SB6: Bill Text Engrossed

Absentee voting in residential care apartment complexes and adult family homes

Currently, municipalities must send two special voting deputies (one designated by each major political party if the party wishes) to conduct absentee voting in nursing homes. Municipalities may also send the deputies to conduct absentee voting in community-based residential facilities and retirement homes that qualify for the service in accordance with standards prescribed by law. This bill permits municipal clerks and boards of election commissioners to send two special voting deputies to conduct absentee voting in adult family homes and residential care apartment complexes that qualify for the service in accordance with similar standards prescribed by law.

Currently, with limited exceptions, an elector must be registered in order to vote in an election in this state. In order to register, an elector must provide certain information on a registration form and affirm the correctness of the information with his or her signature. If an elector is unable, due to physical disability, to sign his or her registration form, the elector may have another person sign on his or her behalf. An elector who has not previously registered may register at the polling place serving his or her residence on election day. Currently, when appearing to vote, an elector must provide his or her name and address to the election officials and in some cases must also provide proof of residence. Currently, an absentee elector may vote by mail or at the office of the municipal clerk of the municipality where he or she resides. The names of registered electors are checked against a poll list consisting of the names of registered electors and the names of other electors are entered on a separate list.

Signature requirement for electors voting in person

This bill provides, with limited exceptions, that an elector must also enter his or her signature on the poll list or other separate list when voting at a polling place at an election. Under the bill, the election officials must require each elector to enter his or her signature on the poll list or other separate list before being permitted to vote. If an elector registers at a polling place on election day, the officials must require the elector to enter the elector's signature on a separate list. The bill also provides that if an elector, due to physical disability, authorized another elector to sign his or her registration form on his or her behalf, the elector is exempt from the signature requirement. In addition, if an elector signed his or her registration form but claims to be unable, due to physical disability, to enter his or her signature on the poll list or other separate list when voting at a particular election, the bill permits the election officials to waive the signature requirement if they find that, due to physical disability, the elector is unable to enter his or her signature. Under the bill, the signature requirement initially applies beginning with elections held on and after the day the bill becomes law.

Durational residency requirement for voting

Under current law, with certain limited exceptions, an individual must be a resident of this state and of the municipality and ward, if any, where the elector is voting for ten days before an election to be eligible to vote in the election. This bill increases this durational residency requirement to 28 consecutive days. Under the bill, if an elector who does not meet this residency requirement formerly resided at another location in this state within the 27-day period preceding an election, the elector may vote at that location if the elector is otherwise qualified to vote at that location. Under the bill, the residency requirement initially applies beginning with the 2012 spring primary.

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

SB6-engrossed, s. 1 Section 1. 5.02 (6m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB6-engrossed,7,2 5.02 (6m) "Identification" means any of the following documents issued to an individual:

SB6-engrossed,7,4 (a) One of the following documents that is unexpired or if expired has expired after the date of the most recent general election:

SB6-engrossed,7,5 1. An operator's license issued under ch. 343.

SB6-engrossed,7,6 2. An identification card issued under s. 343.50.

SB6-engrossed,7,7 3. An identification card issued by a U.S. uniformed service.

SB6-engrossed,7,8 4. A U.S. passport.

SB6-engrossed,7,10 (b) A certificate of U.S. naturalization that was issued not earlier than 2 years before the date of an election at which it is presented.

SB6-engrossed,7,11 (c) An unexpired driving receipt under s. 343.11.

SB6-engrossed,7,12 (d) An unexpired identification card receipt issued under s. 343.50.

SB6-engrossed,7,14 (e) An identification card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in this state.

SB6-engrossed, s. 2 Section 2. 5.02 (16c) of the statutes is created to read:

SB6-engrossed,7,20 5.02 (16c) "Proof of identification" means identification that contains the name of the individual to whom the document was issued, which name conforms to the individual's voter registration form, if the individual is required to register to vote, and that contains a photograph of the individual, except as authorized in s. 343.14 (3m) or 343.50 (4g).

SB6-engrossed, s. 3 Section 3. 5.35 (6) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB6-engrossed,7,24 5.35 (6) (a) 2. A copy of the election fraud laws provided in s. 12.13 (1) and (3) (intro), (d), (f), (g), (k), (L), (o), (q), (r), (u), (v) and (x), together with the applicable penalties provided in s. 12.60 (1).

SB6-engrossed, s. 4 Section 4 . 5.35 (6) (a) 4a. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB6-engrossed,8,3 5.35 (6) (a) 4a. Instructions prescribed by the board for electors for whom proof of identification is required under s. 6.79 (2) or for whom proof of residence under s. 6.34 is required under s. 6.55 (2).

SB6-engrossed, s. 5 Section 5. 6.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB6-engrossed,8,7 6.02 (1) Every U.S. citizen age 18 or older who has resided in an election district or ward for 10 28 consecutive days before any election where the citizen offers to vote is an eligible elector.

SB6-engrossed, s. 6 Section 6. 6.02 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB6-engrossed,8,13 6.02 (2) Any U.S. citizen age 18 or older who moves within this state later than 10 28 days before an election shall vote at his or her previous ward or election district if the person is otherwise qualified. If the elector can comply with the 10-day 28-day residence requirement at the new address and is otherwise qualified, he or she may vote in the new ward or election district.

SB6-engrossed, s. 7 Section 7. 6.10 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB6-engrossed,8,23 6.10 (3) When an elector moves from one ward to another or his or her residence from one ward or municipality to another ward or municipality within the state after the last registration day but at least 10 28 days before the election, the elector may vote in and be considered a resident of the new ward or municipality where residing upon transferring registration under s. 6.40 (1) or upon registering at the proper polling place or other registration location in the new ward or municipality under s. 6.55 (2) or 6.86 (3) (a) 2. If the elector moves within 10 his or her residence later than 28 days of before an election, the elector shall vote in the elector's old former ward or municipality if otherwise qualified to vote there.

SB6-engrossed, s. 8 Section 8. 6.10 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB6-engrossed,9,12 6.10 (4) The residence of an unmarried person sleeping in one ward and boarding in another is the place where the person sleeps. The residence of an unmarried person in a transient vocation, a teacher or a student who boards at different places for part of the week, month, or year, if one of the places is the residence of the person's parents, is the place of the parents' residence unless through registration or similar act the person elects to establish a residence elsewhere. If the person has no parents and if the person has not registered elsewhere, the person's residence shall be at the place which that the person considered his or her residence in preference to any other for at least 10 28 consecutive days before an election. If this place is within the municipality, the person is entitled to all the privileges and subject to all the duties of other citizens having their residence there, including voting.

SB6-engrossed, s. 9 Section 9. 6.15 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB6-engrossed,9,19 6.15 (1) Qualifications. Any person who was or who is a qualified an eligible elector under ss. 6.02 and 6.03, except that he or she has been a resident of this state for less than 10 28 consecutive days prior to the date of the presidential election, is entitled to vote for the president and vice president but for no other offices. The fact that the person was not registered to vote in the state from which he or she moved does not prevent voting in this state if the elector is otherwise qualified.

SB6-engrossed, s. 10 Section 10. 6.15 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB6-engrossed,9,25 6.15 (2) (a) The elector's request for the application form may be made in person to the municipal clerk of the municipality where the person resides. Application may be made not sooner than 9 27 days nor later than 5 p.m. on the day before the election, or may be made at the proper polling place in the ward or election district in which the elector resides. If an elector makes application before election day, the application form shall be returned to the municipal clerk after the affidavit has been signed in the presence of the clerk or any officer authorized by law to administer oaths. The affidavit shall be in substantially the following form:

SB6-engrossed,10,4 STATE OF WISCONSIN

SB6-engrossed,10,5 County of ....

SB6-engrossed,10,16 I, ...., do solemnly swear that I am a citizen of the United States; that prior to establishing Wisconsin residence, my legal residence was in the .... (town) (village) (city) of ...., state of ...., residing at .... (street address); that on the day of the next presidential election, I shall be at least 18 years of age and that I have been a legal resident of the state of Wisconsin since ...., .... (year), residing at .... (street address), in the [.... ward of the .... aldermanic district of] the (town) (village) (city) of ...., county of ....; that I have resided in the state less than 10 28 consecutive days, that I am qualified to vote for president and vice president at the election to be held November ...., .... (year), that I am not voting at any other place in this election and that I hereby make application for an official presidential ballot, in accordance with section 6.15 of the Wisconsin statutes.

SB6-engrossed,10,17 Signed ....

SB6-engrossed,10,18 P.O. Address ....

SB6-engrossed,10,19 Subscribed and sworn to before me this .... day of ...., .... (year)

SB6-engrossed,10,20 ....(Name)

SB6-engrossed,10,21 ....(Title)

SB6-engrossed, s. 11 Section 11 . 6.15 (2) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:

SB6-engrossed,11,4 6.15 (2) (bm) Except as authorized in s. 6.79 (7), when making application in person at the office of the municipal clerk, each applicant shall present proof of identification. If any document presented by the applicant is not proof of residence under s. 6.34, the applicant shall also present proof of residence under s. 6.34. The clerk shall verify that the name on the proof of identification presented by the elector conforms to the name on the elector's application and shall verify that any photograph appearing on that document reasonably resembles the elector.

SB6-engrossed, s. 12 Section 12. 6.15 (2) (d) 1r. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB6-engrossed,11,16 6.15 (2) (d) 1r. Upon proper completion of the application and cancellation card, the municipal clerk shall require the elector to provide proof of residence under s. 6.34. If the elector cannot provide proof of residence, the elector may have his or her residence corroborated in a statement that is signed by another elector of the municipality and that contains the current street address of the corroborating elector. If the residence is corroborated by another elector, that elector shall then provide proof of residence under s. 6.34 permit the elector to cast his or her ballot for president and vice president. The elector shall then mark the ballot in the clerk's presence in a manner that will not disclose his or her vote. The elector shall then fold the ballot so as to conceal his or her vote. The clerk or elector shall then place the ballot in an envelope furnished by the clerk.

SB6-engrossed, s. 13 Section 13. 6.15 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB6-engrossed,12,10 6.15 (3) Procedure at polling place. An eligible elector may appear at the polling place for the ward or election district where he or she resides and make application for a ballot under sub. (2). Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, an elector who casts a ballot under this subsection shall follow the same procedure required for casting a ballot at the municipal clerk's office under sub. (2). The inspectors shall perform the duties of the municipal clerk, except that the inspectors shall return the cancellation card under sub. (2) (b) to the municipal clerk and the clerk shall forward the card as provided in sub. (2) (c) if required. Upon proper completion of the application and cancellation card and submittal of proof of residence under s. 6.34 or providing corroboration of residence verification of the proof of identification and proof of residence, whenever required, as provided in sub. (2) (bm), the inspectors shall permit the elector to cast his or her ballot for president and vice president. The elector shall mark the ballot and, unless the ballot is utilized with an electronic voting system, the elector shall fold the ballot, and deposit the ballot into the ballot box or give it to the inspector. The inspector shall deposit it directly into the ballot box. Voting machines or ballots utilized with electronic voting systems may only be used by electors voting under this section if they permit voting for president and vice president only.

SB6-engrossed, s. 14 Section 14. 6.18 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB6-engrossed,13,3 6.18 Former residents. If ineligible to qualify as an elector in the state to which the elector has moved, any former qualified Wisconsin elector may vote an absentee ballot in the ward of the elector's prior residence in any presidential election occurring within 24 months after leaving Wisconsin by requesting an application form and returning it, properly executed, to the municipal clerk of the elector's prior Wisconsin residence. When requesting an application form for an absentee ballot, the applicant shall specify the applicant's eligibility for only the presidential ballot. Unless application is made under s. 6.86 (1) (ac), or the applicant is exempted from providing proof of identification under s. 6.87 (4) (b) 2. or 3., or the applicant is a military or overseas elector, the elector shall enclose a copy of his or her proof of identification or any authorized substitute document with his or her application. The municipal clerk shall verify that the name on the proof of identification conforms to the name on the application. The clerk shall not issue a ballot to an elector who is required to enclose a copy of proof of identification or an authorized substitute document with his or her application unless the copy is enclosed and the proof is verified by the clerk. The application form shall require the following information and be in substantially the following form:

SB6-engrossed,13,7 This form shall be returned to the municipal clerk's office. Application must be received in sufficient time for ballots to be mailed and returned prior to any presidential election at which applicant wishes to vote. Complete all statements in full.

SB6-engrossed,13,8 APPLICATION FOR PRESIDENTIAL

SB6-engrossed,13,9 ELECTOR'S ABSENTEE BALLOT.

SB6-engrossed,13,10 (To be voted at the Presidential Election

SB6-engrossed,13,11 on November ...., .... (year)

SB6-engrossed,13,20 I, .... hereby swear or affirm that I am a citizen of the United States, formerly residing at .... in the .... ward .... aldermanic district (city, town, village) of ...., County of .... for 10 28 consecutive days prior to leaving the State of Wisconsin. I, .... do solemnly swear or affirm that I do not qualify to register or vote under the laws of the State of ....(State you now reside in) where I am presently residing. A citizen must be a resident of: State ....(Insert time) County ....(Insert time) City, Town or Village ....(Insert time), in order to be eligible to register or vote therein. I further swear or affirm that my legal residence was established in the State of ....(the State where you now reside) on .... Month .... Day .... Year.

SB6-engrossed,13,21 Signed ....

SB6-engrossed,13,22 Address ....(Present address)

SB6-engrossed,13,23 ....(City) ....(State)

SB6-engrossed,13,24 Subscribed and sworn to before me this .... day of .... .... (year)

SB6-engrossed,13,25 ....(Notary Public, or other officer authorized to administer oaths.)

SB6-engrossed,14,1 ....(County)

SB6-engrossed,14,2 My Commission expires

SB6-engrossed,14,3 MAIL BALLOT TO:

SB6-engrossed,14,4 NAME ....

SB6-engrossed,14,5 ADDRESS ....

SB6-engrossed,14,6 CITY .... STATE .... ZIP CODE ....

SB6-engrossed,14,11 Penalties for Violations. Whoever swears falsely to any absent elector affidavit under this section may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 6 months or both. Whoever intentionally votes more than once in an election may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 3 years and 6 months or both.

SB6-engrossed,14,12 ....(Municipal Clerk)

SB6-engrossed,14,13 ....(Municipality)

SB6-engrossed, s. 15 Section 15. 6.22 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB6-engrossed,14,17 6.22 (7) Extension of privilege. This section applies to all military electors for 10 28 days after the date of discharge from a uniformed service or termination of services or employment of individuals specified in sub. (1) (b) 1. to 4.

SB6-engrossed, s. 16 Section 16. 6.29 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB6-engrossed,14,23 6.29 (1) No names may be added to a registration list for any election after the close of registration, except as authorized under this section or s. 6.55 (2) or 6.86 (3) (a) 2. Any person whose name is not on the registration list but who is otherwise a qualified elector is entitled to vote at the election upon compliance with this section, if the person complies with all other requirements for voting at the polling place.

SB6-engrossed, s. 17 Section 17. 6.29 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB6-engrossed,15,21 6.29 (2) (a) Any qualified elector of a municipality who has not previously filed a registration form or whose name does not appear on the registration list of the municipality may register after the close of registration but not later than 5 p.m. or the close of business, whichever is later, on the day before an election at the office of the municipal clerk and at the office of the clerk's agent if the clerk delegates responsibility for electronic maintenance of the registration list to an agent under s. 6.33 (5) (b). The elector shall complete, in the manner provided under s. 6.33 (2), a registration form containing all information required under s. 6.33 (1). The registration form shall also contain the following certification: "I, ...., hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, I am a qualified elector, having resided at ... for at least 10 28 consecutive days immediately preceding this election, and I have not voted at this election". The elector shall also provide proof of residence under s. 6.34. Alternatively, if the elector is unable to provide proof of residence under s. 6.34, the information contained in the registration form shall be corroborated in a statement that is signed by any other elector of the municipality and that contains the current street address of the corroborating elector. The corroborating elector shall then provide proof of residence under s. 6.34. If the elector is registering after the close of registration for the general election and the elector presents a valid an unexpired driver's license issued by another state, the municipal clerk or agent shall record on a separate list the name and address of the elector, the name of the state, and the license number and expiration date of the license.

SB6-engrossed, s. 18 Section 18. 6.33 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB6-engrossed,17,2 6.33 (1) The board shall prescribe the format, size, and shape of registration forms. All forms shall be printed on cards and each item of information shall be of uniform font size, as prescribed by the board. The municipal clerk shall supply sufficient forms to meet voter registration needs. The forms shall be designed to obtain from each applicant information as to name; date; residence location; citizenship; date of birth; age; the number of a current and valid operator's license issued to the elector under ch. 343 or the last 4 digits of the elector's social security account number; whether the applicant has resided within the ward or election district for at least 10 28 consecutive days; whether the applicant has been convicted of a felony for which he or she has not been pardoned, and if so, whether the applicant is incarcerated, or on parole, probation, or extended supervision; whether the applicant is disqualified on any other ground from voting; and whether the applicant is currently registered to vote at any other location. The form shall include a space for the applicant's signature and the signature of any corroborating elector. The form shall include a space to enter the name of any special registration deputy under s. 6.26 or 6.55 (6) or inspector, municipal clerk, or deputy clerk under s. 6.55 (2) who obtains the form and a space for the deputy, inspector, clerk, or deputy clerk to sign his or her name, affirming that the deputy, inspector, clerk, or deputy clerk has accepted the form. The form shall include a space for entry of the ward and aldermanic district, if any, where the elector resides and any other information required to determine the offices and referenda for which the elector is certified to vote. The form shall also include a space where the clerk may record an indication of whether the form is received by mail, a space where the clerk may record an indication of the type of identifying document submitted by the elector as proof of residence under s. 6.34, whenever required, and a space where the clerk, for any applicant who possesses a valid voting identification card issued to the person under s. 6.47 (3), may record the identification serial number appearing on the voting identification card. Each county clerk shall obtain sufficient registration forms for completion by an elector who desires to register to vote at the office of the county clerk under s. 6.28 (4).

SB6-engrossed, s. 19 Section 19. 6.33 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB6-engrossed,17,8 6.33 (2) (b) Except as provided in s. 6.86 (3) (a) 2., the registration form shall be signed by the registering elector and any corroborating elector under s. 6.29 (2) (a) or 6.55 (2) before the clerk, issuing officer or registration deputy. The form shall contain a certification by the registering elector that all statements are true and correct.

SB6-engrossed, s. 20 Section 20. 6.34 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB6-engrossed,17,21 6.34 (2) Except as authorized in ss. 6.29 (2) (a) and 6.86 (3) (a) 2., upon Upon completion of a registration form prescribed under s. 6.33, each eligible elector who is required to register under s. 6.27, who is not a military elector or an overseas elector, and who registers after the close of registration under s. 6.29 or 6.86 (3) (a) 2., shall provide an identifying document that establishes proof of residence under sub. (3). Each eligible elector who is required to register under s. 6.27, who is not a military elector or an overseas elector, who registers by mail, and who has not voted in an election in this state shall, if voting in person, provide an identifying document that establishes proof of residence under sub. (3) or, if voting by absentee ballot, provide a copy of an identifying document that establishes proof of residence under sub. (3). If the elector registered by mail, the identifying document may not be a residential lease.

SB6-engrossed, s. 21 Section 21. 6.36 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB6-engrossed,18,9 6.36 (2) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), 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 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.

SB6-engrossed, s. 22 Section 22. 6.36 (5) of the statutes is amended to read: