2007 Wisconsin Act 1

3. Any record containing a finding that a complaint does not raise a reasonable suspicion that a violation of the law has occurred.

4. Any record containing a finding, following an investigation, that no probable cause exists to believe that a violation of the law has occurred.

1,16 Section 16. 5.05 (5s) (f) 2. c. of the statutes is created to read:

5.05 (5s) (f) 2. c. The board shall make public advisory opinions and records obtained in connection with requests for advisory opinions relating to matters under the jurisdiction of the elections division.

1,17 Section 17. 5.05 (6) of the statutes is repealed.

1,18 Section 18. 5.05 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.05 (9) Standing. The board has standing to commence or intervene in an any civil action or proceeding for the purpose of enforcing the laws regulating the conduct of elections or election campaigns or ensuring their proper administration. If the board delegates authority to the executive director its legal counsel under sub. (1) (e) to act in its stead, the executive director legal counsel has standing to commence or intervene in such an action or proceeding.

1,19 Section 19. 5.05 (11) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.05 (11) Aids to counties and municipalities. From the appropriations under s. 20.510 20.511 (1) (t) and (x), the board may provide financial assistance to eligible counties and municipalities for election administration costs in accordance with the plan adopted under sub. (10). As a condition precedent to receipt of assistance under this subsection, the board shall enter into an agreement with the county or municipality receiving the assistance specifying the intended use of the assistance and shall ensure compliance with the terms of the agreement. Each agreement shall provide that if the federal government objects to the use of any assistance moneys provided to the county or municipality under the agreement, the county or municipality shall repay the amount of the assistance provided to the board.

1,20 Section 20. 5.052 of the statutes is created to read:

5.052 Government accountability candidate committee. (1) The government accountability candidate committee shall meet whenever a vacancy occurs in the membership of the board that requires a nomination to be submitted to the governor under s. 15.60 (2).

(2) No person may be nominated by the committee unless the person receives the unanimous approval of the committee.

(3) Except as provided in sub. (4), the committee shall submit at least the following number of nominations:

(a) To fill one vacancy, 2 nominations.

(b) To fill 2 vacancies, 3 nominations.

(c) To fill 3 vacancies, 5 nominations.

(d) To fill 4 vacancies, 6 nominations.

(e) To fill 5 vacancies, 7 nominations.

(4) If a nominee dies or withdraws, or if a nomination of the governor is withdrawn by the governor or rejected by the senate, the committee shall submit an additional nominee to the governor.

1,21 Section 21. 5.054 of the statutes is created to read:

5.054 Duties of the legal counsel. The board's legal counsel shall:

(1) Whenever a vacancy occurs on the board, call a meeting of the government accountability candidate committee.

(2) Assist the government accountability candidate committee in the performance of its functions.

1,22 Section 22. 5.055 of the statutes is amended to read:

5.055 Election assistance commission standards board. The executive director of administrator of the elections division of the board shall, in consultation with the board, appoint an individual to represent this state as a member of the federal election assistance commission standards board. The executive director administrator shall also conduct and supervise a process for the selection of an election official by county and municipal clerks and boards of election commissioners to represent local election officials of this state as a member of the federal election assistance commission standards board. The executive director administrator shall ensure that the members of the federal election assistance commission standards board representing this state shall at no time be members of the same political party. Upon appointment or election of any new member of the federal election assistance commission standards board representing this state, the executive director administrator shall transmit a notice of that member's appointment or election to the officer or agency designated by federal law.

1,23 Section 23. 5.056 of the statutes is amended to read:

5.056 Matching program with secretary of transportation. The executive director administrator of the elections division of the board 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 board under s. 6.36 (1) with personally identifiable information maintained by the department of transportation.

1,24 Section 24. 5.08 of the statutes is amended to read:

5.08 Petition for enforcement. Any In addition to or in lieu of filing a complaint, any elector may file a verified petition alleging such facts as are within his or her knowledge to indicate that an election official has failed or is failing to comply with any law regulating the conduct of elections or election campaigns or proposes to act in a manner inconsistent with such a law, and requesting that an action be commenced for injunctive relief, a writ of mandamus or prohibition or other such legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate to compel compliance with the law. The petition shall be filed with the district attorney of for the county where the violation or proposed action inconsistent with this chapter occurs or is proposed to occur having jurisdiction to prosecute the alleged failure to comply under s. 978.05 (1) and (2). The district attorney may then commence the action or dismiss the petition. If the district attorney declines to act upon the petition or if the district attorney fails to act upon the petition within 15 days of the date of filing, the petitioner may file the same petition with the attorney general, who may then commence the action.

1,25 Section 25. 5.09 of the statutes is amended to read:

5.09 Certification of documents. Whenever the board is authorized or required to make a certification of any document in the custody of the board, and the authority to make the certification is lawfully delegated to the executive director, the executive director board's legal counsel, the legal counsel may, personally or through an employee authorized by the director legal counsel, affix his or her signature by means of a stamp, machine impression, reproduction print or similar process. This section does not apply to certificates of election.

1,26 Section 26. 5.40 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.40 (7) Whenever a municipality adopts and purchases voting machines or an electronic voting system, or adopts and purchases a different type of voting machine or electronic voting system from the type it was previously using, the municipal clerk or executive director of the municipal board of election commissioners shall promptly notify the county clerk or executive director of the county board of election commissioners and the executive director of the elections administrator of the elections division of the board in writing.

1,27 Section 27. 5.62 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

5.62 (4) (b) The county board of election commissioners in counties having a population of more than 500,000 shall prepare the official primary ballot. The commissioners shall arrange the names of all candidates for each office whose nomination papers are filed at the county level, using the same method as that used by the elections government accountability board under s. 5.60 (1) (b).

1,28 Section 28. 6.26 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

6.26 (2) (b) The municipal clerk, board of election commissioners, or elections government accountability board may appoint any applicant who qualifies under this subsection, unless the applicant's appointment has been revoked by a municipality or by the board for cause. The municipal clerk, board of election commissioners, or elections government accountability board may revoke an appointment made by the clerk, board of election commissioners, or elections government accountability board for cause at any time.

1,29 Section 29. 6.26 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

6.26 (2) (c) No individual may serve as a special registration deputy in a municipality unless the individual is appointed by the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners of the municipality or the individual is appointed by the elections government accountability board to serve all municipalities and the individual completes training required under s. 7.315.

1,30 Section 30. 6.36 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

6.36 (2) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), each registration list prepared for use as a poll list at a polling place or for purposes of canvassing absentee ballots at an election shall contain the full name and address of each registered elector; a blank column for the entry of the serial number of the electors when they vote or the poll list number used by the municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers in canvassing absentee ballots; an indication next to the name of each elector for whom proof of residence under s. 6.34 is required; and a form of certificate bearing the certification of the executive director administrator of the elections division of the board stating that the list is a true and complete registration list of the municipality or the ward or wards for which the list is prepared.

1,31 Section 31. 6.56 (3) to (5) of the statutes are amended to read:

6.56 (3) Upon receipt of the list under sub. (1), the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners shall make an audit of all electors registering to vote at the polling place or other registration location under s. 6.55 (2) and all electors registering by agent on election day under s. 6.86 (3) (a) 2. unless the clerk or board of election commissioners receives notice from the board under sub. (7) that the board will perform the audit. The audit shall be made by 1st class postcard. The postcard shall be marked in accordance with postal regulations to ensure that it will be returned to the clerk, board of election commissioners, or elections government accountability board if the elector does not reside at the address given on the postcard. If any postcard is returned undelivered, or if the clerk, board of election commissioners, or elections government accountability board is informed of a different address than the one specified by the elector which was apparently improper on the day of the election, the clerk, board of election commissioners, or elections government accountability board shall change the status of the elector from eligible to ineligible on the registration list, mail the elector a notice of the change in status, and provide the name of the elector to the district attorney for the county where the polling place is located and the government accountability board.

(3m) As soon as possible after all information relating to registrations after the close of registration for an election is entered on the registration list following the election under s. 6.33 (5) (a), the board shall compare the list of new registrants whose names do not appear on the poll lists for the election because the names were added after the board certified the poll lists for use at the election with the list containing the names transmitted to the board by the department of corrections under s. 301.03 (20) s. 301.03 (20m) as of election day. If the board finds that the name of any person whose name appears on the list transmitted under s. 301.03 (20) s. 301.03 (20m) has been added to the registration list, the board shall enter on the list the information transmitted to the board under s. 301.03 (20) s. 301.03 (20m) and shall notify the district attorney for the county where the polling place is located that the person appears to have voted illegally at the election.

(4) After each election, the municipal clerk shall perform an audit to assure that no person has been allowed to vote more than once. Whenever the municipal clerk has good reason to believe that a person has voted more than once in an election, the clerk shall send the person a 1st class letter marked in accordance with postal regulations to ensure that it will be returned to the clerk if the elector does not reside at the address given on the letter. The letter shall inform the person that all registrations relating to that person may be changed from eligible to ineligible status within 7 days unless the person contacts the office of the clerk to clarify the matter. A copy of the letter and of any subsequent information received from or about the addressee shall be sent to the district attorney for the county where the person resides and the board.

(5) Whenever any letter or postcard mailed under this section is returned undelivered, or whenever the U.S. postal service notifies the clerk of an improper address which was apparently improper on the day of the election or whenever it otherwise appears that a person has voted who is not qualified or has voted more than once in an election, and the person has been permitted to vote after corroboration was made under s. 6.55 (2) or 6.86 (3) (a) 2., the name of the corroborator shall also be provided to the district attorney for the county where the person resides and the board.

1,32 Section 32. 7.08 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.08 (title) Elections Government accountability board.

1,33 Section 33. 7.08 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.08 (7) Voting system transitional assistance. From the appropriation under s. 20.510 (1) (c) 20.511 (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.

1,34 Section 34. 7.15 (1) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.15 (1) (g) Report suspected election frauds, irregularities or violations of which the clerk has knowledge to the district attorney for the county where the suspected activity occurs and to the board.

1,35 Section 35. 7.21 (2m) of the statutes is repealed.

1,36 Section 36. 7.31 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.31 (5) The board shall conduct regular training programs 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 programs from the appropriation under s. 20.510 (1) (bm) 20.511 (1) (bm).

1,37 Section 37. 7.60 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.60 (4) (a) The board of canvassers shall make separate duplicate statements showing the numbers of votes cast for the offices of president and vice president; state officials; U.S. senators and representatives in congress; state legislators; justice; court of appeals judge; circuit judges; district attorneys; and metropolitan sewerage commissioners, if the commissioners are elected under s. 200.09 (11) (am). If a municipal judge elected under s. 755.01 (4) serves a municipality that is located partially within the county and candidates for that judgeship file nomination papers in another county, the board of canvassers shall prepare a duplicate statement showing the numbers of votes cast for that judgeship in that county for transmittal to the other county. For partisan candidates, the statements shall include the political party or principle designation, if any, next to the name of each candidate. The board of canvassers shall also prepare a statement showing the results of any county, technical college district, or statewide referendum. Each statement shall state the total number of votes cast in the county for each office; the names of all persons for whom the votes were cast, as returned; the number of votes cast for each person; and the number of votes cast for and against any question submitted at a referendum. The board of canvassers shall use one copy of each duplicate statement to report to the elections government accountability board, technical college district board, or board of canvassers of any other county and shall file the other statement in the office of the county clerk or board of election commissioners.

1,38 Section 38. 7.60 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.60 (5) Reporting. (a) Immediately following the canvass, the county clerk shall deliver or send to the elections government accountability board, by 1st class mail, a certified copy of each statement of the county board of canvassers for president and vice president, state officials, senators and representatives in congress, state legislators, justice, court of appeals judge, circuit judge, district attorney, and metropolitan sewerage commissioners, if the commissioners are elected under s. 200.09 (11) (am). The statement shall record the returns for each office or referendum by ward, unless combined returns are authorized under s. 5.15 (6) (b) in which case the statement shall record the returns for each group of combined wards. Following primaries the county clerk shall enclose on forms prescribed by the elections government accountability board the names, party or principle designation, if any, and number of votes received by each candidate recorded in the same manner. The county clerk shall deliver or transmit the certified statement to the elections government accountability board no later than 7 days after each primary except the September primary, no later than 10 days after the September primary and any other election except the general election, and no later than 14 days after the general election. The board of canvassers shall deliver or transmit a certified copy of each statement for any technical college district referendum to the secretary of the technical college district board.

(b) If the board of canvassers becomes aware of a material mistake in the canvass of an election for state or national office or a statewide or technical college district referendum prior to the close of business on the day the elections government accountability board receives returns from the last county board of canvassers with respect to that canvass, the board of canvassers may petition the elections government accountability board to reopen and correct the canvass. The elections government accountability board shall direct the canvass to be reopened and corrected if it determines that the public interest so requires. If the elections government accountability board directs the canvass to be reopened, the board of canvassers shall reconvene and transmit a certified corrected copy of the canvass statement to the elections government accountability board or secretary of the technical college district board.

1,39 Section 39. 7.70 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.70 (1) Recording and preserving returns. (a) Upon receipt of the certified statements from the county clerks, the elections board shall record the election results by counties and file and carefully preserve the statements.

(b) If any county clerk fails or neglects to forward any statements, the elections board may require the clerk to do so immediately and if not received by the 8th day after a primary, or by the 11th day after any other election, the elections board may dispatch a special messenger to obtain them. Whenever it appears upon the face of any statement that an error has been made in reporting or computing, the elections board may return it to the county clerk for correction.

1,40 Section 40. 7.70 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

7.70 (5) Certificates of election. (a) The board shall record in its office each certified statement and determination made by the chairperson of the board or the chairperson's designee. Immediately after the expiration of the time allowed to file a petition for recount, the board shall make and transmit to each person declared elected a certificate of election under the seal of the board. It shall also prepare similar certificates, attested by the executive director administrator of the elections division of the board, addressed to the U.S. house of representatives, stating the names of those persons elected as representatives to the congress from this state. In the case of U.S. senators, the board shall prepare a certificate of election for the governor's signature, and the governor shall sign and affix the great seal of the state and transmit the certificate to the president of the U.S. senate. The certificate shall be countersigned by the secretary of state. If a person elected was elected to fill a vacancy, the certificate shall so state. When a valid petition for recount is filed, the chairperson of the board or the chairperson's designee may not certify a nomination, and the governor or board may not issue a certificate of election until the recount has been completed and the time allowed for filing an appeal has passed, or if appealed until the appeal is decided.

(b) For presidential electors, the elections board shall prepare a certificate showing the determination of the results of the canvass and the names of the persons elected, and the governor shall sign, affix the great seal of the state, and transmit the certificate by registered mail to the U.S. administrator of general services. The governor shall also prepare 6 duplicate originals of such certificate and deliver them to one of the presidential electors on or before the first Monday after the 2nd Wednesday in December.

1,41 Section 41. 8.05 (1) (j) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

8.05 (1) (j) 3. A candidate for municipal judge shall, in addition to making the filings required under subd. 2., file a statement of economic interests with the ethics board under s. 19.43 (4) no later than 4:30 p.m. on the 5th day after notification of nomination is mailed or personally delivered to the candidate, or no later than 4:30 p.m. on the next business day after the last day for filing a declaration of candidacy whenever that candidate is granted an extension of time for filing a declaration of candidacy under subd. 2.

1,42 Section 42. 8.10 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.10 (5) Nomination papers shall be accompanied by a declaration of candidacy under s. 8.21. If a candidate has not filed a registration statement under s. 11.05 at the time he or she files nomination papers, the candidate shall file the statement with the papers. A candidate for state office or municipal judge shall also file a statement of economic interests with the ethics board under s. 19.43 (4) no later than 4:30 p.m. on the 3rd day following the last day for filing nomination papers under sub. (2) (a), or no later than 4:30 p.m. on the next business day after the last day whenever that candidate is granted an extension of time for filing nomination papers under sub. (2) (a).

1,43 Section 43. 8.15 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.15 (4) (b) Nomination papers shall be accompanied by a declaration of candidacy under s. 8.21. If a candidate for state or local office has not filed a registration statement under s. 11.05 at the time he or she files nomination papers, the candidate shall file the statement with the papers. A candidate for state office shall also file a statement of economic interests with the ethics board under s. 19.43 (4) no later than 4:30 p.m. on the 3rd day following the last day for filing nomination papers under sub. (1), or no later than 4:30 p.m. on the next business day after the last day whenever that candidate is granted an extension of time for filing nomination papers under sub. (1).

1,44 Section 44. 8.18 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.18 (2) The purpose of the convention is to nominate one presidential elector from each congressional district and 2 electors from the state at large. The names of the nominees shall be certified immediately by the chairperson of the state committee of each party to the chairperson of the elections board.

1,45 Section 45. 8.20 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.20 (6) Nomination papers shall be accompanied by a declaration of candidacy under s. 8.21. If a candidate for state or local office has not filed a registration statement under s. 11.05 at the time he or she files nomination papers, the candidate shall file the statement with the papers. A candidate for state office shall also file a statement of economic interests with the ethics board under s. 19.43 (4) no later than 4:30 p.m. on the 3rd day following the last day for filing nomination papers under sub. (8) (a), or no later than 4:30 p.m. on the next business day after the last day whenever that candidate is granted an extension of time for filing nomination papers under sub. (8) (a).

1,46 Section 46. 8.30 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

8.30 (2m) The official or agency with whom nomination papers and declarations of candidacy are required to be filed shall not place a candidate's name on the ballot if the candidate's name is ineligible for ballot placement under s. 5.05 (2m) (d) 2. or 15.60 (6).

1,47 Section 47. 8.50 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.50 (3) (a) Nomination papers may be circulated no sooner than the day the order for the special election is filed and shall be filed not later than 5 p.m. 28 days before the day that the special primary will or would be held, if required, except when a special election is held concurrently with the spring election or general election, the deadline for filing nomination papers shall be specified in the order and the date shall be no earlier than the date provided in s. 8.10 (2) (a) or 8.15 (1), respectively, and no later than 35 days prior to the date of the spring or September primary. Nomination papers may be filed in the manner specified in s. 8.10, 8.15, or 8.20. Each candidate shall file a declaration of candidacy in the manner provided in s. 8.21 no later than the latest time provided in the order for filing nomination papers. If a candidate for state or local office has not filed a registration statement under s. 11.05 at the time he or she files nomination papers, the candidate shall file the statement with the papers. A candidate for state office shall also file a statement of economic interests with the ethics board no later than the end of the 3rd day following the last day for filing nomination papers specified in the order.

1,48 Section 48. 8.50 (3) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

8.50 (3) (e) In a special election for a state or national office, the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall transmit the statement of the county board of canvassers to the elections government accountability board no later than 7 days after the special primary and 13 days after the special election.

1,49 Section 49. 9.01 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

9.01 (1) (a) 1. Any candidate voted for at any election or any elector who voted upon any referendum question at any election may petition for a recount. The petitioner shall file a verified petition or petitions 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 prior to issuance of any amended return under s. 6.221 (6) (b) 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 prior to issuance of any amended return under s. 6.221 (6) (b). 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 government accountability board receives the last statement from a county board of canvassers for the election or referendum.

1,50 Section 50. 9.01 (1) (ag) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

9.01 (1) (ag) 4. The board shall deposit all moneys received by it into the account under s. 20.510 20.511 (1) (g), and shall pay the fees required for each recount to the county clerks of the counties in which the recount is to be held. The county clerk shall deposit fees received by him or her with the county treasurer. The municipal clerk shall deposit fees received by him or her with the municipal treasurer.

1,51 Section 51. 9.01 (1) (ar) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

9.01 (1) (ar) 2. In the event of a recount for a referendum, the petition shall be filed with the clerk of the jurisdiction in which the referendum is called, and, in the case of the state, with the elections board.

1,52 Section 52. 9.01 (10) of the statutes is amended to read: