LRB-2332/1
JTK:mfd:km
1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE
May 22, 1997 - Introduced by Representatives Schneider, La Fave, R. Potter,
Hasenohrl, Springer, Boyle, Notestein and Robson, cosponsored by Senator
Clausing. Referred to Committee on Elections and Constitutional Law.
AB371,1,3
1An Act to renumber and amend 15.61; and
to create 5.05 (10) and 15.61 (1)
2(a), (b) and (d) and (2) of the statutes;
relating to: composition of the elections
3board and the number of votes required to act upon matters before the board.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Currently, the elections board consists of 8 members appointed by the governor
for 2-year terms without senate confirmation. One member is selected by the
governor and one member each is designated by the chief justice of the supreme
court, the speaker of the assembly, the senate majority leader, the minority leader
in each house of the legislature, and the chief officer of each political party qualifying
for a separate ballot or column on the ballot whose candidate for governor received
at least 10% of the vote in the most recent gubernatorial election.
This bill recreates the board to consist of 9 members appointed by various
persons and groups, including 3 members appointed by Common Cause in
Wisconsin, 3 members appointed by the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Inc.,
one member appointed by the state chairperson of each political party whose
candidate for governor received the greatest or 2nd greatest number of votes cast in
the most recent gubernatorial election and one member appointed by the director of
state courts. The members serve for indefinite terms and may be removed and
replaced by their appointing authorities. Under the bill, no member may have been,
or while serving on the board may become, a member of a political party or a partisan
state or county elective official.
Under the bill, the members of the current board serve until all of the members
of the board who are appointed under the bill qualify for office, at which time the
current members are replaced.
Currently, a majority of the members present and voting, if a quorum is present,
is required to act upon any matter before the board. Under the bill, the concurrence
of at least 5 members is required to act upon any matter before the board.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB371, s. 1
1Section
1. 5.05 (10) of the statutes is created to read:
AB371,2,32
5.05
(10) Actions of the board. The concurrence of at least 5 members is
3required for the board to act upon any matter before it.
AB371, s. 2
4Section
2. 15.61 of the statutes is renumbered 15.61 (1) (intro.) and amended
5to read:
AB371,2,106
15.61
(1) (intro.) There is created an elections board consisting of
the following 7persons
who shall be appointed by the governor for 2-year terms as follows: one
8member selected by the governor; one member each designated by the chief justice
9of the supreme court, the speaker of the assembly, the senate majority leader, the
10minority leader in each house of the legislature, and:
AB371,2,14
11(c) One member appointed by the
chief officer state chairperson of each political
12party
qualifying for a separate ballot under s. 5.62 (1) (b) or (2) whose candidate for
13governor received
at least 10% of the vote the greatest and 2nd greatest number of
14votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial election.
AB371, s. 3
15Section
3. 15.61 (1) (a), (b) and (d) and (2) of the statutes are created to read:
AB371,2,1616
15.61
(1) (a) Three members appointed by Common Cause in Wisconsin.
AB371,2,1717
(b) Three members appointed by the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Inc.
AB371,2,1818
(d) One member appointed by the director of state courts.
AB371,3,3
1(2) No member may have been, or while serving on the board may become, a
2member of a political party, as defined in s. 5.02 (13), a partisan elective state official,
3as defined in s. 13.62 (11p), or a partisan elective county official.
AB371,3,95
(1)
Initial terms of office. The members of the elections board who are serving
6on the effective date of this subsection may continue to hold office until all members
7of the elections board who are initially appointed under this act are appointed and
8qualified, at which time the members who are serving on the effective date of this
9subsection shall cease to hold office.
