SB561: Bill Text

2023 Senate BILL 561

October 23, 2023 - Introduced by Senators Smith, Roys, Larson, Hesselbein, Spreitzer, Taylor and Agard, cosponsored by Representatives C. Anderson, Bare, Clancy, Jacobson, Joers, Madison, Palmeri, Ratcliff, Emerson, J. Anderson, Andraca, Drake, Hong, Moore Omokunde, Myers, Neubauer, Riemer, Sinicki, Stubbs, Vining and Haywood. Referred to Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection.

SB561,1,2 An Act to amend 5.056 and 85.61 (1); and to create 6.256 and 343.14 (2p) of the statutes; relating to: automatic voter registration.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This 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, 2027. 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, 2026, 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 Internet site 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.

For further information see the state 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:

SB561,1 Section 1. 5.056 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB561,2,10 5.056 Matching program with secretary of transportation. The commission administrator 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 commission under s. 6.36 (1) and the information specified in s. ss. 6.256 (2) and 6.34 (2m) with personally identifiable information maintained by the department of transportation. Subject to s. 343.14 (2p) (b), the agreement shall provide for the electronic transfer of information under s. 6.256 (2) to the commission on a continuous basis, no less often than monthly.

SB561,2 Section 2. 6.256 of the statutes is created to read:

SB561,3,7 6.256 Commission shall facilitate registration of electors. (1) Except as provided for individuals specified in sub. (8), and as otherwise expressly provided, the commission shall use all feasible means to facilitate the registration of all eligible electors of this state who are subject to a registration requirement and the maintenance of the registration of all eligible electors for so long as an elector remains eligible.

SB561,3,11 (2) Subject to s. 343.14 (2p) (b), for the purpose of carrying out its functions under sub. (1), the commission shall obtain the following information from the department of transportation, to the extent that the department has the information:

SB561,3,15 (a) The full name of each individual who holds a current operator's license issued to the individual under ch. 343 or a current identification card issued to the individual under s. 343.50, together with the following information pertaining to that individual:

SB561,3,17 1. The current address of the individual together with any address history and any name history maintained by the department of transportation.

SB561,3,18 2. The date of birth of the individual.

SB561,3,19 3. The number of the license or identification card issued to the individual.

SB561,3,24 4. A copy of the document that the applicant provided as proof of citizenship and a statement from the department of transportation indicating that the department verified the applicant's citizenship. For purposes of this subdivision, the applicant shall provide a document that meets the requirements under 42 USC 1320b-7 (d).

SB561,4,3 (b) For each item of information specified in this subsection, the most recent date that the item of information was provided to or obtained by the department of transportation.

SB561,4,12 (3) The commission shall compare the information obtained under sub. (2) with the information in the registration list under s. 6.36 (1) (a). If the commission finds discrepancies between the information obtained under sub. (2) regarding an elector and the information in the registration list under s. 6.36 (1) (a) regarding that same elector, the commission shall contact the elector by mail or telephone or in person to resolve the discrepancies. If the commission is able to resolve the discrepancies after contacting the elector, the commission shall update the information on the registration list. If the commission is unable to contact the elector, the commission shall resolve any discrepancies in favor of the information in the registration list.

SB561,4,25 (4) Except as provided in this subsection and sub. (8), if the commission concludes that an individual appears eligible to vote in this state but is not registered, and the commission has obtained from reliable sources all the information required under s. 6.33 (1) to complete the individual's registration, the commission shall enter the individual's name on the registration list. If the commission has not obtained from reliable sources all the information pertaining to an individual that is required under s. 6.33 (1), the commission shall attempt to obtain from reliable sources the necessary information under s. 6.33 (1) that is required to complete the individual's registration. If an elector's status has been changed from eligible to ineligible under s. 6.50 (2) or (2g) and the elector's eligibility, name, or residence has not changed, the commission may not change the individual's name to eligible status unless the commission first verifies that the individual is eligible and wishes to change his or her status to eligible.

SB561,5,3 (5) The commission shall attempt to contact an individual described in sub. (4) if necessary to obtain all the information specified in s. 6.33 (1) pertaining to the individual that is required to complete the individual's registration.

SB561,5,6 (6) If the commission is able to obtain all the required information specified in s. 6.33 (1) pertaining to an individual, the commission shall enter the name of the individual on the registration list maintained under s. 6.36 (1) (a).

SB561,5,11 (7) The commission shall mail a notice to each individual whose name the commission enters under sub. (6) on the registration list maintained under s. 6.36 (1) (a). The notice shall be printed in English, Spanish, and other languages spoken by a significant number of state residents, as determined by the commission, and shall include all of the following:

SB561,5,14 (a) A statement informing the individual that his or her name has been entered on the registration list and showing the current address for the individual based on the commission's records.

SB561,5,16 (b) A statement informing the individual that he or she may request to have his or her name deleted from the registration list and instructions for doing so.

SB561,5,17 (c) Instructions for notifying the commission of a change in name or address.

SB561,5,19 (d) Instructions for obtaining a confidential listing under s. 6.47 (2) and a description of how an individual qualifies for a confidential listing.

SB561,6,6 (8) Any individual may file a request with the commission to exclude his or her name from the registration list maintained under s. 6.36 (1) (a). Any individual whose name is added to the registration list by the commission may file a request with the commission or a municipal clerk to have his or her name deleted from the list. A request for exclusion or deletion shall be filed in the manner prescribed by the commission. An individual who files an exclusion or deletion request under this subsection may revoke his or her request by the same means that an individual may request an exclusion or deletion. The commission shall ensure that the name of any individual who has filed an exclusion or deletion request under this subsection is excluded from the registration list or, if the individual's name appears on the list, is removed from the registration list and is not added to the list at any subsequent time unless the individual files a revocation of his or her request under this subsection.

SB561,6,14 (9) If the commission removes from the registration list the name of an elector who does not request that his or her name be deleted, other than to correct an entry that the commission positively determines to be a duplication or to change the name of an individual who is verified to be deceased to ineligible status, the commission shall mail to the individual a notice of the removal or change in status by 1st class postcard to the individual's last-known address. The notice shall provide that the individual may apply to have his or her status changed to eligible if he or she is a qualified elector.

SB561,6,17 (10) The commission shall attempt to facilitate the initial registration of all eligible electors, except as otherwise provided in this section, no later than July 1, 2027.

SB561,6,21 (11) The commission shall maintain the confidentiality of all information obtained from the department of transportation under sub. (2) and may use this information only for the purpose of carrying out its functions under sub. (1) and s. 6.34 (2m) and in accordance with the agreement under s. 85.61 (1).

SB561,3 Section 3 . 85.61 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB561,7,9 85.61 (1) The secretary of transportation and the administrator of the elections commission shall enter into an agreement to match personally identifiable information on the official registration list maintained by the commission under s. 6.36 (1) and the information specified in s. ss. 6.256 (2) and 6.34 (2m) with personally identifiable information in the operating record file database under ch. 343 and vehicle registration records under ch. 341 to the extent required to enable the secretary of transportation and the administrator of the elections commission to verify the accuracy of the information provided for the purpose of voter registration. Notwithstanding ss. 110.09 (2), 342.06 (1) (eg), and 343.14 (2j), but subject to s. 343.14 (2p) (b), the agreement shall provide for the transfer of electronic information under s. 6.256 (2) to the commission on a continuous basis, no less often than monthly.

SB561,4 Section 4 . 343.14 (2p) of the statutes is created to read:

SB561,7,15 343.14 (2p) (a) The forms for application for a license or identification card or for renewal thereof shall inform the applicant of the department's duty to make available to the elections commission the information described in s. 6.256 (2) for the purposes specified in s. 6.256 (1) and (3) and shall provide the applicant an opportunity to elect not to have this information made available for these purposes.

SB561,7,21 (b) If the applicant elects not to have the information described in s. 6.256 (2) made available for the purposes specified in s. 6.256 (1) and (3), the department shall not make this information available for these purposes. This paragraph does not preclude the department from making available to the elections commission information for the purposes specified in s. 6.34 (2m) or for any purpose other than those specified in s. 6.256 (1) and (3).

SB561,5 Section 5 . Nonstatutory provisions.

SB561,8,2 (1) Initial sharing of registration information. Notwithstanding ss. 85.61 (1), 110.09 (2), 342.06 (1) (eg), and 343.14 (2j), the department of transportation shall enter into and begin transferring information under a revised agreement with the elections commission administrator pursuant to s. 85.61 (1) no later than the first day of the 4th month beginning after the effective date of this subsection.

SB561,8,17 (2) Report on voter registration information integration. No later than July 1, 2026, the elections commission shall report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature, in the manner specified in s. 13.172 (3), its progress in initially implementing a system to ensure the complete and continuous registration of all eligible electors in this state, specifically including the operability and utility of information integration with the department of transportation and the feasibility and desirability of integrating public information maintained by other state agencies and by technical colleges with the commission's registration information to enhance the completeness and accuracy of the information. At a minimum, the report shall contain an assessment of the feasibility and desirability of the 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 the technical colleges within each technical college district.

SB561,8,18 (End)