This bill makes various changes to laws relating to elections and voting.
Automatic voter registration
The bill requires the Elections Commission to use all feasible means to facilitate
the registration of all eligible electors of this state and to maintain the registration
of all eligible electors for so long as the electors remain eligible, except as the law

specifically requires electors to take some action to continue their registrations.
Under the bill, the commission must attempt to facilitate the initial registration of
all eligible electors no later than July 1, 2025. To facilitate the initial registration,
the bill directs the commission and the Department of Transportation to enter into
an agreement so that DOT may transfer specified personally identifiable
information in DOT's records to the commission. The bill requires the commission
to maintain the confidentiality of any information it obtains under the agreement
and allows a driver's license or identification card applicant to “opt out" of DOT's
transfer of this information to the commission. Once the commission obtains all the
information required under current law to complete an elector's registration, the
commission adds the elector's name to the statewide registration list. The bill also
permits an individual whose name is added to the registration list or who wishes to
permanently exclude his or her name from the list to file a request to have his or her
name deleted or excluded from the list or to revoke a deletion or exclusion request
previously made. A deletion or exclusion request or revocation of a deletion or
exclusion request may be made in the manner prescribed by the commission. In
addition, the bill directs the commission to notify an individual by first class postcard
whenever the commission removes his or her name from the registration list or
changes his or her status on the list from eligible to ineligible.
The bill also directs the commission to report to the appropriate standing
committees of the legislature, no later than July 1, 2025, its progress in initially
implementing the registration system created by the bill. The report must contain
an assessment of the feasibility and desirability or integration of registration
information with information maintained by the Departments of Health Services,
Children and Families, Workforce Development, Revenue, Safety and Professional
Services, and Natural Resources; the University of Wisconsin System; and the
Technical College System Board, as well as with the technical colleges in each
technical college district.
Under current law, a qualified elector with a current and valid driver's license
or identification card issued by DOT may register to vote electronically on a secure
website maintained by the commission. To register electronically under current law,
a qualified elector must also authorize DOT to forward a copy of his or her electronic
signature to the commission. The authorization affirms that all information
provided by the elector is correct and has the same effect as a written signature on
a paper copy of the registration form. Finally, current law requires the commission
and DOT to enter into an agreement that permits the commission to verify the
necessary registration information instantly by accessing DOT's electronic files.
Deceptive election practices
The bill prohibits any person from intentionally deceiving any other person
regarding the date, time, place, or manner of conducting an election; the
qualifications for voting or restrictions on the eligibility of electors to vote in an
election; or the endorsement of candidates by specified persons. Any person who
violates that prohibition with intent to prevent any person from exercising the right
to vote in an election may be fined not more than $100,000 or imprisoned for not more
than five years, or both.

The bill also permits any person who is aggrieved by an alleged violation
described above to obtain a court order restraining the violation and to file a sworn
complaint with the Elections Commission. If the commission finds that the facts
alleged in the complaint, if true, would constitute a violation, it must promptly
investigate the complaint. If the commission finds that a violation has occurred or
is occurring, the commission must take all measures necessary to provide correct
information to electors who may have been deceived by the actions of the alleged
violator and must refer the matter to the appropriate authority for prosecution.
The bill directs the commission to promulgate rules concerning corrective
measures that may be appropriate whenever violations occur. In addition, the bill
directs the commission to report biennially to the appropriate standing committees
of the legislature with regard to violations and actions taken in response to
violations.
Voter intimidation and suppression
The bill provides that no person may make use of or threaten to make use of
force, violence, restraint, or any tactic of coercion or intimidation in order to induce
or compel any person to vote or refrain from voting at an election, to refrain from
registering to vote at an election, or to vote or refrain from voting for or against a
particular candidate or referendum question at an election. Violators may be fined
not more than $100,000 or imprisoned for not more than three years, or both.
Current law contains similar but not identical prohibitions, and under current law,
violators may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than three
years and six months, or both.
The bill also provides that no person may knowingly attempt to prevent or deter
another person from voting or registering to vote based upon fraudulent, deceptive,
or spurious grounds or information. Violators may be fined not more than $50,000
or imprisoned for not more than two years, or both.
The bill also permits any elector of this state to sue for injunctive relief, a court
order requiring or prohibiting certain action, or any other appropriate relief, to
compel compliance with the bill's prohibitions and requirements relating to voter
intimidation, suppression, and protection. Currently, an elector may be required to
pursue administrative relief before filing suit and in some cases must petition a
district attorney or the attorney general to file suit on his or her behalf.
Voter bill of rights
The bill creates a voter bill of rights that municipal clerks and boards of election
commissioners must post at each polling place. The bill of rights informs voters that
the voters have the right to do all of the following:
1. Vote if registered and eligible to vote.
2. Inspect a sample ballot before voting.
3. Cast a ballot if in line when the polling place closes or, if voting by in-person
absentee ballot on the last day for which such voting is allowed, when the municipal
clerk's office closes.
4. Cast a secret ballot.
5. Get help casting a ballot if disabled.
6. Get help voting in a language other than English as provided by law.

7. Get a new ballot, up to three ballots in all, if the voter makes a mistake on
the ballot.
8. Cast a provisional ballot as provided by law.
9. Have the voter's ballot counted accurately.
10. Vote free from coercion or intimidation.
11. Report any illegal or fraudulent election activity.
Polling place posting and language requirements
Currently, municipal clerks and boards of election commissioners are directed
by law to post specified materials at each polling place. Currently, the Elections
Commission is also directed to ensure that in any jurisdiction in this state that is
required under federal law to provide voting materials in a language other than
English, the voting system used in that jurisdiction is in compliance with federal law.
This bill permits the commission to authorize another means of providing
notice to electors of the information required to be posted if the commission
determines that the alternative means of providing notice is at least as effective as
posting.
The bill also requires that at each polling place located in a jurisdiction that is
required under federal law to provide voting materials in a language other than
English, all required postings must be made in that language as well as in English
unless otherwise permitted by the commission. In addition, the bill directs the
municipal clerk or board of election commissioners of any such jurisdiction to contact
and coordinate with organizations that advocate for the rights of individuals who
speak that language to ensure that each polling place in the jurisdiction adequately
serves the needs of these individuals, and to endeavor to ensure that at least one of
the election officials who serves at each polling place in the jurisdiction speaks that
language.
Election manual
Under current law, the Elections Commission is required to publish an election
manual explaining the duties of election officials. The election manual is subject to
periodic review and revision and must emphasize that election officials should help,
not hinder, electors in exercising their voting rights.
The bill provides a number of additional requirements for the election manual,
including that the election manual be written in clear, unambiguous language; be
indexed by subject; contain specific examples of common problems encountered at
polling places on election day and detailed, specific procedures for resolving those
problems; and include an explanation of the laws and rules governing solicitation at
polling places, the rights of voters, and security procedures and other procedures to
be followed at polling places.
Withholding of voluntarily provided elector information
Currently, the Elections Commission and municipal clerks must provide public
access to information in the records of the commission and clerks unless otherwise
provided by law or unless the custodian demonstrates that the public interest in
withholding public access outweighs the public interest in providing that access. The
bill provides that whenever the commission or a county or municipal clerk or board
of election commissioners has the telephone number or email address of an elector

that is voluntarily provided by the elector to the commission or to the clerk or board,
the commission and the clerk and board are prohibited from providing access to that
information except to election officials and employees to be used for the
administration of elections.
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,
the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a
report.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB604,1 1Section 1 . 5.05 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB604,5,102 5.05 (1) (e) Issue an order under s. 5.06, exempt a polling place from
3accessibility requirements under s. 5.25 (4) (a), permit a municipality to provide
4notices required at polling places by alternative means under s. 5.35 (6) (d),
exempt
5a municipality from the requirement to use voting machines or an electronic voting
6system under s. 5.40 (5m), approve an electronic data recording system for
7maintaining poll lists under s. 6.79, or authorize nonappointment of an individual
8who is nominated to serve as an election official under s. 7.30 (4) (e), or review and
9investigate complaints received under s. 12.17 (4) and order corrective measures
10under s. 12.17 (5) (a)
.
AB604,2 11Section 2 . 5.056 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB604,6,3 125.056 Matching program with secretary of transportation. The
13commission administrator shall enter into the agreement with the secretary of
14transportation specified under s. 85.61 (1) to match personally identifiable
15information on the official registration list maintained by the commission under s.
166.36 (1) and the information specified in s. ss. 6.256 (2) and 6.34 (2m) with personally
17identifiable information maintained by the department of transportation. Subject

1to s. 343.14 (2p) (b), the agreement shall provide for the electronic transfer of
2information under s. 6.256 (2) to the commission on a continuous basis, no less often
3than monthly.
AB604,3 4Section 3 . 5.06 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB604,6,135 5.06 (2) No Except as authorized in ss. 5.07 (2) and 12.17 (3), no person who
6is authorized to file a complaint under sub. (1), other than the attorney general or
7a district attorney, may commence an action or proceeding to test the validity of any
8decision, action or failure to act on the part of any election official with respect to any
9matter specified in sub. (1) without first filing a complaint under sub. (1), nor prior
10to disposition of the complaint by the commission. A complaint is deemed disposed
11of if the commission fails to transmit an acknowledgment of receipt of the complaint
12within 5 business days from the date of its receipt or if the commission concludes its
13investigation without a formal decision.
AB604,4 14Section 4 . 5.07 of the statutes is renumbered 5.07 (1).
AB604,5 15Section 5 . 5.07 (2) of the statutes is created to read:
AB604,6,2216 5.07 (2) Whenever a violation of s. 5.25 (4) (b), 5.35 (6) (a) 4c., 7.08 (3), 12.09,
17or 12.19 occurs or is proposed to occur, any elector of this state may sue for injunctive
18relief, a writ of mandamus or prohibition, or such other legal or equitable relief as
19may be appropriate to compel compliance with the law. The action shall be filed in
20circuit court for the county where the violation occurs or is proposed to occur. In such
21actions, the court shall award costs and reasonable actual attorney fees to the
22plaintiff if the plaintiff prevails in the action.
AB604,6 23Section 6 . 5.25 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB604,7,324 5.25 (4) (b) In any jurisdiction that is subject to the requirement under 42 USC
251973aa-1a
to provide voting materials in any a language other than English, the

1commission shall, for each such language, ensure that the notices specified in s. 5.35
2(6) are given in that language and
the voting system used at each polling place in that
3jurisdiction is in compliance with 42 USC 1973aa-1a.
AB604,7 4Section 7 . 5.25 (4) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB604,7,125 5.25 (4) (c) In any jurisdiction that is subject to the requirement under 42 USC
61973aa-1a
to provide voting materials in a language other than English, the
7municipal clerk or board of election commissioners shall, for each such language,
8contact and coordinate with organizations that advocate for the rights of individuals
9who speak that language to ensure that each polling place in the jurisdiction
10adequately serves the needs of those individuals and shall endeavor to ensure that
11at least one of the election officials who serves at each polling place in the jurisdiction
12speaks that language.
AB604,8 13Section 8 . 5.35 (6) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB604,7,1714 5.35 (6) (a) (intro.) At Except as authorized under par. (d), at each polling place
15in the state, the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners shall post the
16following materials, positioned so that they the materials may be readily observed
17by electors entering the polling place or waiting in line to vote:
AB604,9 18Section 9 . 5.35 (6) (a) 4c. of the statutes is created to read:
AB604,7,1919 5.35 (6) (a) 4c. A voter bill of rights in substantially the following form:
AB604,7,20 20Voter Bill of Rights
AB604,7,21 21You have the following rights:
AB604,8,2 22 The right to vote if you are registered and eligible to vote. You are
23eligible to vote if you (1) are a U.S. citizen, (2) are at least 18 years old, (3) are
24registered where you currently live, (4) are not currently serving any portion of a
25felony sentence, including probation or supervision, (5) are not currently found

1mentally incompetent to vote by a court, and (6) have not placed a bet or a wager on
2the outcome of the election.
AB604,8,3 3 The right to inspect a sample ballot before voting.
AB604,8,6 4 The right to cast a ballot if you are in line when your polling place
5closes
or when your municipal clerk's office closes if you are voting by in-person
6absentee ballot on the last day for which such voting is allowed.
AB604,8,8 7 The right to cast a secret ballot, without anyone bothering you or telling
8you how to vote.
AB604,8,10 9 If you have a disability, the right to get help casting your ballot from
10anyone you choose, except from your employer or union representative.
AB604,8,12 11 The right to get help voting in a language other than English if enough
12voters where you live speak your language.
AB604,8,14 13 The right to get a new ballot if you made a mistake. You can get up to
143 ballots in all if you make a mistake and have not already cast your ballot.
AB604,8,20 15 The right to cast a provisional ballot. You can cast a provisional ballot
16if you are unable or unwilling to provide required proof of identification for voting or
17a valid driver license or identification card number for registering to vote on election
18day. Your provisional ballot will not be counted unless you provide the required
19information to the poll workers by 8:00 p.m. on election day or to the municipal clerk
20by 4:00 p.m. of the Friday following the election.
AB604,8,21 21 The right to have your ballot counted accurately.
AB604,8,23 22 The right to vote free from coercion or intimidation by any election
23official or other person.
AB604,8,25 24 The right to report any illegal or fraudulent election activity to an
25elections official or the State of Wisconsin Elections Commission.
AB604,10
1Section 10. 5.35 (6) (a) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB604,9,32 5.35 (6) (a) 5. Any other voting information directed to be posted by the
3commission to be posted or to be noticed under par. (d).
AB604,11 4Section 11 . 5.35 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB604,9,145 5.35 (6) (b) At Except as authorized under par. (d), at each polling place in the
6state where a consolidated ballot under s. 5.655 is used or an electronic voting system
7is utilized at a partisan primary election incorporating a ballot upon which electors
8may mark votes for candidates of more than one recognized political party, the
9municipal clerk or board of election commissioners shall prominently post a sign in
10the form prescribed by the commission warning electors in substance that on any
11ballot with votes cast for candidates of more than one recognized political party, no
12votes cast for any candidates for partisan office will be counted unless a preference
13for a party is made. If the elector designates a preference, only votes cast for
14candidates of that preference will be counted.
AB604,12 15Section 12 . 5.35 (6) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB604,9,2116 5.35 (6) (c) At Except as authorized under par. (d), at each polling place located
17in a municipality that is served by more than one polling place for an election, the
18municipal clerk or board of election commissioners shall prominently post a map of
19the geographic area served by the polling place for that election. The posting shall
20clearly show the boundaries of the ward or wards served by the polling place for that
21election.
AB604,13 22Section 13 . 5.35 (6) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB604,9,2523 5.35 (6) (d) As an alternative to any posting requirement under this subsection,
24the commission may authorize another means of providing notice to affected electors
25of the information specified in this subsection if the commission determines that the

1alternative means of providing the information is at least as effective as posting. Any
2authorization under this paragraph shall be in writing and shall specify the
3particular alternative means of notification that may be used.
AB604,14 4Section 14 . 6.256 of the statutes is created to read:
AB604,10,10 56.256 Commission shall facilitate registration of electors. (1) Except as
6provided for individuals specified in sub. (8) and as otherwise expressly provided, the
7commission shall use all feasible means to facilitate the registration of all eligible
8electors of this state who are subject to a registration requirement and the
9maintenance of the registration of all eligible electors for so long as an elector
10remains eligible.
AB604,10,14 11(2) Subject to s. 343.14 (2p) (b), for the purpose of carrying out its functions
12under sub. (1), the commission shall obtain the following information from the
13department of transportation, to the extent that the department has the
14information:
AB604,10,1815 (a) The full name of each individual who holds a current operator's license
16issued to the individual under ch. 343 or a current identification card issued to the
17individual under s. 343.50, together with the following information pertaining to
18that individual:
AB604,10,2019 1. The current address of the individual together with any address history and
20any name history maintained by the department of transportation.
AB604,10,2121 2. The date of birth of the individual.
AB604,10,2222 3. The number of the license or identification card issued to the individual.
AB604,11,223 4. A copy of the document that the applicant provided as proof of citizenship
24and a statement from the department of transportation indicating that the
25department verified the applicant's citizenship. For purposes of this subdivision, the

1applicant shall provide a document that meets the requirements under 42 USC
21320b-7
(d).
AB604,11,53 (b) For each item of information specified in this subsection, the most recent
4date that the item of information was provided to or obtained by the department of
5transportation.
AB604,11,14 6(3) The commission shall compare the information obtained under sub. (2) with
7the information in the registration list under s. 6.36 (1) (a). If the commission finds
8discrepancies between the information obtained under sub. (2) regarding an elector
9and the information in the registration list under s. 6.36 (1) (a) regarding that same
10elector, the commission shall contact the elector by mail or telephone or in person to
11resolve the discrepancies. If the commission is able to resolve the discrepancies after
12contacting the elector, the commission shall update the information on the
13registration list. If the commission is unable to contact the elector, the commission
14shall resolve any discrepancies in favor of the information in the registration list.
AB604,12,2 15(4) Except as provided in this subsection and sub. (8), if the commission
16concludes that an individual appears eligible to vote in this state but is not
17registered, and the commission has obtained from reliable sources all the
18information required under s. 6.33 (1) to complete the individual's registration, the
19commission shall enter the individual's name on the registration list. If the
20commission has not obtained from reliable sources all the information pertaining to
21an individual that is required under s. 6.33 (1), the commission shall attempt to
22obtain from reliable sources the necessary information under s. 6.33 (1) that is
23required to complete the individual's registration. If an elector's status has been
24changed from eligible to ineligible under s. 6.50 (2) or (2g) and the elector's eligibility,
25name, or residence has not changed, the commission may not change the individual's

1name to eligible status unless the commission first verifies that the individual is
2eligible and wishes to change his or her status to eligible.
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