118,51
Section
51. 5.05 (10) of the statutes is amended to read:
5.05
(10) State election administration plan. With the
assistance of the election administration council and approval of the joint committee on finance as provided in this subsection, the
board commission shall adopt and modify as necessary a state plan that meets the requirements of P.L.
107-252 to enable participation by this state in federal financial assistance programs authorized under that law. The
board commission shall adopt the plan and any modifications only after publishing a class 1 notice under ch. 985 or posting on the Internet a statement describing the proposed plan or modification and receiving public comment thereon. After approval of the proposed plan or any modification of the plan by the
board commission, the
board commission shall submit the proposed plan or modification to the joint committee on finance for the approval of the committee. The
board commission may adopt the proposed plan or modification only if the committee approves the proposed plan or modification.
118,52
Section
52. 5.05 (11) of the statutes is amended to read:
5.05 (11) Aids to counties and municipalities. From the appropriations under s. 20.511 20.510 (1) (t) and (x), the board commission may provide financial assistance to eligible counties and municipalities for election administration costs in accordance with the plan adopted under sub. (10). As a condition precedent to receipt of assistance under this subsection, the board commission shall enter into an agreement with the county or municipality receiving the assistance specifying the intended use of the assistance and shall ensure compliance with the terms of the agreement. Each agreement shall provide that if the federal government objects to the use of any assistance moneys provided to the county or municipality under the agreement, the county or municipality shall repay the amount of the assistance provided to the board commission.
118,53
Section
53. 5.05 (16) of the statutes is created to read:
5.05 (16) Policies and procedures. (a) Annually, the commission shall adopt written policies and procedures in order to govern its internal operations and management and shall annually report such policies and procedures to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3).
(b) Notwithstanding par. (a), the commission may reconsider at any time any policy or procedure adopted as provided under par. (a). If, upon reconsideration, the commission revises a previously reported policy or procedure, the commission shall report the revision to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3).
(c) The commission may reconsider at any time any written directives or written guidance provided to the general public or to any person subject to the provisions of chs. 5 to 10 and 12 with regard to the enforcement and administration of those provisions.
118,54
Section
54. 5.05 (17) of the statutes is created to read:
5.05 (17) Payments. The commission may accept payment by credit card, debit card, or other electronic payment mechanism for any amounts owed pursuant to the administration of chs. 5 to 10 or 12, and may charge a surcharge to the payer to recover charges associated with the acceptance of that electronic payment.
118,55
Section
55. 5.052 of the statutes is repealed.
118,56
Section
56. 5.054 of the statutes is repealed.
118,57
Section
57. 5.055 of the statutes is amended to read:
5.055 Election assistance commission standards board. The commission administrator of the elections division of the board shall, in consultation with the board commission, appoint an individual to represent this state as a member of the federal election assistance commission standards board. The administrator shall also conduct and supervise a process for the selection of an election official by county and municipal clerks and boards of election commissioners to represent local election officials of this state as a member of the federal election assistance commission standards board. The administrator shall ensure that the members of the federal election assistance commission standards board representing this state shall at no time be members of the same political party. Upon appointment or election of any new member of the federal election assistance commission standards board representing this state, the administrator shall transmit a notice of that member's appointment or election to the officer or agency designated by federal law.
118,58
Section
58. 5.056 of the statutes is amended to read:
5.056 Matching program with secretary of transportation. The commission administrator
of the elections division of the board shall enter into the agreement with the secretary of transportation specified under s. 85.61 (1) to match personally identifiable information on the official registration list maintained by the board commission under s. 6.36 (1) with personally identifiable information maintained by the department of transportation.
118,59
Section
59. 5.07 of the statutes is amended to read:
5.07 Action to compel compliance. Whenever a violation of the laws regulating the conduct of elections or election campaigns, other than a violation of the laws regulating campaign financing, occurs or is proposed to occur, the attorney general or the district attorney of the county where the violation occurs or is proposed to occur may sue for injunctive relief, a writ of mandamus or prohibition, or other such legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate to compel compliance with the law. No bond is required in such actions.
118,60
Section
60. 5.08 of the statutes is amended to read:
5.08 Petition for enforcement. In addition to or in lieu of filing a complaint, any elector may file a verified petition alleging such facts as are within his or her knowledge to indicate that an election official has failed or is failing to comply with any law regulating the conduct of elections or election campaigns, other than a law regulating campaign financing, or proposes to act in a manner inconsistent with such a law, and requesting that an action be commenced for injunctive relief, a writ of mandamus or prohibition or other such legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate to compel compliance with the law. The petition shall be filed with the district attorney for the county having jurisdiction to prosecute the alleged failure to comply under s. 978.05 (1) and (2). The district attorney may then commence the action or dismiss the petition. If the district attorney declines to act upon the petition or if the district attorney fails to act upon the petition within 15 days of the date of filing, the petitioner may file the same petition with the attorney general, who may then commence the action.
118,61
Section
61. 5.09 of the statutes is repealed.
118,62
Section
62. 5.40 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
5.40 (7) Whenever a municipality adopts and purchases voting machines or an electronic voting system, or adopts and purchases a different type of voting machine or electronic voting system from the type it was previously using, the municipal clerk or executive director of the municipal board of election commissioners shall promptly notify the county clerk or executive director of the county board of election commissioners and the administrator of the elections division of the board
commission in writing.
118,63
Section
63. 5.58 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
5.58 (2) State superintendent of public instruction; judiciary; county executive; county comptroller; and county supervisors. There shall be one separate ballot for state superintendent, judicial officers, county executive under s. 59.17, and county supervisor, except as authorized in s. 5.655. In counties having a population of 750,000 or more, the ballot shall also include the office of comptroller and in counties having a population of 500,000 or more, the ballot shall also include those offices under s. 8.11 (2) (b) and (2m). The arrangement of names of candidates for state superintendent, justice, court of appeals judge, and circuit court judge shall be determined by the board commission in the manner specified in s. 5.60 (1) (b). Arrangement of the names of candidates for county executive, county comptroller, and county supervisor shall be determined by the county clerk or by the executive director of the county board of election commissioners in the manner specified in s. 5.60 (1) (b).
118,64
Section
64. 5.58 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:
5.58 (2m) Metropolitan sewerage commission. Except as authorized in s. 5.655, there shall be a separate ballot for members of the metropolitan sewerage commission if commissioners are elected under s. 200.09 (11) (am), with candidates for different seats listed in separate columns or rows if more than one seat is contested at any election. Arrangement of the names on the ballot shall be determined by the board elections commission.
118,65
Section
65. 5.60 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
5.60 (1) (b) The board elections commission shall certify the candidates' names and designate the official ballot arrangement for candidates for state superintendent, justice, court of appeals judge, and for circuit judge and, if commissioners are elected under s. 200.09 (11) (am), the for metropolitan sewerage commission
commissioners elected under s. 200.09 (11) (am). The arrangement of names of all candidates on the ballot whose nomination papers are filed with the board
elections commission shall be determined by the board elections commission by the drawing of lots not later than the 2nd Tuesday in January, or the next day if the first Tuesday is a holiday. Whenever a primary is held for an office, a 2nd drawing of all candidates for that office shall be held by or under the supervision of the board
elections commission not later than the 3rd day following the completion of the primary canvass to determine the arrangement of candidates on the election ballot.
118,66
Section
66. 5.62 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
5.62 (4) (b) The county board of election commissioners in counties having a population of more than 750,000 shall prepare the official primary ballot. The commissioners shall arrange the names of all candidates for each office whose nomination papers are filed at the county level, using the same method as that used by the government accountability board elections commission under s. 5.60 (1) (b).
118,67
Section
67. 5.68 (3m) of the statutes is repealed.
118,68
Section
68. 5.93 of the statutes is amended to read:
5.93 Administration. The board may commission shall promulgate reasonable rules for the administration of this subchapter.
118,69
Section
69. 6.26 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
6.26 (3) The board commission shall, by rule, prescribe procedures for appointment of special registration deputies, for revocation of appointments of special registration deputies, and for training of special registration deputies by municipal clerks and boards of election commissioners. The procedures shall be coordinated with training programs for special registration deputies conducted by municipal clerks under s. 7.315 and shall be formulated to promote increased registration of electors consistent with the needs of municipal clerks and boards of election commissioners to efficiently administer the registration process.
6.275 (1) (f) The total number of postcards sent by the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners under s. 6.56 (3), the total number of such postcards returned to the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners because the elector did not reside at the address given on the postcard, the total number of electors whose status was changed from eligible to ineligible on the registration list as a result of the audit under s. 6.56 (3), and the number of individuals referred to the district attorney under s. 6.56 (3). The municipal clerk or board of election commissioners shall provide the information described under this paragraph to the board elections commission and the county clerk or county board of election commissioners at the earliest practicable time after, but no later than 90 days after, each primary and election at which a state or national office is filled or a statewide referendum is held, including any special election. The municipal clerk or board of election commissioners shall update the information described under this paragraph on a monthly basis and shall submit, on a monthly basis, any such updated information to the board elections commission and the county clerk or county board of election commissioners.
6.275 (2) Upon receipt of each report filed under this section, the board commission shall, within 7 days of receiving the report, publish the information on its Internet site. The board commission shall update the information published under this subsection on a monthly basis.
118,72
Section
72. 6.33 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
6.33 (5) (a) Except as provided in par. (b) and this paragraph, whenever a municipal clerk receives a valid registration or valid change of a name or address under an existing registration and whenever a municipal clerk changes a registration from eligible to ineligible status, the municipal clerk shall promptly enter electronically on the list maintained by the board commission under s. 6.36 (1) the information required under that subsection. Except as provided in par. (b) and this paragraph, the municipal clerk may update any entries that change on the date of an election other than a general election within 30 days after the date of that election, and may update any entries that change on the date of a general election within 45 days after the date of that election. The legal counsel of the board commission administrator may, upon request of a municipal clerk, permit the clerk to update entries that change on the date of a general election within 60 days after that election. The municipal clerk shall provide to the board commission information that is confidential under s. 6.47 (2) in such manner as the board commission prescribes.
118,73
Section
73. 6.36 (1) (b) 1. a. of the statutes is amended to read:
6.36 (1) (b) 1. a. Except as provided in pars. (bm) and (bn), no person other than an employee of the board
commission, a county clerk, a deputy county clerk, an executive director of a county board of election commissioners, a deputy designated by the executive director, a municipal clerk, a deputy municipal clerk, an executive director of a city board of election commissioners, or a deputy designated by the executive director may view the date of birth, operator's license number, or social security account number of an elector, the address of an elector to whom an identification serial number is issued under s. 6.47 (3), or any indication of an accommodation required under s. 5.25 (4) (a) to permit voting by an elector.
118,74
Section
74. 6.36 (1) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:
6.36 (1) (bm) The board commission or any municipal clerk or board of election commissioners may transfer any information in the registration list to which access is restricted under par. (b) 1. a. to a law enforcement agency, as defined in s. 165.77 (1) (b), to be used for law enforcement purposes.
118,75
Section
75. 6.36 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
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 type of and the name of the entity or institution that issued the identifying document submitted by the elector as proof of residence when 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 commission 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. The board commission shall, by rule, prescribe the space and location for entry of each elector's signature on the poll list which shall provide for entry of the signature without changing the orientation of the poll list from the orientation used by the election officials.
118,76
Section
76. 6.50 (2g) of the statutes is amended to read:
6.50 (2g) The board commission may delegate to a municipal clerk or board of election commissioners of a municipality the responsibility to change the registration status of electors when required under sub. (2).
118,77
Section
77. 6.50 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
6.50 (7) When an elector's registration is changed from eligible to ineligible status, the board
commission, municipal clerk, or board of election commissioners shall make an entry on the registration list, giving the date of and reason for the change.
118,78
Section
78. 6.56 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
6.56 (3) Upon receipt of the list under sub. (1), the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners shall make an audit of all electors registering to vote at the polling place or other registration location under s. 6.55 (2) and all electors registering by agent on election day under s. 6.86 (3) (a) 2. unless the clerk or board of election commissioners receives notice from the board elections commission under sub. (7) that the board elections commission will perform the audit. The audit shall be made by 1st class postcard. The postcard shall be marked in accordance with postal regulations to ensure that it will be returned to the clerk, board of election commissioners, or government accountability board elections commission if the elector does not reside at the address given on the postcard. If any postcard is returned undelivered, or if the clerk, board of election commissioners, or government accountability board elections commission is informed of a different address than the one specified by the elector which was apparently improper on the day of the election, the clerk, board of election commissioners, or government accountability board elections commission shall change the status of the elector from eligible to ineligible on the registration list, mail the elector a notice of the change in status, and provide the name of the elector to the district attorney for the county where the polling place is located and the government accountability board elections commission.
118,79
Section
79. 6.95 of the statutes is amended to read:
6.95 Voting procedure for challenged electors. Whenever the inspectors under ss. 6.92 to 6.94 receive the vote of a person offering to vote who has been challenged, the inspectors shall, before giving the elector a ballot, write on the back of the ballot the serial number of the challenged person corresponding to the number kept at the election on the poll list, or other list maintained under s. 6.79, and the notation "s. 6.95". If voting machines are used in the municipality where the person is voting, the person's vote may be received only upon an absentee ballot furnished by the municipal clerk which shall have the corresponding serial number from the poll list or other list maintained under s. 6.79 and the notation "s. 6.95" written on the back of the ballot by the inspectors before the ballot is given to the elector. The inspectors shall indicate on the list the reason for the challenge. The inspectors shall then deposit the ballot. The challenged ballots shall be counted under s. 5.85 or 7.51. The municipal board of canvassers may decide any challenge when making its canvass under s. 7.53. If the returns are reported under s. 7.60, a challenge may be reviewed by the county board of canvassers. If the returns are reported under s. 7.70, a challenge may be reviewed by the chairperson of the board commission or the chairperson's designee. The decision of any board of canvassers or of the chairperson or chairperson's designee may be appealed under s. 9.01. The standard for disqualification specified in s. 6.325 shall be used to determine the validity of challenged ballots.
118,80
Section
80. 6.96 of the statutes is amended to read:
6.96 Voting procedure for electors voting pursuant to federal court order. Whenever any elector is allowed to vote at a polling place pursuant to a federal court order after the closing time provided under s. 6.78, the inspectors shall, before giving the elector a ballot, write on the back of the ballot the notation "s. 6.96". If voting machines are used in the municipality where the elector is voting, the elector's vote may be received only upon an absentee ballot furnished by the municipal clerk which shall have the notation "s. 6.96" written on the back of the ballot by the inspectors before the ballot is given to the elector. When receiving the elector's ballot, the inspectors shall provide the elector with the written voting information prescribed by the board commission under s. 7.08 (8). The inspectors shall indicate on the list the fact that the elector is voting pursuant to a federal court order. The inspectors shall then deposit the ballot. The ballot shall be counted under s. 5.85 or 7.51 unless the order is vacated. If the order is vacated after the ballot is counted, the appropriate board or boards of canvassers or the chairperson of the board commission or his or her designee shall reopen the canvass to discount any ballots that were counted pursuant to the vacated order and adjust the statements, certifications, and determinations accordingly.
118,81
Section
81. 6.97 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
6.97 (1) Whenever any individual who is required to provide proof of residence under s. 6.34 in order to be permitted to vote appears to vote at a polling place and cannot provide the required proof of residence, the inspectors shall offer the opportunity for the individual to vote under this section. Whenever any individual, other than a military elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (a), or an overseas elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1) (b), or an elector who has a confidential listing under s. 6.47 (2), appears to vote at a polling place and does not present proof of identification under s. 6.79 (2), whenever required, the inspectors or the municipal clerk shall similarly offer the opportunity for the individual to vote under this section. If the individual wishes to vote, the inspectors shall provide the elector with an envelope marked "Ballot under s. 6.97, stats." on which the serial number of the elector is entered and shall require the individual to execute on the envelope a written affirmation stating that the individual is a qualified elector of the ward or election district where he or she offers to vote and is eligible to vote in the election. The inspectors shall, before giving the elector a ballot, write on the back of the ballot the serial number of the individual corresponding to the number kept at the election on the poll list or other list maintained under s. 6.79 and the notation "s. 6.97". If voting machines are used in the municipality where the individual is voting, the individual's vote may be received only upon an absentee ballot furnished by the municipal clerk which shall have the corresponding number from the poll list or other list maintained under s. 6.79 and the notation "s. 6.97" written on the back of the ballot by the inspectors before the ballot is given to the elector. When receiving the individual's ballot, the inspectors shall provide the individual with written voting information prescribed by the board commission under s. 7.08 (8). The inspectors shall indicate on the list the fact that the individual is required to provide proof of residence or proof of identification under s. 6.79 (2) but did not do so. The inspectors shall notify the individual that he or she may provide proof of residence or proof of identification to the municipal clerk or executive director of the municipal board of election commissioners. The inspectors shall also promptly notify the municipal clerk or executive director of the name, address, and serial number of the individual. The inspectors shall then place the ballot inside the envelope and place the envelope in a separate carrier envelope.
118,82
Section
82. 7.03 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
7.03 (1) (a) Except as authorized under this paragraph, a reasonable daily compensation shall be paid to each inspector, voting machine custodian, automatic tabulating equipment technician, member of a board of canvassers, messenger, and tabulator who is employed and performing duties under chs. 5 to 12. Daily compensation shall also be provided to inspectors and inspector trainees for attendance at training programs conducted by the board commission and municipal clerks under ss. 7.31 and 7.315. Alternatively, such election officials and trainees may be paid by the hour at a proportionate rate for each hour actually worked. Any election official or trainee may choose to volunteer his or her services by filing with the municipal clerk of the municipality in which he or she serves a written declination to accept compensation. The volunteer status of the election official or trainee remains effective until the official or trainee files a written revocation with the municipal clerk.
118,83
Section
83. 7.03 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
7.03 (1) (b) Except as provided in par. (bm), any compensation owed shall be paid by the municipality in which the election is held, except that any compensation payable to a technician, messenger, tabulator, or member of the board of canvassers who is employed to perform services for the county shall be paid by the county and compensation payable to any messenger or tabulator who is employed to perform services for the state shall be paid by the board commission.
118,84
Section
84. 7.03 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
7.03 (2) The amount of compensation of election officials, when authorized or required, shall be fixed by the appropriate county board of supervisors, municipal governing body, or municipal board of election commissioners in cities over 500,000 population. The board commission shall fix the amount to be paid any person employed to perform duties for the state. If the board commission employs an individual to perform duties which are the responsibility of a county or municipality, the board commission shall charge the expense to the county or municipality.
118,85
Section
85. 7.08 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
7.08 (title) Government accountability board Elections commission.
118,86
Section
86. 7.08 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
7.08 (1) (a) Prescribe all official ballot forms necessary under chs. 5 to 10 and 12 and revise the official ballot forms to harmonize with legislation and the current official status of the political parties whenever necessary. The board commission shall include on each ballot form, in the space for official endorsement, markings or spaces for identifying a ballot as an overvoted ballot, a duplicate overvoted ballot, a damaged ballot, or a duplicate damaged ballot, and for writing an identifying serial number. The board commission shall provide one copy of each ballot form without charge to each county and municipal clerk and board of election commissioners. The board commission shall distribute or arrange for distribution of additional copies. The prescribed forms shall be substantially followed in all elections under chs. 5 to 10 and 12.
118,87
Section
87. 7.08 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
7.08 (4) Election laws. Publish the election laws. The board commission shall sell or distribute or arrange for the sale or distribution of copies of the election laws to county and municipal clerks and boards of election commissioners and members of the public.
7.15 (1) (g) In the manner prescribed by the
board commission, report suspected election frauds, irregularities, or violations of which the clerk has knowledge to the district attorney for the county where the suspected activity occurs and to the board commission. The board commission shall annually report the information obtained under this paragraph to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2).
118,89
Section
89. 7.41 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
7.41 (5) The board may commission shall promulgate rules that are consistent with the requirements of sub. (2) regarding the proper conduct of individuals exercising the right under sub. (1), including the interaction of those individuals with inspectors and other election officials.
118,90
Section
90. 7.52 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
7.52 (1) (a) The governing body of any municipality may provide by ordinance that, in lieu of canvassing absentee ballots at polling places under s. 6.88, the municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers designated under s. 7.53 (2m) shall, at each election held in the municipality, canvass all absentee ballots received by the municipal clerk by 8 p.m. on election day. Prior to enacting an ordinance under this subsection, the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners of the municipality shall notify the board elections commission in writing of the proposed enactment and shall consult with the board elections commission concerning administration of this section. At every election held in the municipality following enactment of an ordinance under this subsection, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall, any time after the opening of the polls and before 10 p.m. on election day, publicly convene to count the absentee ballots for the municipality. The municipal clerk shall give at least 48 hours' notice of any meeting under this subsection. Any member of the public has the same right of access to a meeting of the municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers under this subsection that the individual would have under s. 7.41 to observe the proceedings at a polling place. The board of absentee ballot canvassers may order the removal of any individual exercising the right to observe the proceedings if the individual disrupts the meeting.
118,91
Section
91. 7.60 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
7.60 (4) (a) The board of canvassers shall make separate duplicate statements showing the numbers of votes cast for the offices of president and vice president; state officials; U.S. senators and representatives in congress; state legislators; justice; court of appeals judge; circuit judges; district attorneys; and metropolitan sewerage commissioners, if the commissioners are elected under s. 200.09 (11) (am). If a municipal judge elected under s. 755.01 (4) serves a municipality that is located partially within the county and candidates for that judgeship file nomination papers in another county, the board of canvassers shall prepare a duplicate statement showing the numbers of votes cast for that judgeship in that county for transmittal to the other county. For partisan candidates, the statements shall include the political party or principle designation, if any, next to the name of each candidate. The board of canvassers shall also prepare a statement showing the results of any county, technical college district, or statewide referendum. Each statement shall state the total number of votes cast in the county for each office; the names of all persons for whom the votes were cast, as returned; the number of votes cast for each person; and the number of votes cast for and against any question submitted at a referendum. The board of canvassers shall use one copy of each duplicate statement to report to the government accountability board
elections commission, technical college district board, or board of canvassers of any other county and shall file the other statement in the office of the county clerk or board of election commissioners.
118,92
Section
92. 7.60 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
7.60 (5) Reporting. (a) Immediately following the canvass, the county clerk shall deliver or transmit to the government accountability board elections commission 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 elections commission 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 elections commission no later than 9 days after each primary except the partisan primary, no later than 10 days after the 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.
(b) If the board of canvassers becomes aware of a material mistake in the canvass of an election for state or national office or a statewide or technical college district referendum prior to the close of business on the day the government accountability board elections commission receives returns from the last county board of canvassers with respect to that canvass, the board of canvassers may petition the government accountability board
elections commission to reopen and correct the canvass. The government accountability board elections commission shall direct the canvass to be reopened and corrected if it determines that the public interest so requires. If the government accountability board elections commission directs the canvass to be reopened, the board of canvassers shall reconvene and transmit a certified corrected copy of the canvass statement to the government accountability board elections commission or secretary of the technical college district board.
118,93
Section
93. 7.70 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
7.70 (3) (b) The commission chairperson of the board or the chairperson's designee shall examine the certified statements of the county boards of canvassers. If it appears that any material mistake has been made in the computation of votes, or any county board of canvassers failed to canvass the votes or omitted votes from any ward or election district in the county, the commission chairperson of the board or the chairperson's designee may dispatch a messenger to the county clerk with written instructions to certify the facts concerning the mistake or the reason why the votes were not canvassed. A clerk to whom such instructions are delivered shall immediately make a true and full answer, sign it, affix the county seal and deliver it to the messenger. The messenger shall deliver it with all possible dispatch to the board commission.
118,94
Section
94. 7.70 (3) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:
7.70 (3) (i) The commission chairperson of the board or the chairperson's designee shall canvass only regular returns made by the county board of canvassers and shall not count or canvass any additional or supplemental returns or statements made by the county board or any other board or person. The commission chairperson
of the board or the chairperson's designee shall not count or canvass any statement or return which has been made by the county board of canvassers at any other time than that provided in s. 7.60. This provision does not apply to any return made subsequent to a recount under s. 9.01, when the return is accepted in lieu of any prior return from the same county for the same office; or to a statement given to the commission chairperson of the board or chairperson's designee or a messenger sent by the chairperson or designee to obtain a correction.
118,95
Section
95. 7.70 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
7.70 (5) (a) The board commission shall record in its office each certified statement and determination made by the commission chairperson of the board or the chairperson's designee. Immediately after the expiration of the time allowed to file a petition for recount, the board commission shall make and transmit to each person declared elected a certificate of election under the seal of the board commission. It shall also prepare similar certificates, attested by the commission administrator
of the elections division of the board, addressed to the U.S. house of representatives, stating the names of those persons elected as representatives to the congress from this state. In the case of U.S. senators, the board
commission shall prepare a certificate of election for the governor's signature, and the governor shall sign and affix the great seal of the state and transmit the certificate to the president of the U.S. senate. The certificate shall be countersigned by the secretary of state. If a person elected was elected to fill a vacancy, the certificate shall so state indicate. When a valid petition for recount is filed, the commission chairperson of the board or the chairperson's designee may not certify a nomination, and the governor or board commission may not issue a certificate of election until the recount has been completed and the time allowed for filing an appeal has passed, or if appealed until the appeal is decided.