2015 Wisconsin Act 118

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.

118,88 Section 88. 7.15 (1) (g) of the statutes, as affected by 2013 Wisconsin Act 148, is amended to read:

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.

118,96 Section 96. 8.05 (1) (j) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

8.05 (1) (j) 3. A candidate for municipal judge shall, in addition to making the filings required under subd. 2., file a statement of economic interests with the board ethics commission under s. 19.43 (4) no later than 4:30 p.m. on the 5th day after notification of nomination is mailed or personally delivered to the candidate, or no later than 4:30 p.m. on the next business day after the last day for filing a declaration of candidacy whenever that candidate is granted an extension of time for filing a declaration of candidacy under subd. 2.

118,97 Section 97. 8.10 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.10 (5) Nomination papers shall be accompanied by a declaration of candidacy under s. 8.21. If a candidate 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 or municipal judge shall also file a statement of economic interests with the board ethics commission under s. 19.43 (4) no later than 4:30 p.m. on the 3rd day following the last day for filing nomination papers under sub. (2) (a), or no later than 4:30 p.m. on the next business day after the last day whenever that candidate is granted an extension of time for filing nomination papers under sub. (2) (a).

118,98 Section 98. 8.10 (6) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.10 (6) (a) For state offices or seats on a metropolitan sewerage commission, if the commissioners are elected under s. 200.09 (11) (am), in the office of the board elections commission.

118,99 Section 99. 8.15 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.15 (4) (b) Nomination papers shall be accompanied by a declaration of candidacy under s. 8.21. 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 ethics commission under s. 19.43 (4) no later than 4:30 p.m. on the 3rd day following the last day for filing nomination papers under sub. (1), or no later than 4:30 p.m. on the next business day after the last day whenever that candidate is granted an extension of time for filing nomination papers under sub. (1).

118,100 Section 100. 8.17 (9) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.17 (9) (a) If a county has no committee as provided by sub. (5) (a), residents of that county may voluntarily form a committee, which, upon approval of the state committee and certification by the secretary of the state committee to the board commission and the county clerk or board of election commissioners, shall then become the county committee with equal standing as if it had been organized under sub. (5) (a). This standing shall remain unless and until a committee is organized under sub. (5) (a).

118,101 Section 101. 8.20 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.20 (6) Nomination papers shall be accompanied by a declaration of candidacy under s. 8.21. 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 ethics commission under s. 19.43 (4) no later than 4:30 p.m. on the 3rd day following the last day for filing nomination papers under sub. (8) (a), or no later than 4:30 p.m. on the next business day after the last day whenever that candidate is granted an extension of time for filing nomination papers under sub. (8) (a).

118,102 Section 102. 8.20 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.20 (7) Nomination papers shall be filed in the office of the board commission for all state offices and the offices of U.S. senator and representative in congress, and in the office of county clerk or board of election commissioners for all county offices.

118,103 Section 103. 8.30 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.30 (2m) The official or agency with whom nomination papers and declarations of candidacy are required to be filed shall not place a candidate's name on the ballot if the candidate's name is ineligible for ballot placement under s. 5.05 (2m) (d) 2. or 15.60 (6), 15.61 (3), or 19.49 (2) (c) 2.

118,104 Section 104. 8.50 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.50 (1) (a) When there is to be a special election, the special election for county office shall be ordered by the county board of supervisors except as provided in s. 17.21 (5); the special election for city office shall be ordered by the common council; the special election for village office shall be ordered by the board of trustees; the special election for town office shall be ordered by the town board of supervisors; the special election for school board member in a school district organized under ch. 119 shall be ordered by the school board; the special election for municipal judge shall be ordered by the governing body of the municipality, except in 1st class cities, or if the judge is elected under s. 755.01 (4) jointly by the governing bodies of all municipalities served by the judge; and all other special elections shall be ordered by the governor. When the governor or attorney general issues the order, it shall be filed and recorded in the office of the board commission. When the county board of supervisors issues the order, it shall be filed and recorded in the office of the county clerk. When the county executive issues the order, it shall be filed in the office of the county board of election commissioners. When the common council issues the order, it shall be filed in the office of the city clerk. When the board of trustees issues the order, it shall be filed in the office of the village clerk. When the town board of supervisors issues the order, it shall be filed in the office of the town clerk. When the school board of a school district organized under ch. 119 issues the order, it shall be filed and recorded in the office of the city board of election commissioners. If a municipal judge is elected under s. 755.01 (4), the order shall be filed in the office of the county clerk or board of election commissioners of the county having the largest portion of the population of the jurisdiction served by the judge.

118,105 Section 105. 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 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 ethics commission no later than the end of the 3rd day following the last day for filing nomination papers specified in the order.

118,106 Section 106. 8.50 (3) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.50 (3) (e) In a special election for a state or national office, the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall transmit the statement of the county board of canvassers to the government accountability board elections commission no later than 7 days after the special primary and 13 days after the special election.

118,107 Section 107. 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 following canvassing of any valid provisional and absentee ballots under ss. 6.97 (4) and 7.515 (6) and, except as provided in this subdivision, 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 following canvassing of all valid provisional and absentee ballots 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 following canvassing of all valid provisional and absentee ballots. If the commission 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 following canvassing of all valid provisional and absentee ballots and not later than 5 p.m. on the 3rd business day following the day on which the government accountability board commission receives the last statement from a county board of canvassers for the election or referendum following canvassing of all valid provisional and absentee ballots.

118,108 Section 108. 9.01 (1) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

9.01 (1) (a) 4. The petition under subd. 1. may be amended to include information discovered as a result of the investigation of the board of canvassers or the commission chairperson of the board, or chairperson's designee, after the filing of the petition if the petitioner moves to amend the petition as soon as possible after the petitioner discovers, or reasonably should have discovered, the information that is the subject of the amendment and if the petitioner was unable to include the information in the original petition.

118,109 Section 109. 9.01 (1) (ag) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

9.01 (1) (ag) 4. The board commission shall deposit all moneys received by it into the account under s. 20.511 20.510 (1) (g), and shall pay the fees required for each recount to the county clerks of the counties in which the recount is to be held. The county clerk shall deposit fees received by him or her with the county treasurer. The municipal clerk shall deposit fees received by him or her with the municipal treasurer.

118,110 Section 110. 9.01 (1) (ar) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

9.01 (1) (ar) 3. Whenever a clerk receives a valid petition and any payment under par. (ag) 3., the clerk shall thereupon notify the proper board of canvassers. Whenever the board commission receives a valid petition and any payment under par. (ag) 3., the board commission shall promptly by certified mail or other expeditious means order the proper county boards of canvassers to commence the recount. County boards of canvassers shall convene no later than 9 a.m. on the second day after receipt of an order and may adjourn for not more than one day at a time until the recount is completed in the county, except that the board commission may permit extension of the time for adjournment. Returns from a recount ordered by the board commission shall be transmitted to the office of the board commission as soon as possible, but in no case later than 13 days from the date of the order of the board commission directing the recount. The commission chairperson of the board or the chairperson's designee may not make a determination in any election if a recount is pending before any county board of canvassers in that election. The commission chairperson of the board or the chairperson's designee need not recount actual ballots, but shall verify the returns of the county boards of canvassers in making his or her determinations.

118,111 Section 111. 9.01 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

9.01 (5) (a) The board of canvassers or the commission chairperson of the board or the chairperson's designee shall keep complete minutes of all proceedings before the board of canvassers or the chairperson or designee. The minutes shall include a record of objections and offers of evidence. If the board of canvassers or the commission chairperson or the chairperson's designee receives exhibits from any party, the board of canvassers or the chairperson or designee shall number and preserve the exhibits. The board of canvassers or the chairperson or chairperson's designee shall make specific findings of fact with respect to any irregularity raised in the petition or discovered during the recount. Any member of the board of canvassers or the chairperson or chairperson's designee may administer oaths, certify official acts, and issue subpoenas for purposes of this section. Witness fees shall be paid by the county. In the case of proceedings before the commission chairperson of the board or chairperson's designee, witness fees shall be paid by the board commission.

118,112 Section 112. 9.01 (5) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:

9.01 (5) (bm) Upon the completion of its proceedings, a board of canvassers shall deliver to the board commission one copy of the minutes of the proceedings kept under par. (a). In addition, in the case of a recount of an election for state or national office, for each candidate whose name appears on the ballot for that office under the name of a political party, the board of canvassers shall deliver one copy of the minutes to the chief officer, if any, who is named in any registration statement filed under s. 11.05 (1) by the state committee of that political party, and in the case of a recount of an election for county office, for each candidate whose name appears on the ballot for that office under the name of a political party, the board of canvassers shall deliver one copy of the minutes to the chief officer, if any, who is named in any registration statement filed under s. 11.05 (1) by the county committee of that political party.

118,113 Section 113. 9.01 (5) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

9.01 (5) (c) If the recount is made by a municipal or county board of canvassers and the result is required to be reported to a county board of canvassers or to the commission chairperson of the board or the chairperson's designee, the board of canvassers making the initial recount shall immediately certify the results to the county board of canvassers or to the commission chairperson of the board or designee. If a county board of canvassers receives such results, it shall then convene not later than 9 a.m. on the next business day following receipt to examine the returns and determine the results. If the commission chairperson of the board or the chairperson's designee receives such results, the chairperson or designee shall publicly examine the returns and determine the results not later than 9 a.m. on the 3rd business day following receipt, but if that day is earlier than the latest day permitted for that election under s. 7.70 (3) (a), the commission chairperson of the board or designee may examine the returns and determine the results not later than the day specified in s. 7.70 (3) (a).

118,114 Section 114. 9.01 (6) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

9.01 (6) (a) Within 5 business days after completion of the recount determination by the board of canvassers in all counties concerned, or within 5 business days after completion of the recount determination by the commission chairperson of the board or the chairperson's designee whenever a determination is made by the chairperson or designee, any candidate, or any elector when for a referendum, aggrieved by the recount may appeal to circuit court. The appeal shall commence by serving a written notice of appeal on the other candidates and persons who filed a written notice of appearance before each board of canvassers whose decision is appealed, or in the case of a statewide recount, before the commission chairperson of the board or the chairperson's designee. The appellant shall also serve notice on the board commission if the commission chairperson of the board or the chairperson's designee is responsible for determining the election. The appellant shall serve the notice by certified mail or in person. The appellant shall file the notice with the clerk of circuit court together with an undertaking and surety in the amount approved by the court, conditioned upon the payment of all costs taxed against the appellant.

118,115 Section 115. 9.01 (7) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

9.01 (7) (a) The court with whom an appeal is filed shall forthwith issue an order directing each affected county or, municipal clerk, or board, and the commission, to transmit immediately all ballots, papers and records affecting the appeal to the clerk of court or to impound and secure such ballots, papers and records, or both. The order shall be served upon each affected county or , municipal clerk, or board, the commission, and all other candidates and persons who filed a written notice of appearance before any board of canvassers involved in the recount.

118,116 Section 116. 9.01 (8) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

9.01 (8) (a) Unless the court finds a ground for setting aside or modifying the determination of the board of canvassers or the commission chairperson of the board or chairperson's designee, it shall affirm the determination.

118,117 Section 117. 9.01 (8) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

9.01 (8) (c) The court may not receive evidence not offered to the board of canvassers or the commission chairperson or the chairperson's designee except for evidence that was unavailable to a party exercising due diligence at the time of the recount or newly discovered evidence that could not with due diligence have been obtained during the recount, and except that the court may receive evidence not offered at an earlier time because a party was not represented by counsel in all or part of a recount proceeding. A party who fails to object or fails to offer evidence of a defect or irregularity during the recount waives the right to object or offer evidence before the court except in the case of evidence that was unavailable to a party exercising due diligence at the time of the recount or newly discovered evidence that could not with due diligence have been obtained during the recount or evidence received by the court due to unavailability of counsel during the recount.

118,118 Section 118. 9.01 (8) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

9.01 (8) (d) The court shall set aside or modify the determination of the board of canvassers or the commission chairperson of the board or the chairperson's designee if it finds that the board of canvassers or the chairperson or chairperson's designee has erroneously interpreted a provision of law and a correct interpretation compels a particular action. If the determination depends on any fact found by the board of canvassers or the commission chairperson or the chairperson's designee, the court may not substitute its judgment for that of the board of canvassers or the chairperson or designee as to the weight of the evidence on any disputed finding of fact. The court shall set aside the determination if it finds that the determination depends on any finding of fact that is not supported by substantial evidence.

118,119 Section 119. 9.01 (10) of the statutes is amended to read:

9.01 (10) Standard forms and methods. The government accountability board commission shall prescribe standard forms and procedures for the making of recounts under this section. The procedures prescribed by the government accountability board commission shall require the boards of canvassers in recounts involving more than one board of canvassers to consult with the government accountability board commission staff prior to beginning any recount in order to ensure that uniform procedures are used, to the extent practicable, in such recounts.

118,120 Section 120. 10.06 (1) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

10.06 (1) (title) Government accountability board Elections commission.

118,121 Section 121. 11.01 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:

11.01 (4m) "Commission" means the ethics commission.

118,122 Section 122. 11.09 of the statutes is amended to read:

11.09 Duplicate reports required in certain cases. (3) Each registrant whose filing officer is the board commission, who or which makes disbursements in connection with elections for offices which serve or referenda which affect only one county or portion thereof, except a candidate, personal campaign committee, political party committee or other committee making disbursements in support of or in opposition to a candidate for state senator, representative to the assembly, court of appeals judge or circuit judge, shall file a duplicate original of each financial report filed with the board commission with the county clerk or board of election commissioners of the county in which the elections in which the registrant participates are held. Such reports shall be filed no later than the dates specified under s. 11.20 (2) and (4) for the filing of each report with the board commission.

(4) In every case where a duplicate report is filed by the board commission or by any person under sub. (3), the board commission shall transmit a certified duplicate copy of the registration statement to each county clerk or board of election commissioners with whom a duplicate report is filed.

118,123 Section 123. 11.21 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

11.21 (title) Duties of the government accountability board ethics commission.

118,124 Section 124. 11.21 (7) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read: