after the September partisan primary and any other election except the general election, and no later than 14 days after the general election. The board of canvassers shall deliver or transmit a certified copy of each statement for any technical college district referendum to the secretary of the technical college district board.

75,63 Section 63. 7.70 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.70 (3) (a) The chairperson of the board or a designee of the chairperson appointed by the chairperson to canvass a specific election shall publicly canvass the returns and make his or her certifications and determinations on or before the 2nd Tuesday following a spring primary, the 15th day of May following a spring election, the 3rd Wednesday following a September partisan primary, the first day of December following a general election, the 2nd Thursday following a special primary, or within 18 days after any special election.

75,64 Section 64. 8.10 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.10 (1) Candidates for office to be filled at the spring election shall be nominated by nomination papers, or by nomination papers and selection at the primary if a primary is held, except as provided for towns and villages under s. 8.05. Unless designated in this section or s. 8.05, the general provisions pertaining to nomination at the September partisan primary apply.

75,65 Section 65. 8.15 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.15 (title) Nominations for September partisan primary.

75,66 Section 66. 8.15 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.15 (1) Nomination papers may be circulated no sooner than June 1 April 15 preceding the general election and may be filed no later than 5 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of July June 1 preceding the September partisan primary, except as authorized in this subsection. If an incumbent fails to file nomination papers and a declaration of candidacy by 5 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of July June 1 preceding the September partisan primary, all candidates for the office held by the incumbent, other than the incumbent, may file nomination papers no later than 72 hours after the latest time prescribed in this subsection. No extension of the time for filing nomination papers applies if the incumbent files written notification with the filing officer or agency with whom nomination papers are filed for the office which the incumbent holds, no later than 5 p.m. on the 2nd Friday preceding the latest time prescribed in this subsection for filing nomination papers, that the incumbent is not a candidate for reelection to his or her office, and the incumbent does not file nomination papers for that office within the time prescribed in this subsection. Only those candidates for whom nomination papers containing the necessary signatures acquired within the allotted time and filed before the deadline may have their names appear on the official September partisan primary ballot.

75,67 Section 67. 8.16 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.16 (7) Nominees chosen at a national convention and under s. 8.18 (2) by each party entitled to a September partisan primary ballot shall be the party's candidates for president, vice president and presidential electors. The state or national chairperson of each such party shall certify the names of the party's nominees for president and vice president to the board no later than 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday in September preceding a presidential election. Each name shall be in one of the formats authorized in s. 7.08 (2) (a).

75,68 Section 68. 8.17 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.17 (1) (b) Each political party shall elect one committeeman or committeewoman from each election district. In this section, each village, each town and each city is an "election district"; except that in cities having a population of more than 7,500 which are divided into aldermanic districts, each aldermanic district is an "election district"; and in cities having a population of more than 7,500 which are not divided into aldermanic districts and villages or towns having a population of more than 7,500, each ward or group of combined wards under s. 5.15 (6) (b) constituting a polling place on June 1 April 15 of the year in which committeemen or committeewomen are elected is an "election district". To be eligible to serve as its committeeman or committeewoman, an individual shall be, at the time of filing nomination papers or at the time of appointment under this section, a resident of the election district which he or she is chosen to represent and shall be at least 18 years of age.

75,69 Section 69. 8.17 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.17 (4) The term of office of each committeeman or committeewoman shall end on the date of the meeting held under sub. (5) (b) following each September partisan primary.

75,70 Section 70. 8.17 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.17 (5) (b) A combined meeting of the county committee and members in good standing of the party in the county shall be held no sooner than 15 days after the September partisan primary and no later than April 1 of the following year. At this meeting, the party committeemen or committeewomen and the county committee offices of chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary and treasurer shall be filled by election by the incumbent committeemen, committeewomen and other party members present and voting, each of whom is entitled to one vote. At this meeting, the county committee shall elect the members of the congressional district committee as provided in sub. (6) (b), (c) and (d). The secretary of the county committee shall give at least 7 days' written notice of the meeting to party and committee members. Individuals elected as county committee officers or as congressional district committee members may be, but are not required to be, committeemen or committeewomen. They are required to be party members in good standing. The terms of committeemen and committeewomen, county committee officers and congressional district committee members begin during the meeting immediately upon completion and verification of the voting for each office.

75,71 Section 71. 8.19 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.19 (3) Every political party entitled, under s. 5.62, to have its candidates on the September partisan primary and general election ballots has exclusive right to the use of the name designating it at any election involving political parties. The board shall not certify nor the county clerk print the name of any person whose nomination papers indicate a party name comprising a combination of existing party names, qualifying words, phrases, prefixes or suffixes in connection with any existing party name.

75,72 Section 72. 8.20 (8) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 32, is amended to read:

8.20 (8) (a) Nomination papers for independent candidates for any office to be voted upon at a general election, except president, vice president and presidential elector, may be circulated no sooner than June 1 April 15 preceding the election and may be filed no later than 5 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of July June 1 preceding the September partisan primary, except as authorized in this paragraph. If an incumbent fails to file nomination papers and a declaration of candidacy by 5 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of July June 1 preceding the September partisan primary, all candidates for the office held by the incumbent, other than the incumbent, may file nomination papers no later than 72 hours after the latest time prescribed in this paragraph. No extension of the time for filing nomination papers applies if the incumbent files written notification with the filing officer or agency with whom nomination papers are filed for the office which the incumbent holds, no later than 5 p.m. on the 2nd Friday preceding the latest time prescribed in this paragraph for filing nomination papers, that the incumbent is not a candidate for reelection to his or her office, and the incumbent does not file nomination papers for that office within the time prescribed in this paragraph.

75,73 Section 73. 8.20 (8) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.20 (8) (am) Nomination papers for independent candidates for president and vice president, and the presidential electors designated to represent them, may be circulated no sooner than August July 1 and may be filed not later than 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday in September August preceding a presidential election.

75,74 Section 74. 8.37 of the statutes is amended to read:

8.37 Filing of referenda petitions or questions. Unless otherwise required by law, all proposed constitutional amendments and any other measure or question that is to be submitted to a vote of the people, or any petitions requesting that a measure or question be submitted to a vote of the people, if applicable, shall be filed with the official or agency responsible for preparing the ballots for the election no later than 42 70 days prior to the election at which the amendment, measure or question will appear on the ballot. No later than the end of the next business day after a proposed measure is filed with a school district clerk under this section, the clerk shall file a copy of the measure or question with the clerk of each county having territory within the school district.

75,75 Section 75. 8.50 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.50 Special elections. (intro.) Unless otherwise provided, this section applies to filling vacancies in the U.S. senate and house of representatives, executive state offices except the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, and district attorney, judicial and legislative state offices, county, city, village, and town offices, and the offices of municipal judge and member of the board of school directors in school districts organized under ch. 119. State legislative offices may be filled in anticipation of the occurrence of a vacancy whenever authorized in sub. (4) (e). No special election may be held after February 1 preceding the spring election unless it is held on the same day as the spring election, nor after September 1 August 1 preceding the general election unless it is held on the same day as the general election, until the day after that election. If the special election is held on the day of the general election, the primary for the special election, if any, shall be held on the day of the September partisan primary. If the special election is held on the day of the spring election, the primary for the special election, if any, shall be held on the day of the spring primary.

75,76 Section 76. 8.50 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.50 (1) (d) When the election concerns a national or state office office or a special election for state office is held concurrently with the general election, the board shall transmit to each county clerk a certified list of all persons for whom nomination papers have been filed in its office at least 62 days before the special primary, and in other cases the board shall transmit the list to each county clerk at least 22 days before the special primary, a certified list of all persons for whom nomination papers have been filed in its office. If no primary is required, the list shall be transmitted at least 42 days prior to the day of the special election unless the special election concerns a national office or is held concurrently with the general election, in which case the list shall be transmitted at least 62 days prior to the day of the special election. Immediately upon receipt of the certified list, the county clerk shall prepare his or her ballots. For a county special election, the county clerk shall certify the candidates and prepare the ballots. If there is a primary, the county clerk shall publish one type B notice in a newspaper under ch. 10. When a primary is held, as soon as possible after the primary, the county clerk shall certify the candidates and prepare the ballots for the following special election. The clerk shall publish one type B notice in a newspaper under ch. 10 for the election.

75,77 Section 77. 8.50 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.50 (2) Date of special election. (a) The date for the special election shall be not less than 62 nor more than 77 days from the date of the order except when the special election is held to fill a vacancy in a national office or the special election is held on the day of the general election or spring election. If a special election is held concurrently with the spring or general election, the special election may be ordered not earlier than 92 days prior to the spring primary or September primary, respectively, and not later than 49 days prior to that primary. If a special election is held concurrently with the general election or a special election is held to fill a national office, the special election may be ordered not earlier than 122 days prior to the partisan primary or special primary, respectively, and not later than 92 days prior to that primary.

(b) If a primary is required, the primary shall be on the day 4 weeks before the day of the special election except when the special election is held on the same day as the general election the special primary shall be held on the same day as the September partisan primary or if the special election is held concurrently with the spring election, the primary shall be held concurrently with the spring primary, and except when the special election is held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of an odd-numbered year, the primary shall be held on the 2nd Tuesday of September August in that year.

75,78 Section 78. 8.50 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.50 (3) (a) Nomination papers may be circulated no sooner than the day the order for the special election is filed and shall be filed not later than 5 p.m. 28 days before the day that the special primary will or would be held, if required, except when a special election is held concurrently with the spring election or general election, the deadline for filing nomination papers shall be specified in the order and the date shall be no earlier than the date provided in s. 8.10 (2) (a) or 8.15 (1), respectively, and no later than 35 days prior to the date of the spring primary or September no later than June 1 preceding the partisan primary. Nomination papers may be filed in the manner specified in s. 8.10, 8.15, or 8.20. Each candidate shall file a declaration of candidacy in the manner provided in s. 8.21 no later than the latest time provided in the order for filing nomination papers. If a candidate for state or local office has not filed a registration statement under s. 11.05 at the time he or she files nomination papers, the candidate shall file the statement with the papers. A candidate for state office shall also file a statement of economic interests with the board no later than the end of the 3rd day following the last day for filing nomination papers specified in the order.

75,79 Section 79. 8.50 (3) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 32, is amended to read:

8.50 (3) (b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the provisions for September primaries the partisan primary under s. 8.15 are applicable to all partisan primaries held under this section, and the provisions for spring primaries under s. 8.10 are applicable to all nonpartisan primaries held under this section. In a special partisan primary or election, the order of the parties on the ballot shall be the same as provided under s. 5.62 (1) or 5.64 (1) (b). No primary is required for a nonpartisan election in which not more than 2 candidates for an office appear on the ballot or for a partisan election in which not more than one candidate for an office appears on the ballot of each recognized political party. In every special election except a special election for nonpartisan state office where no candidate is certified to appear on the ballot, a space for write-in votes shall be provided on the ballot, regardless of whether a special primary is held.

75,80 Section 80. 8.50 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.50 (3) (c) Notwithstanding ss. 5.37 (4), 5.91 (6) and 6.80 (2) (f), whenever a special partisan primary is held concurrently with the presidential preference primary, an elector may choose the party column or ballot in which the elector will cast his or her vote separately for each of the 2 primaries. Whenever 2 or more special partisan primaries or one or more special partisan primaries and a September partisan primary are held concurrently, the procedure prescribed in ss. 5.37 (4), 5.91 (6) and 6.80 (2) (f) applies.

75,81 Section 81. 8.50 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.50 (4) (b) A vacancy in the office of U.S. senator or representative in congress occurring prior to the 2nd Tuesday in May April in the year of the general election shall be filled at a special primary and election. A vacancy in that office occurring between the 2nd Tuesday in May April and the 2nd Tuesday in July May in the year of the general election shall be filled at the September partisan primary and general election.

75,82 Section 82. 8.50 (4) (fm) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.50 (4) (fm) A permanent vacancy in the office of municipal judge may be filled by temporary appointment of the municipal governing body, or, if the judge is elected under s. 755.01 (4), jointly by the governing bodies of all municipalities served by the judge. The office shall then be permanently filled by special election, which shall be held concurrently with the next spring election following the occurrence of the vacancy, except that a vacancy occurring during the period after December 1 and on or before the date of the spring election shall be filled at the 2nd succeeding spring election, and except that the governing body of a city or village or, if the judge is elected under s. 755.01 (4), the governing bodies of the participating cities or villages may, if the vacancy occurs before June 1 April 15 in the year preceding expiration of the term of office, order a special election to be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November following the date of the order. A person so elected shall serve for the residue of the unexpired term.

75,83 Section 83. 9.01 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

9.01 (1) (a) 1. Any candidate voted for at any election or any elector who voted upon any referendum question at any election may petition for a recount. The petitioner shall file a verified petition or petitions with the proper clerk or body under par. (ar) not earlier than the time of completion of the canvass and not later than 5 p.m. on the 3rd business day following the last meeting day of the municipal or county board of canvassers determining the election for that office or on that referendum question prior to issuance of any amended return under s. 6.221 7.515 (6) (b) or, if more than one board of canvassers makes the determination, not later than 5 p.m. on the 3rd business day following the last meeting day of the last board of canvassers which makes a determination prior to issuance of any amended return under s. 6.221 7.515 (6) (b). If the chairperson of the board or chairperson's designee makes the determination for the office or the referendum question, the petitioner shall file the petition not earlier than the last meeting day of the last county board of canvassers to make a statement in the election or referendum and not later than 5 p.m. on the 3rd business day following the day on which the government accountability board receives the last statement from a county board of canvassers for the election or referendum.

75,84 Section 84. 9.01 (1) (ag) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

9.01 (1) (ag) 1. If the difference between the votes cast for the leading candidate and those cast for the petitioner or the difference between the affirmative and negative votes cast upon any referendum question is less than 10 if 1,000 or less votes are cast or not more than 0.5% of the total votes cast for the office or on the question if more than 1,000 votes are cast prior to issuance of any amended return under s. 6.221 7.515 (6) (b), the petitioner is not required to pay a fee.