State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
April 8, 2022
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist159999I am vetoing Senate Bill 945 in its entirety. This bill would require each clerk of a circuit court to notify appropriate county clerks and the Elections Commission of any prospective juror whose returned juror qualification form includes information that indicates the individual lives outside the relevant circuit or is not a citizen. The commission would then deactivate the person's voter registration and send notice to the appropriate district attorney if that person is registered to vote or had voted without the necessary elector qualifications or without satisfying residency requirements.
The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy; it should not be subject to the whim of politicians who do not like the outcome of an election. Elected officials should not be able to abuse their power to cheat or control the outcomes of our elections or to prevent eligible voters from casting their ballots. This legislation is among many that have been sent to my desk during this legislative session, each passed under the guise of needing to reform our election system because elected officials in this state have enabled disinformation about our elections and election processes. I have and will object to each and every effort by this Legislature and its members to undermine our democracy, erode confidence in our elections, and to demean and harass dedicated clerks, election administrators, and poll workers.
I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to the use of a self-reported document unrelated to election registration being used as a method to deny a person their right to vote. This bill would use a process that relies on a questionnaire used for jury pool selection to help establish whether either of these things is true about an individual. People do not analyze and respond to jury questionnaires in the same way that they do when registering to vote. A person does not provide proof of residence when responding to the jury questionnaire. It is entirely possible that if a person does not fully understand what is being asked in a jury questionnaire, they may pay little attention and assume that if they spend regular time outside of their primary residence — such as being away for college — that this does not qualify them as a resident for the purposes of a jury pool.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
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Referrals and Receipt of Committee Reports Concerning Proposed Administrative Rules
The committee on Human Services, Children and Families reported and recommended:
Relating to asset restrictions for Wisconsin Works and Emergency Assistance.
hist160008Referred to the joint committee for review of Administrative Rules, April 11, 2022. Relating to technical corrections to Wisconsin Works rules.
hist160010Referred to the joint committee for review of Administrative Rules, April 11, 2022. Relating to Wisconsin Works filing a good cause claim for noncooperation with child support.
hist160012Referred to the joint committee for review of Administrative Rules, April 11, 2022. Relating to school-age child care programs and other child care licensing updates.
hist160014Referred to the joint committee for review of Administrative Rules, April 11, 2022. Relating to technical corrections and minor updates to child welfare rules.
hist160016Referred to the joint committee for review of Administrative Rules, April 11, 2022. ANDRÉ JACQUE
Chairperson
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The committee on Insurance, Licensing and Forestry reported and recommended:
Relating to professional counselor training license renewals.
hist160003Referred to the joint committee for review of Administrative Rules, April 11, 2022. Relating to compounding pharmaceuticals.
hist160001Referred to the joint committee for review of Administrative Rules, April 11, 2022. MARY FELZKOWSKI
Chairperson
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The committee on Natural Resources and Energy reported and recommended:
Relating to amending the list of date-regulated wild rice harvesting waters in NR 19.09 (4).
hist160006Referred to the joint committee for review of Administrative Rules, April 11, 2022. ROBERT COWLES
Chairperson
