SB434: Bill Text

LRB-4220/1

JTK:kaf:jf

1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE

1997 Senate BILL 434

February 3, 1998 - Introduced by Senator Wirch, cosponsored by Representatives Porter, Springer, Walker, Plouff and Coggs. Referred to Committee on Economic Development, Housing and Government Operations.

SB434,1,2 An Act to amend 7.30 (2) (a) and (b) of the statutes; relating to: residency qualifications for certain election officials.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Currently, election officials who serve at polling places are generally required to be qualified electors of the ward (or of one of the wards) for which the polling place is established, whenever a municipality is divided into wards. However, a special voter registration deputy who registers electors at a polling place on election day as well as an election official who is appointed to work at a polling place that serves more than one ward or an election official who is appointed to fill a temporary or permanent vacancy need not be an elector of any particular ward, but must be an elector of the municipality in which the official serves.

This bill provides that a special voter registration deputy who registers electors at a polling place on election day as well as an election official who is appointed to work at a polling place that serves more than one ward or an election official who is appointed to fill a temporary or permanent vacancy need not be an elector of the municipality in which the official serves, but shall be a qualified elector of this state.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB434, s. 1 Section 1. 7.30 (2) (a) and (b) of the statutes are amended to read:

SB434,2,22 7.30 (2) (a) Only election officials appointed under this section may conduct an election. Except as authorized in this paragraph and s. 7.15 (1) (k), each inspector shall be a qualified elector in of the ward for which the polling place is established or of one of the wards for which the polling place is established whenever a polling place serves more than one ward. Special registration deputies appointed under s. 6.55 (6) and election officials serving who are appointed to serve more than one ward or when necessary who are appointed to fill a vacancy under par. (b) shall be qualified electors of the state, but need not be a resident of that ward, but shall be a resident qualified electors of the municipality. Special registration deputies may be appointed to serve more than one polling place. All officials shall be able to read and write the English language, be capable, be of good understanding, and may not be a candidate, other than for party committeeman or committeewoman, to be voted for at an election at which they serve. In 1st class cities, they may hold no public office other than notary public. Except as authorized under sub. (4) (c), all inspectors shall be affiliated with one of the 2 recognized political parties which received the largest number of votes for president, or governor in nonpresidential general election years, in the ward or combination of wards served by the polling place at the last election. The party which received the largest number of votes is entitled to one more inspector than the party receiving the next largest number of votes at each polling place. The same election officials may serve the electors of more than one ward where wards are combined under s. 5.15 (6) (b). If a municipality is not divided into wards, the ward requirements in this paragraph apply to the municipality at large.

SB434,3,8 (b) When a vacancy occurs, the appointment shall be filled by the municipal clerk from the remaining names on the lists submitted under sub. (4) or from additional names submitted by the chairperson of the county party committee of the appropriate party under sub. (4). If the vacancy is due to candidacy, sickness or any other temporary cause, the appointment shall be a temporary appointment and effective only for that election. The same qualifications that applied to the original appointee shall be required, but vacancies except that a vacancy may be filled in cases of emergency or because of time limitations by a person from another aldermanic district or ward within the municipality so the proper balance of party representation is maintained by any qualified elector of this state who meets the other qualifications.

SB434,3,9 (End)