1999 Wisconsin Act 182

182,22 Section 22. 5.58 (2) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

182,23 Section 23. 5.58 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.58 (2m) Metropolitan sewerage commission. There 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. 66.23 (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. The ballot shall be titled "Official Primary Ballot for Metropolitan Sewerage Commission".

182,24 Section 24. 5.60 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.60 Spring election ballots. (intro.) At spring elections the following ballots, when necessary, shall be provided for each ward, except as authorized in s. 5.655.

182,25 Section 25. 5.60 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.60 (1) State superintendent; judiciary; county executive and county supervisors. (intro.) There shall be one separate ballot for state superintendent, judicial officers, county executive and county supervisor, except as authorized in s. 5.655. For county supervisor, the ballot shall be prepared in accordance with ss. 5.58 (2) and 59.10 (3). Arrangement of the names of candidates for county executive and, county supervisor and municipal judge, if the judge is elected under s. 755.01 (4), shall be determined by the county clerk or the executive director of the county board of election commissioners determining ballot arrangement under s. 5.58 (1c), in the manner prescribed in par. (b).

182,26 Section 26. 5.60 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.60 (1) (b) The board shall certify the candidates' names and designate the official ballot arrangement for candidates for state superintendent, justice, court of appeals judge, circuit judge, municipal judge elected under s. 755.01 (4) and, if commissioners are elected under s. 66.23 (11) (am), the metropolitan sewerage commission. The arrangement of names of all candidates on the ballot whose nomination papers are filed with the board shall be determined by the board 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 not later than the 3rd day following the completion of the primary canvass to determine the arrangement of candidates on the election ballot.

182,27 Section 27. 5.60 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.60 (2) Municipal judge. If the election is under s. 755.01 (4), there shall be a separate ballot listing the names of all of the candidates, except as authorized in s. 5.655.

182,28 Section 28. 5.60 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.60 (3) City. (intro.) There Except as authorized in s. 5.655, there shall be a separate ballot giving the names of all candidates for city offices, printed in the same form as prescribed by the board under s. 7.08 (1) (a). City election ballots may vary in form to conform to the law under which an election is held.

182,29 Section 29. 5.60 (4) (a) and (b) of the statutes are amended to read:

5.60 (4) (a) There shall be a separate ballot for school district officers when so required, except as authorized in s. 5.655.

(b) In 1st class cities, the names of the candidates for the seat of the member elected at-large to the board of school directors shall be placed on the official city ballot and there shall be a separate ballot giving the names of the candidates for any seat to be filled on the board of school directors from any election district, except as authorized in s. 5.655. The names of candidates for the at-large seat shall be placed in the same column or row on the ballot.

182,30 Section 30. 5.60 (4m) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.60 (4m) Metropolitan sewerage commission. A separate ballot shall list the names of all candidates for metropolitan sewerage commission seats, if commissioners are elected under s. 66.23 (11) (am), except as authorized in s. 5.655. The names for the different seats shall be placed in separate columns or rows if more than one seat is contested at any election.

182,31 Section 31. 5.60 (5) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.60 (5) Village. (intro.) There shall be a separate ballot giving the names of all candidates for village offices, except as authorized in s. 5.655.

182,32 Section 32. 5.60 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.60 (5) (a) The offices to be filled shall be arranged on the official ballot in the order they are named in the statutes creating them. Where there is more than one ward, The names of the candidates shall be arranged by using the same method as that used by the board under sub. (1) (b). Sufficient space shall be left under each office for write-in candidates.

182,33 Section 33. 5.60 (6) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.60 (6) (a) There Except as authorized in s. 5.655, there shall be a separate ballot giving the names of all candidates for elective town offices in the form prescribed by the board under s. 7.08 (1) (a). There shall be 2 ballot forms. One ballot form shall be used for the election of supervisors to numbered seats and one ballot form shall be used for the election of supervisors to unnumbered seats. On the ballot used for the election of supervisors to unnumbered seats, all supervisor candidates shall be listed together and the voting instructions shall state "Vote for not more than.... [insert number of supervisors to be elected] candidates". All towns shall elect their supervisors to unnumbered seats unless the annual town meeting adopts a plan to elect supervisors to numbered seats. The names of candidates for town office shall be arranged by using the same method as that used by the board under sub. (1) (b). A space shall be provided under each office on the ballot for a write-in candidate.

182,34 Section 34. 5.60 (6m) and (7) of the statutes are amended to read:

5.60 (6m) Town sanitary district commission. A Except as authorized in s. 5.655, a separate ballot shall list the names of all candidates for town sanitary district commission seats, if commissioners are elected under s. 60.74 and the boundaries of the district are not coterminous with the boundaries of one or more towns. The names for different seats shall be placed in separate columns or rows if more than one seat is contested at any election.

(7) Referendum ballots. There Except as authorized in s. 5.655, there shall be a separate ballot setting forth all propositions requiring a vote in the form and manner provided by s. 5.64.

182,35 Section 35. 5.60 (8) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.60 (8) Ballots for presidential vote. (intro.) There Except as authorized in s. 5.655, there shall be a separate ballot for each recognized political party filing a certification under s. 8.12 (1), listing the names of all potential candidates of that party determined under s. 8.12 and affording, in addition, an opportunity to the voter to nominate another potential candidate by write-in vote or to vote for an uninstructed delegation to the party convention. The order of such presidential candidates shall be determined by lot by or under the supervision of the board. Each voter shall be given the ballots of all the parties participating in the presidential preference vote, but may vote on one ballot only.

182,36 Section 36. 5.60 (8) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 5.60 (8) (a) and amended to read:

5.60 (8) (a) An official Except as authorized in s. 5.655, a separate ballot shall be printed and provided for use in each voting district. The form of each ballot shall be substantially as follows:

182,37 Section 37. 5.60 (8) (a) 1., 2. and 3. of the statutes are repealed.

182,38 Section 38. 5.62 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.62 (1) (a) At September primaries, the following ballot shall be provided for the nomination of candidates of recognized political parties for national, state and county offices and independent candidates for state office in each ward, in the same form as prescribed by the board under s. 7.08 (1) (a), except as authorized in s. 5.655. The ballots shall be made up of the several party tickets with each party entitled to participate in the primary under par. (b) or sub. (2) having its own ballot, except as authorized in s. 5.655. The independent candidates for state office other than district attorney shall have a separate ballot for all such candidates as under s. 5.64 (1) (e), except as authorized in s. 5.655. The ballots shall be secured together at the bottom. The party ballot of the party receiving the most votes for president or governor at the last general election shall be on top with the other parties arranged in descending order based on their vote for president or governor at the last general election. The ballots of parties qualifying under sub. (2) shall be placed after the parties qualifying under par. (b), in the same order in which the parties filed petitions with the board. Any ballot required under par. (b) 2. shall be placed next in order. The ballot listing the independent candidates shall be placed at the bottom. At polling places where voting machines are used, each party and the independent candidates shall be represented in one or more separate columns or rows on the ballot. At polling places where an electronic voting system is used other than an electronic voting machine, each party and the independent candidates may be represented in separate columns or rows on the ballot.

182,39 Section 39. 5.62 (1) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 5.62 (1) (b) 1. and amended to read:

5.62 (1) (b) 1. Every Except as provided in subd. 2. and s. 5.64 (1) (e) 2., every recognized political party listed on the official ballot at the last gubernatorial election whose candidate for any statewide office received at least one percent 1% of the total votes cast for that office and, if the last general election was also a presidential election, every recognized political party listed on the ballot at that election whose candidate for president received at least one percent 1% of the total vote cast for that office shall have a separate primary ballot or one or more separate columns or rows on the primary ballot as prescribed in par. (a) and a separate column on the general election ballot in every ward and election district. An organization which was listed as "independent" at the last general election and whose candidate meets the same qualification shall receive the same ballot status upon petition of the chairperson and secretary of the organization to the board requesting such status and specifying their party name, which may not duplicate the name of an existing party. A petition under this paragraph subdivision may be filed no later than 5 p.m. on June 1 in the year of each general election. This paragraph applies to a party only if at least one candidate of the party for a state office qualifies to have his or her name appear on the ballot under the name of the party at the last gubernatorial election.

182,40 Section 40. 5.62 (1) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

5.62 (1) (b) 2. Subdivision 1. applies to a party within any assembly district or county at any September primary election only if at least one candidate of the party for any national, state or county office qualifies to have his or her name appear on the ballot under the name of that party within that assembly district or county. The county clerk or county board of election commissioners shall provide a combined separate ballot or one or more separate columns or rows on the ballot that will permit an elector to cast a vote for a write-in candidate for the nomination of any such party for each national, state and county office whenever that party qualifies to be represented on a separate primary ballot or in one or more separate columns or rows under subd. 1. but does not qualify under this subdivision. The ballot shall include the name of each party qualifying for a separate ballot or one or more separate columns or rows on the ballot under each office, with the names of the candidates for each such party appearing in the same order in which the ballots of the parties would appear under par. (a).

182,41 Section 41. 5.62 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 5.62 (2) (a) and amended to read:

5.62 (2) (a) Any Except as provided in par. (b) and s. 5.64 (1) (e) 2., any political organization may be represented on a separate primary ballot or in one or more separate columns or rows on the primary ballot as prescribed in sub. (1) (a) and in a separate column on the general election ballot in every ward and election district if, not later than 5 p.m. on June 1 in the year of a September primary, it files with the board a petition so requesting. To qualify for a separate ballot under this paragraph, the petition political organization shall be, not later than 5 p.m. on June 1 in the year of the September primary, file with the board a petition requesting separate ballot status. The petition shall be signed by at least 10,000 electors, including at least 1,000 electors residing in each of at least 3 separate congressional districts. The petition shall conform to the requirements of s. 8.40. No signature obtained before January 1 in the year of filing is valid. When the candidates of a political organization filing a valid petition fulfill the requirements prescribed by law, they shall appear on a separate ballot or one or more separate columns or rows on the ballot for the period ending with the following general election.

182,42 Section 42. 5.62 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

5.62 (2) (b) Paragraph (a) applies to a party within any assembly district or county at any September primary election only if at least one candidate of the party for any national, state or county office qualifies to have his or her name appear on the ballot under the name of that party within that assembly district or county. The county clerk or county board of election commissioners shall provide a combined separate ballot or one or more separate columns or rows on the ballot that will permit an elector to cast a vote for a write-in candidate for the nomination of any such party for each national, state and county office whenever that party qualifies to be represented on a separate primary ballot or in one or more separate columns or rows under par. (a) but does not qualify under this paragraph. The ballot shall include the name of each party qualifying for a separate ballot or one or more separate columns or rows on the ballot under each office, with the names of the candidates for each such party appearing in the same order in which the ballots of the parties would appear under sub. (1) (a).

182,43 Section 43. 5.62 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.62 (5) At the September primary, an elector may vote for the candidates of only one party, or the elector may vote for any of the independent candidates for state office listed; but the elector may not vote for more than one candidate for a single office. A space shall be provided on the ballot for an elector to write in the name of his or her choice as a party candidate for any office, including a party candidate of a party whose name appears on the ballot, column or row designated for independent candidates, as provided in sub. (1) (b) or (2) (b), but no space shall be provided to write in the names of independent candidates.

182,44 Section 44. 5.64 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.64 (1) Official ballot. (intro.) There Except as authorized in s. 5.655, there shall be a separate ballot giving the names of all candidates for president and vice president and for statewide, congressional, legislative and county offices in the same form as prescribed by the board under s. 7.08 (1) (a).

182,45 Section 45. 5.64 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.64 (1) (a) The ballot shall be labeled "Official Ballot" in lettering at least three-eighths inch high. Directly underneath in plain, legible type, shall be the following voting instructions: "If you desire permit an elector to vote a straight party ticket for president and vice president, whenever those offices are contested, and for all statewide, congressional, legislative and county offices, make a cross (7) in the circle under the party designation at the top of the party column. If you desire to vote for individual candidates, make a cross (7) in the square at the RIGHT of the name of each candidate for whom you desire to vote. To for each office or to vote for a person whose name does not appear on the ballot, write the name in the blank space provided for the purpose for any office. When voting for governor and lieutenant governor, you may the ballot shall permit an elector to vote only for the candidates on one ticket jointly or write in the names of persons in both spaces.". Under the party designation at the top of each party column shall appear the following words in boldface type: "Make a cross (7) in this circle to vote a straight party ticket.".

182,46 Section 46. 5.64 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.64 (1) (b) Below the voting instructions the ballot shall be divided into vertical columns. The names of the candidates on the regular party tickets nominated at the primary or replacements appointed under s. 8.35 (2) shall be printed each in appear in a separate column under the party designation. The columns shall be arranged from left to right according to rank, based on the number of votes received by the each party's candidate for president or governor at the last general election beginning with the party that received the most votes. To the right of the columns for parties qualifying under s. 5.62 (1) (b) shall be placed the columns for parties qualifying under s. 5.62 (2) in the same order in which the parties filed petitions with the board. Any column required under par. (e) 2. shall be placed next in order. To the right of the party columns shall be a column for the names of independent candidates for each office, or more than one column if the first column does not provide sufficient space for the names of all such candidates.

182,47 Section 47. 5.64 (1) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

182,48 Section 48. 5.64 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.64 (1) (d) The offices shall be arranged beginning with president and vice president or governor and lieutenant governor, whenever these offices are filled, and then the remaining offices in the order designated under s. 5.62 (3).

182,49 Section 49. 5.64 (1) (e) of the statutes is renumbered 5.64 (1) (e) 1. and amended to read:

5.64 (1) (e) 1. Within each column, each space shall state the office to be voted for directly above the candidate's first and last name. The Except as provided in subd. 2., each candidate's name shall be placed in the party column of the party by which nominated or if independent, in a column designated independent and all candidates for the same office shall appear within the same rows on the ballot. Below If a separate column is provided to write in the names of any party candidates under subd. 2., the column shall appear before the column designated independent with the spaces provided to write in the names of the candidates for each such party appearing in the same order in which the columns of their parties would appear under par. (b). Along with the names of the independent candidates shall appear the party or principle of the candidates, if any, in 5 words or less, as shown on their nomination papers. Independent candidates for the same county office shall be listed in the same manner in an order drawn by lot by or under supervision of the county clerk or board of election commissioners. The board shall conduct a redrawing for purposes of determining the arrangement of independent candidates for state office who appeared on the primary ballot in the manner provided in s. 5.60 (1) (b). To the right of each candidate's name, in each column, shall be a square for the elector to make his or her cross (7).

182,50 Section 50. 5.64 (1) (e) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

5.64 (1) (e) 2. There shall be a separate column for the candidates of each party qualifying for that column under s. 5.62 (1) (b) or (2), except that if, within any assembly district or county, there are no candidates for any national, state or county office representing such a party who qualify to have their names appear on the ballot under the name of that party within that assembly district, the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall provide a combined separate column that will permit an elector to cast a vote for a write-in candidate of any such party for each national, state and county office whenever that party qualifies to be represented in a separate column but does not qualify under this subdivision. The ballot shall include the name of each party qualifying for a separate column under each office, with the names of the candidates for each such party appearing in the same order in which the columns of the parties would appear under par. (b).

182,51 Section 51. 5.64 (1) (eg) of the statutes is created to read:

5.64 (1) (eg) In the case of balloting for the offices of president and vice president, the names of the candidates shall be placed in the column of the party that nominated them or if independent, in a column designated independent. In each column there shall be one choice for the elector to cast a ballot jointly for both offices.

182,52 Section 52. 5.64 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.64 (1) (f) In the case of balloting for the office of governor and lieutenant governor, the names of the candidates shall be placed in the party column by which nominated or if independent, in a column designated independent. To the right of the names of the set of candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, in In each column there shall be one square choice for the elector to cast a ballot jointly for both offices.

182,53 Section 53. 5.64 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 5.64 (2) (am) and amended to read:

5.64 (2) (am) There shall be a separate ballot when any proposed constitutional amendment or any other measure or question is submitted to a vote of the people, except as authorized in s. 5.655. The ballot shall give a concise statement of each question in accordance with the act or resolution directing submission in the same form as prescribed by the board under s. 7.08 (1) (a). The question may not be worded in such a manner as to require a negative vote to approve a proposition or an affirmative vote to disapprove a proposition. Unless otherwise expressly provided, this ballot form shall be used at all elections when questions are submitted to a vote of the people.

182,54 Section 54. 5.64 (2) (a) and (b) of the statutes are repealed.

182,55 Section 55. 5.64 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.64 (2) (c) The official referendum ballot prescribed under this subsection shall be utilized at every election, except that the format shall be altered to the extent provided or required by other laws establishing or authorizing referenda to be conducted. All Except as authorized in s. 5.655, all referenda shall appear on a separate ballot, but more than one referendum question may appear on the same referendum ballot whenever the questions are numbered and all electors voting the ballot are entitled to vote upon all questions appearing thereon. When more than one state referendum is placed on the same ballot, the board shall number the questions in chronological sequence. If the legislature submits questions on different dates, the board shall number the questions sequentially based on the date on which the questions are submitted by the legislature. State Except as authorized in s. 5.655, state and county referenda shall appear on a separate ballot from municipal or special district referenda. The form of all referendum ballots shall be substantially the same as that prescribed by the board under s. 7.08 (1) (a).

182,56 Section 56. 5.64 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is repealed.

182,57 Section 57. 5.64 (3) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 5.64 (1) (em) and amended to read:

5.64 (1) (em) The ballot shall be titled "Official Presidential Ballot" in lettering at least three-eighths inch high. Directly underneath in plain, legible type shall be the following voting instructions: "Make a cross (7 ) in the square opposite the names of the candidates for whose electors you desire to vote or write in the names of candidates for president and vice president in the space provided for the purpose. Vote in ONE square only.". The names of the candidates for the offices of president and vice president certified under s. 8.16 (7) or filed under s. 8.20 shall appear on the ballot in the form prescribed in s. 7.08 (2) (a). The names of the presidential electors for the candidates supplied under ss. 8.18 (2) and 8.20 (2) (d) are not listed on the ballot but a vote for the candidates for president and vice president is a vote for them through their named presidential electors.

182,58 Section 58. 5.64 (3) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 5.64 (1) (es) and amended to read:

5.64 (1) (es) The party candidates shall be arranged consecutively from top to bottom based on the number of votes received by their party's candidate for governor at the last election beginning with the party that received the most votes. The independent president-vice president candidates shall be listed together in an order drawn by lot by or under supervision of the board, following under the party candidates. Below Along with the names of the independent candidates shall appear the party or principle of the candidates, if any, in 5 words or less, as shown on their nomination papers. Following under the independent candidates, a space shall be left for writing in the names of a candidate for president and vice president.

182,59 Section 59. 5.65 of the statutes is amended to read:

5.65 Special referendum ballots. Unless otherwise provided, ballots for special referenda shall conform to the format prescribed in under s. 5.64 (2), insofar as applicable.

182,60 Section 60. 5.655 of the statutes is created to read:

5.655 Consolidated ballots. (1) Whenever a separate ballot is required to be used, a municipality may use a single ballot to facilitate the use of voting machines or an electronic voting system or, if the municipality employs paper ballots, may use a consolidated paper ballot that is authorized under sub. (2). If a municipality uses a single ballot in lieu of separate ballots, the ballot shall include a separate column or row for any office, referendum or party for which a separate ballot is required by law and the ballot shall be distributed only to electors who are eligible to vote for all of the offices and referenda appearing on the ballot.

(2) Whenever a municipality employing paper ballots is required to utilize separate ballots for certain offices, referenda or parties at an election, the municipality may, with the approval of the county clerk or board of election commissioners of each county in which there is located any portion of the municipality where one or more electors reside, substitute a single consolidated paper ballot or a ballot that is designed to be utilized with an electronic voting system, if the ballot contains all of the applicable information required to be provided for paper ballots at that election.

(3) The board shall prescribe notices and instructions to be given to electors who use a ballot that is authorized under sub. (2) in lieu of any notices and instructions that are applicable only to municipalities employing separate paper ballots.

182,61 Section 61. 5.68 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.68 (5) If a charge is made for the use of a polling place, the charge shall be paid by the unit of government municipality establishing the polling place under s. 5.25 (2) or 120.06 (9) (a) unless the polling place is used to conduct a special election that is called by a unit of government other than the state or the municipality establishing the polling place and the special election is not held concurrently with an election specified in s. 5.02 (5), (18), (21) or (22). In such case the charge shall be paid by the unit of government that calls the special election.

182,62 Section 62. 5.81 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.81 (1) Whenever the statutes require provide for the use of separate ballots or columns or rows for offices, parties or referenda, and an electronic voting system employing a ballot label or ballot card is used at a polling place, a single ballot may be used for all offices, referenda and parties. The ballot information, whether placed on the ballot or on the voting device, shall, as far as practicable, be grouped and ordered in the same manner as provided for other ballots under this chapter, except that the information on the ballot card need not be in separate columns or rows and the information in the ballot label booklet may appear on a number of pages.

182,63 Section 63. 5.81 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.81 (2) When an electronic voting system utilizes a ballot label booklet and ballot card, ballots for candidates and ballots on referenda may be placed on the voting device by providing in the ballot booklet separate ballot label pages or series of pages distinguished by differing colors. Whenever practicable, all candidates for the same office shall appear in the booklet on the same page or facing pages. More than one question may be placed on the same ballot page or series of pages. In elections where provision is made for straight party voting by marking a party circle, the designation of the political parties for straight party voting shall be on a separate page on which no names of candidates may appear. On each succeeding page of the candidate booklet, where the ballot information is listed vertically, the party affiliation of each candidate or the designation "independent" or the candidate's statement of principles, if any, shall appear immediately to the left of next to the candidate's name, and the name of candidates for the same office shall be listed vertically under the title of that office.

182,64 Section 64. 6.15 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

6.15 (3) (b) Election day. An eligible elector may appear at the polling place for the ward or election district where he or she resides and make application for a ballot under sub. (2). In such case, the inspector or special registration deputy shall perform the duties of the municipal clerk. The elector shall provide identification. If the elector is qualified, he or she shall be permitted to vote. The elector shall mark or punch the ballot and, unless the ballot is utilized with an electronic voting system, the elector shall fold the ballot, and shall deposit the ballot into the ballot box or give it to the inspector. The inspector shall deposit it directly in into the ballot box. Voting machines or ballots utilized with electronic voting systems may only be used by electors voting under this section if they permit voting for president and vice president only.

182,65m Section 65m. 6.22 (2) (b) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

6.22 (2) (b) Notwithstanding s. 6.87 (4), a military elector shall make and subscribe to the certification under s. 6.87 (2) before a witness who is an adult U.S. citizen.

182,66 Section 66. 6.22 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

6.22 (4) Instructions and handling. An individual who qualifies as a military elector may request an absentee ballot for any election, or for all elections until the individual otherwise requests or until the individual no longer qualifies as a military elector. A military elector's application may be received at any time. The municipal clerk shall not mail send a ballot for an election if the application is received later than 5 p.m. on the Friday preceding that election. The municipal clerk shall mail send a ballot, as soon as available, to each military elector who requests a ballot. The board shall prescribe the instructions for marking or punching and returning ballots and the municipal clerk shall enclose instructions with each ballot and shall also enclose supplemental instructions for local elections. The envelope, return envelope or explanatory note and instructions may not contain the name of any candidate appearing on the enclosed ballots other than that of the municipal clerk affixed in the fulfillment of his or her duties. The Whenever the material is mailed, the material shall be prepared and mailed to make use of the federal free postage laws. The mailing list established under this subsection shall be kept current in the same manner as provided in s. 6.86 (2) (b).