2001 Wisconsin Act 16

5.55 Ballot identification. On every ballot, except a ballot label or voting machine ballot, shall be printed "Official .... Ballot" or "Official .... Ballot for ...." followed by the designation of the polling place for which the ballot has been prepared, the date of the election, and the official endorsement and blank certificates. The number of the ward or wards or aldermanic district, if any, and the name of the municipality may be omitted in printing and stamped or written on the ballots at any location which is clearly visible at the option of the county clerk. Printed information and initials shall appear on the back and outside of the ballot. When a ballot card is employed with an electronic voting system, the date of the election may be printed or stamped on the back of the ballot card in such a manner that the card is not reusable, at the option of the county clerk.

16,9i Section 9i. 5.66 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.66 (2) The county clerk or board of election commissioners shall print a sufficient number of sample ballots. The municipal clerk or board of election commissioners shall print sample ballots whenever the municipality prepares ballots under s. 7.15 (2) (b) or (c). Sample ballots shall be printed on nonwhite colored paper and shall be overprinted "SAMPLE". Voting machine sample ballots shall be a reduced size diagram of the face of the board or screen inside the voting machine with all candidates, issues and voting instructions as they will appear on the official ballot. Sample ballots to be used with an electronic voting system in which ballot labels and ballot cards ballots that are distributed to electors are used shall be an actual size copy of the ballot label and ballot card. The clerk or board of election commissioners printing the ballots shall distribute the samples approximately as follows: 45% shall be kept in the clerk's or board's office and distributed to electors requesting them; 45% shall be sent to the municipalities, or, if the municipality prints ballots, 45% shall be sent to the county for distribution to the electors; and 10% shall be reserved to be sent to the polling places by municipalities in proportion to the number certified in sub. (1) and made available to electors at the polls on election day.

16,9k Section 9k. 5.68 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.68 (3) If voting machines are used or if an electronic voting system is used in which all candidates and referenda appear on the same ballot card, the ballots for all national, state and county offices and for county and state referenda shall be prepared and paid for by the county wherein they are used. If the voting machine or electronic voting system ballot includes a municipal or school, technical college, sewerage or sanitary district ballot, the cost of that portion of the ballot shall be reimbursed to the county or paid for by the municipality or district, except as provided in a 1st class city school district under sub. (2).

16,9m Section 9m. 5.79 of the statutes is amended to read:

5.79 Instruction of electors. At polling places where an electronic voting system employing the use of ballot cards or ballot labels ballots and voting devices is used, the election officials shall offer each elector instruction in the operation of the voting device and ballot label or ballot card before the elector enters the voting booth. No instructions may be given after the elector has entered the voting booth, except as authorized under s. 6.82 (2). All instructions shall be given by election officials in such a manner that they may be observed by other persons in the polling place.

16,9n Section 9n. 5.81 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.81 (1) Whenever the statutes 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 in which ballots are distributed to electors 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.

16,9p Section 9p. 5.81 (2) of the statutes is repealed.

16,9r Section 9r. 5.81 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.81 (3) If a municipality utilizes an electronic voting system in which ballots distributed to electors are employed, absentee ballots may consist of ballots utilized with the system or paper ballots and envelopes voted in person in the office of the municipal clerk or voted by mail. If a ballot card is used for voting by mail it shall be accompanied by a punching tool or marking device, elector instructions and a sample ballot showing the proper positions to vote on the ballot card for each party, candidate or referendum and, if the ballot card is to be punched, shall be mounted on a suitable material.

16,9t Section 9t. 5.82 of the statutes is amended to read:

5.82 Write-in ballots. If the ballot card employed by a municipality does not provide a space for write-in votes, the municipality shall provide a separate write-in ballot, which may be in the form of a paper ballot, to permit electors to write in the names of persons whose names are not on the ballot whenever write-in votes are authorized.

16,9tm Section 9tm. 5.84 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.84 (1) Where any municipality employs an electronic voting system which utilizes automatic tabulating equipment, either at the polling place or at a central counting location, the municipal clerk shall, on any day not more than 10 days prior to the election day on which the equipment is to be utilized, have the equipment tested to ascertain that it will correctly count the votes cast for all offices and on all measures. Public notice of the time and place of the test shall be given by the clerk at least 48 hours prior to the test by publication of a class 1 notice under ch. 985 in one or more newspapers published within the municipality if a newspaper is published therein, otherwise in a newspaper of general circulation therein. The test shall be open to the public. The test shall be conducted by processing a preaudited group of ballots so punched or marked as to record a predetermined number of valid votes for each candidate and on each referendum. The test shall include for each office one or more ballots which have votes in excess of the number allowed by law and, for a partisan primary election, one or more ballots which have votes cast for candidates of more than one recognized political party, in order to test the ability of the automatic tabulating equipment to reject such votes. If any error is detected, the municipal clerk shall ascertain the cause and correct the error. The clerk shall make an errorless count before the automatic tabulating equipment is approved by the clerk for use in the election.

16,9w Section 9w. 5.85 (2) and (3) of the statutes are amended to read:

5.85 (2) The election officials shall examine the ballots or record of votes cast for write-in votes and shall count and tabulate the write-in votes. When an electronic voting system is used which utilizes a ballot which is distributed to electors, before separating the remaining ballot cards ballots from their respective covering envelopes, the election officials shall examine the ballots for write-in votes. When an elector has cast a write-in vote, the election officials shall compare the write-in vote with the votes on the ballot to determine whether the write-in vote results in an overvote for any office. In case of an overvote for any office, the election officials shall make a true duplicate ballot of all votes on the ballot card except for the office which is overvoted, by using the an official ballot label booklet and voting device for the ward, if any of that kind used by the elector who voted the original ballot, and one of the punching or marking devices so as to transfer all votes of the elector except for the office overvoted, to an official ballot of that kind used in the ward at that election. Unless election officials are selected under s. 7.30 (4) (c) without regard to party affiliation, the election officials shall consist in each case of at least one election official of each of the 2 major political parties, whenever officials of both parties are present. Write-in votes shall be counted as provided in s. 7.50 (2) (d). The original ballot upon which there is an overvote shall be clearly labeled "Overvoted Ballot" and the ballot so produced "Duplicate Overvoted Ballot", and each shall bear the same serial number which shall be placed thereon by the election officials, commencing with number "1" and continuing consecutively for each of the ballots of that kind in that ward or election district. The election officials shall initial the "Duplicate Overvoted Ballot" ballots and shall place them in the container for return of the ballots. The "Overvoted Ballot" ballots and their envelopes shall be placed in the "Original Ballots" envelope. Ballots bearing write-in votes marked in the place designated therefor and bearing the initials of an election official and not resulting in an overvote and otherwise complying with the election laws as to marking shall be counted, tallied, and their votes recorded on a tally sheet provided by the municipal clerk. Ballot cards Ballots and ballot card envelopes shall be separated and all ballots except any which are defective or overvoted shall be placed separately in the container for return of the ballots, along with the ballots marked "Duplicate Overvoted Ballots".

(3) The election officials shall examine the ballots to determine if any is damaged or defective so that it cannot be counted by the automatic tabulating equipment. If any ballot is damaged or defective so that it cannot be properly counted by the automatic tabulating equipment, the election officials, in the presence of witnesses, shall make a true duplicate ballot of all votes on that ballot by using the ballot label booklet and voting device for the ward, if any, and one of the punching or marking devices so as to transfer all votes of the elector to an official ballot of that kind used in the ward by the elector who voted the original ballot in that election. Unless election officials are selected under s. 7.30 (4) (c) without regard to party affiliation, the election officials shall consist in each case of at least one election official of each of the 2 major political parties, whenever officials of both parties are present. The original ballot shall be clearly labeled "Damaged Ballot" and the ballot so produced "Duplicate Damaged Ballot", and each shall bear the same number which shall be placed thereon by the election officials, commencing with number "1" and continuing consecutively for the ballots of that kind in the ward. The election officials shall initial the "Duplicate Damaged Ballot" ballots, and shall place them in the container for return of the ballots. The officials shall place "Damaged Ballot" ballots and their envelopes in the "Original Ballots" envelope.

16,9x Section 9x. 5.91 (14) of the statutes is created to read:

5.91 (14) It does not employ any mechanism by which a ballot is punched or punctured to record the votes cast by an elector.

16,9y Section 9y. 5.94 of the statutes is amended to read:

5.94 Sample ballot labels and cards ballots; publication. When an electronic voting system employing a ballot label and ballot card that is distributed to electors is used, the county and municipal clerk of the county and municipality in which the polling place designated for use of the system is located shall cause to be published, in the type B notices, a true actual-size copy of the ballot label and ballot card containing the names of offices and candidates and statements of measures to be voted on, as nearly as possible, in the form in which they will appear on the official ballot label and ballot card on election day. The notice may be published as a newspaper insert. Municipal clerks may post the notice if the remainder of the type B notice is posted.

16,29n Section 29n. 6.10 (7m) of the statutes is created to read:

6.10 (7m) (a) The residence of a person who is detained, or committed and institutionalized, under s. 51.20, 971.14, or 971.17 or ch. 980 shall be determined by applying the standards under sub. (1) to whichever of the following dates is applicable to the circumstances of the person:

1. For a person detained or committed under s. 51.20, the date that the person was detained under s. 51.20 (2) or, if the person was not detained under s. 51.20 (2), the date that the person was committed under s. 51.20 (13).

2. For a person committed under s. 971.14 or 971.17, the date of the offense or alleged offense that resulted in the person's commitment.

3. For a person detained or committed under ch. 980, the date that the person committed the sexually violent offense that resulted in the sentence, placement, or commitment that was in effect when the state filed a petition under s. 980.02 against the person.

(b) That the person's habitation was fixed at the place established under par. (a) before he or she was detained or committed shall be considered prima facie evidence that the person intends to return to that place. The prima facie evidence of intent to return to the place determined under par. (a) may be rebutted by presenting information that indicates that the person is not likely to return to that place if the person's detention or commitment is terminated.

16,29p Section 29p. 6.15 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

6.15 (3) (a) 1. Upon proper completion of the application and cancellation card, the municipal clerk shall inform the elector that he or she may vote for the presidential electors not sooner than 9 days nor later than 5 p.m. on the day before the election at the office of the municipal clerk, or at a specified polling place on election day. When voting at the municipal clerk's office, the applicant shall provide identification and shall mark or punch the ballot in the clerk's presence in a manner that will not disclose his or her vote. Unless the ballot is utilized with an electronic voting system, the applicant shall fold the ballot so as to conceal his or her vote. The applicant shall then deposit the ballot and seal it in an envelope furnished by the clerk.

16,29r Section 29r. 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 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.

16,29t Section 29t. 6.22 (4) and (5) of the statutes are 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 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 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 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. 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).

(5) Voting procedure. Except as authorized in s. 6.25, the ballot shall be marked or punched and returned, deposited and recorded in the same manner as other absentee ballots. In addition, the certification under s. 6.87 (2) shall have a statement of the elector's birth date. Failure to return any unused ballots in a primary election does not invalidate the ballot on which the elector casts his or her votes.

16,29v Section 29v. 6.24 (6) and (7) of the statutes are amended to read:

6.24 (6) Instructions and handling. The municipal clerk shall send a ballot, as soon as available, to each overseas elector by whom a request has been made. The board shall prescribe the instructions for marking or punching and returning ballots and the municipal clerk shall enclose such instructions with each ballot. The envelope, return envelope 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. Except as authorized in s. 6.87 (3), the municipal clerk shall mail the material postage prepaid to any place in the world. The overseas elector shall provide return postage.

(7) Voting procedure. Except as authorized under s. 6.25, the ballot shall be marked or punched and returned, deposited and recorded in the same manner as other absentee ballots. In addition, the certificate shall have a statement of the elector's birth date. Failure to return the unused ballots in a primary election does not invalidate the ballot on which the elector casts his or her votes.

16,68ab Section 68ab. 6.82 (1) (a) and (2) (a) and (b) of the statutes are amended to read:

6.82 (1) (a) When any inspectors are informed that an elector is at the entrance to the polling place who as a result of disability is unable to enter the polling place, they shall permit the elector to be assisted in marking or punching a ballot by any individual selected by the elector, except the elector's employer or an agent of that employer or an officer or agent of a labor organization which represents the elector. The inspectors shall issue a ballot to the individual selected by the elector and shall accompany the individual to the polling place entrance where the assistance is to be given. If the ballot is a paper ballot, the assisting individual shall fold the ballot after the ballot is marked or punched by the assisting individual. The assisting individual shall then immediately take the ballot into the polling place and give the ballot to an inspector. The inspector shall distinctly announce that he or she has "a ballot offered by .... (stating person's name), an elector who, as a result of disability, is unable to enter the polling place without assistance". The inspector shall then ask, "Does anyone object to the reception of this ballot?" If no objection is made, the inspectors shall record the elector's name under s. 6.79 and deposit the ballot in the ballot box, and shall make a notation on the registration or poll list: "Ballot received at poll entrance".

(2) (a) If an elector declares to the presiding election official that he or she cannot read or write, or has difficulty in reading, writing or understanding English or that due to disability is unable to mark or punch a ballot or depress a button or lever on a voting machine, the elector shall be informed by the officials that he or she may have assistance. When assistance is requested, the elector may select any individual to assist in casting his or her vote. The selected individual rendering assistance may not be the elector's employer or an agent of that employer or an officer or agent of a labor organization which represents the elector. The selected individual shall certify on the back of the ballot that it was marked or punched with his or her assistance. Where voting machines are used, certification shall be made on the registration list.

(b) The individual chosen shall enter the voting booth or machine with the elector and shall read the names of all candidates on the ballot for each office, and ask, "For which one do you vote?". The ballot shall be marked or punched or the lever or button depressed according to the elector's expressed preference. The individual selected to assist may not disclose to anyone how the elector voted.

16,69e Section 69e. 6.87 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

6.87 (3) (d) Unless a municipality uses an electronic voting system that requires an elector to punch a ballot in order to record the elector's votes, a A municipal clerk of a municipality may, if the clerk is reliably informed by an absent elector of a facsimile transmission number or electronic mail address where the elector can receive an absentee ballot, transmit a facsimile or electronic copy of the absent elector's ballot to that elector in lieu of mailing under this subsection if, in the judgment of the clerk, the time required to send the ballot through the mail may not be sufficient to enable return of the ballot by the time provided under sub. (6). An elector may receive an absentee ballot under this subsection only if the elector has filed a valid application for the ballot under sub. (1). If the clerk transmits an absentee ballot under this paragraph, the clerk shall also transmit a facsimile or electronic copy of the text of the material that appears on the certificate envelope prescribed in sub. (2), together with instructions prescribed by the board. The instructions shall require the absent elector to make and subscribe to the certification as required under sub. (4) and to enclose the absentee ballot in a separate envelope contained within a larger envelope, that shall include the completed certificate. The elector shall then mail the absentee ballot with postage prepaid to the municipal clerk. An absentee ballot received under this paragraph shall not be counted unless it is cast in the manner prescribed in this paragraph and in accordance with the instructions provided by the board.

16,69m Section 69m. 6.87 (4) and (5) of the statutes are amended to read:

6.87 (4) Except as otherwise provided in s. 6.875, the elector voting absentee shall make and subscribe to the certification before one witness. The absent elector, in the presence of the witness, shall mark or punch the ballot in a manner that will not disclose how the elector's vote is cast. The elector shall then, still in the presence of the witness, fold the ballots if they are paper ballots so each is separate and so that the elector conceals the markings thereon and deposit them in the proper envelope. If a consolidated ballot under s. 5.655 is used, the elector shall fold the ballot if it is a paper ballot so that the elector conceals the markings thereon and deposit the ballot in the proper envelope. The elector may receive assistance under sub. (5). The return envelope shall then be sealed. The witness may not be a candidate. The envelope shall be mailed by the elector, postage prepaid, or delivered in person, to the municipal clerk issuing the ballot or ballots. Failure to return an unused ballot in a primary does not invalidate the ballot on which the elector's votes are cast. Return of more than one marked or punched ballot in a primary or return of a ballot prepared under s. 5.655 or a ballot used with an electronic voting system in a primary which is marked or punched for candidates of more than one party invalidates all votes cast by the elector for candidates in the primary.

(5) If the absent elector declares that he or she is unable to read, has difficulty in reading, writing or understanding English or due to disability is unable to mark or punch his or her ballot, the elector may select any individual, except the elector's employer or an agent of that employer or an officer or agent of a labor organization which represents the elector, to assist in marking or punching the ballot, and the assistant shall then sign his or her name to a certification on the back of the ballot, as provided under s. 5.55.

16,69s Section 69s. 6.875 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

6.875 (6) Special voting deputies in each municipality shall, not later than 5 p.m. on the Friday preceding an election, arrange one or more convenient times with the administrator of each nursing home or qualified retirement home and qualified community-based residential facility in the municipality from which one or more occupants have filed an application under s. 6.86 to conduct absentee voting for the election. The time may be no earlier than the 4th Monday preceding the election and no later than 5 p.m. on the Monday preceding the election. Upon request of a relative of an occupant of a nursing home or qualified retirement home or qualified community-based residential facility, the administrator may notify the relative of the time or times at which special voting deputies will conduct absentee voting at the home or facility, and permit the relative to be present in the room where the voting is conducted. At the designated time, 2 deputies appointed under sub. (4) shall visit the nursing home or qualified retirement home or qualified community-based residential facility. The municipal clerk or executive director of the board of election commissioners shall issue a supply of absentee ballots to the deputies sufficient to provide for the number of valid applications received by the clerk, and a reasonable additional number of ballots. The municipal clerk or executive director shall keep a careful record of all ballots issued to the deputies and shall require the deputies to return every ballot issued to them. The deputies shall personally offer each elector who has filed a proper application the opportunity to cast his or her absentee ballot. If an elector is present who has not filed a proper application, the 2 deputies may accept an application from the elector and shall issue a ballot to the elector if the elector is qualified and the application is proper. The deputies shall administer the oath and may, upon request of the elector, assist the elector in marking or punching the elector's ballot. Upon request of the elector, a relative of the elector who is present in the room may assist the elector in marking or punching the elector's ballot. All voting shall be conducted in the presence of the deputies. No individual other than a deputy may administer the oath and no individual other than a deputy or relative of an elector may render voting assistance to the elector. Upon completion of the voting, the deputies shall promptly deliver, either personally or by 1st class mail, any absentee ballot applications and the sealed certificate envelope containing each ballot to the clerk or board of election commissioners of the municipality in which the elector casting the ballot resides, within such time as will permit delivery to the polling place serving the elector's residence on election day. Personal delivery may be made by the deputies no later than noon on election day. If a qualified elector is not able to cast his or her ballot on 2 separate visits by the deputies to the nursing home or qualified retirement home, they shall so inform the municipal clerk or executive director of the board of election commissioners, who may then send the ballot to the elector no later than 5 p.m. on the Friday preceding the election.

16,72m Section 72m. 7.03 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.03 (1) (a) 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 for attendance at training sessions and examinations required by the board under s. 7.31. Alternatively, such officials may be paid by the hour at a proportionate rate for each hour actually worked.

16,76ab Section 76ab. 7.08 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

7.08 (7) Voting system transitional assistance. From the appropriation under s. 20.510 (1) (c), provide assistance to municipalities that used punch card electronic voting systems at the 2001 spring election to enable the municipalities to employ another type of electronic voting system, and provide training for election officials in the use of replacement systems.

16,76ac Section 76ac. 7.08 (7) of the statutes, as created by 2001 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed.

16,81aa Section 81aa. 7.15 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.15 (1) (e) Instruct In coordination with the board, instruct election officials in their duties, calling them together whenever advisable, advise them of changes in laws, rules and procedures affecting the performance of their duties, and administer examinations as authorized under s. 7.30 (2) (c). The clerk shall assure that officials who serve at polling places where an electronic voting system is used are familiar with the system and competent to instruct electors in its proper use. The clerk shall inspect systematically and thoroughly the conduct of elections in the municipality so that elections are honestly, efficiently and uniformly conducted.

16,81m Section 81m. 7.15 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.15 (3) (b) Sample ballots, and voting machine ballots and ballot labels for electronic voting systems, whenever the labels are affixed to the voting devices, shall be furnished to the officials in the ward or election district at least one day before each election.

16,83ab Section 83ab. 7.30 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.30 (1) Number. There shall be 7 inspectors for each polling place at each election. In municipalities where voting machines are used, the municipal governing body may reduce the number of inspectors to 5. A municipal governing body may provide for the appointment of additional inspectors whenever more than one voting machine is used or wards are combined under s. 5.15 (6) (b). A municipal governing body may provide by ordinance for the selection of alternate officials or the selection of 2 or more sets of officials to work at different times on election day, and may permit the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners to establish different working hours for different officials assigned to the same polling place. Alternate officials shall also be appointed in a number sufficient to maintain adequate staffing of polling places. Unless officials are appointed without regard to party affiliation under sub. (4) (c), additional officials shall be appointed in such a manner that the total number of officials is an odd number and the predominant party under sub. (2) is represented by one more official than the other party.

16,85m Section 85m. 7.30 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.30 (6) (b) Prior to the first election following the appointment of the inspectors, the inspectors at each polling place shall elect one of their number to act as chief inspector. No person may serve as chief inspector at any election who is not certified by the board under s. 7.31 at the time of the election. The chief inspector shall hold the position for the remainder of the term unless the inspector ceases to be certified under s. 7.31, except that whenever wards are combined or separated under s. 5.15 (6) (b), the inspectors shall elect a new chief inspector who is certified under s. 7.31. If a vacancy occurs in the position of chief inspector, the municipal clerk shall appoint one of the other inspectors who is certified under s. 7.31 to fill the vacancy.

16,85s Section 85s. 7.31 of the statutes is created to read:

7.31 Training and certification of chief inspectors. (1) The board shall, by rule, prescribe requirements for certification of individuals to serve as chief inspectors.

(2) No individual may serve as a chief inspector at a polling place in an election unless the individual is certified by the board to hold that office on the date of the election at which the individual serves.

(3) The board shall, upon application, issue certificates to qualified individuals who meet the requirements to be certified as chief inspectors. Each certificate shall carry an expiration date.

(4) The board shall require each individual to whom a certificate is issued under this section to meet requirements to maintain that certification. The board shall renew the certificate of any individual who requests renewal and who meets the requirements prescribed under this subsection.

(5) The board shall conduct regular training and administer examinations to ensure that individuals who are certified by the board under this section are knowledgeable concerning their authority and responsibilities. The board shall pay all costs required to conduct the training and to administer the examinations from the appropriation under s. 20.510 (1) (b).

16,86 Section 86. 7.33 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.33 (1) (c) "State agency" has the meaning given under s. 20.001 (1) and includes an authority created under ch. 231, 232, 233 or, 234, or 237.

16,87f Section 87f. 7.33 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.33 (4) Each Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, each local governmental unit, as defined in s. 16.97 (7), may, and each state agency shall, upon proper application under sub. (3), permit each of its employees to serve as an election official without loss of fringe benefits or seniority privileges earned for scheduled working hours during the period specified in sub. (3), and without loss of pay for scheduled working hours during the period specified in sub. (3) except as provided in sub. (5), and shall not impose without any other penalty upon an employee who serves as an election official. For employees who are included in a collective bargaining unit for which a representative is recognized or certified under subch. V of ch. 111, this subsection shall apply unless otherwise provided in a collective bargaining agreement.

16,87m Section 87m. 7.33 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.33 (5) Any employee of the state a local governmental unit, as defined in s. 16.97 (7), or state agency who obtains a paid leave of absence under sub. (4) in order to serve as an election official under s. 7.30 shall certify in writing to the head of the local governmental unit or state agency by which he or she is employed the amount of compensation that the employee receives for such service. Upon receipt of the certification, the head of the local governmental unit or state agency shall deduct that amount from the employee's pay earned for scheduled working hours during the period specified in sub. (2) when the employee is on a paid leave of absence.

16,87o Section 87o. 7.37 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.37 (4) Balloting procedure. At polling places which utilize paper ballots or electronic voting systems in which ballots are distributed to electors, 2 inspectors shall be assigned to take charge of the official ballots. They shall write their initials on the back of each ballot and deliver to each elector as he or she enters the voting booth one ballot properly endorsed by each of them. Where paper ballots are used, the inspectors shall fold each ballot in the proper manner to be deposited before delivering it to the elector. If asked, inspectors may instruct any elector as to the proper manner of marking or punching the ballot, but they may not give advice, suggestions, express any preferences or make any requests as to the person for whom, the question on which or the ballot on which the elector shall vote.

16,87q Section 87q. 7.37 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.37 (8) Electronic voting systems. Prior to the opening of the polling place, wherever electronic voting systems employing voting devices are used, the inspectors shall place the voting devices in position for voting and examine them to see that they are in proper working order and that they have the correct ballot labels by comparing them with the sample ballots.

16,87s Section 87s. 7.50 (1) (d) and (2) (a), (b) and (d) of the statutes are amended to read:

7.50 (1) (d) Whenever an electronic voting system is used at a polling place in a partisan primary, and the same ballot is utilized to cast votes for candidates of more than one recognized political party or candidates of a party and independent candidates, if an elector designates a preference for a party or for independent candidates, only votes cast within that preference category may be counted. If an elector does not designate a preference and makes a mark or punch or affixes a sticker opposite candidates of more than one recognized political party or opposite a candidate in the independent candidates' column and a candidate of a recognized political party, no votes cast by the elector for any candidate for partisan office are valid. Votes for other candidates and votes on ballot questions, if any, shall be counted if otherwise valid.

(2) (a) At a general election, if the elector places a mark, symbol or sticker or punches a hole under a party designation at the head of a column in or near the space indicated for that purpose, it is a vote for all the candidates whose names appear in the marked or punched column except as otherwise provided in this paragraph. If a name is stricken, it is not a vote for that candidate. If a name is written in, it is a vote for the write-in candidate. If a sticker is attached it is a vote for the candidate whose name appears on the sticker. If in some other column there is a mark or punch in the square to the right of a specific candidate's name or at the place designated on the ballot for marking or punching a vote for a specific candidate for the same office, it is a vote for that specific candidate and no vote may be counted for the candidate for the same office in the column marked or punched for a straight party vote.

(b) A ballot cast without any marks, or stickers or punches may not be counted. A ballot without a mark or punch at the top of a party column may be counted only for persons for whom marks or punches are applicable.

(d) If an elector writes a person's name in the proper space for write-in candidates for an office, it is a vote for the person written in for the office indicated, regardless of whether the elector strikes the names appearing in the same column for the same office, or places a mark or punch by the same or any other name for the same office, or omits placing a mark or punch to the right of the name written in. If an elector is permitted to vote for more than one candidate for the same office in an election and casts one or more write-in votes which, when added to the votes cast for candidates whose names appear on the ballot, exceed the number of votes authorized to be cast for the office, the write-in votes shall be counted and the votes for candidates whose names appear on the ballot may not be counted, unless there are more write-in votes than votes authorized to be cast, in which case no votes may be counted for the office.

16,93m Section 93m. 9.01 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

9.01 (1) (a) Any candidate voted for at any election or any elector who voted upon any referendum question at any election may request a recount. The petitioner shall file a verified petition or petitions accompanied by the fee prescribed in par. (ag), if any, with the proper clerk or body under par. (ar) not earlier than the time of completion of the canvass and 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 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. If the 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 and not later than 5 p.m. on the 3rd business day following the day on which the elections board receives the last statement from a county board of canvassers for the election or referendum. Each verified petition shall state that at the election the petitioner was a candidate for the office in question or that he or she voted on the referendum question in issue; that the petitioner is informed and believes that a mistake or fraud has been committed in a specified ward or municipality in the counting and return of the votes cast for the office or upon the question; or shall specify any other defect, irregularity or illegality in the conduct of the election. The petition shall specify each ward, or each municipality where no wards exist, in which a recount is desired. If a recount is requested for all wards within a jurisdiction, each ward need not be specified. The petition may be amended to include information discovered as a result of the investigation of the board of canvassers or the 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 discovered or reasonably should have discovered the information which is the subject of the amendment and the petitioner was unable to include information in the original petition.

16,93n Section 93n. 9.01 (1) (ad) of the statutes is created to read:

9.01 (1) (ad) Upon receiving a petition for a recount, the clerk or body receiving the petition shall calculate any fee due under par. (ag) 1m. or reasonably estimate any fee due under par. (ag) 2. The clerk or body shall provide the petitioner promptly with the total due or estimate.

16,93o Section 93o. 9.01 (1) (ag) 1. of the statutes is amended to read: