AB700: Bill Text

AB700,31,20 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.

AB700, s. 60 Section 60. 5.655 of the statutes is created to read:

AB700,32,4 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.

AB700,32,12 (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.

AB700,32,16 (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.

AB700, s. 61 Section 61. 5.68 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,32,24 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.

AB700, s. 62 Section 62. 5.81 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,33,8 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.

AB700, s. 63 Section 63. 5.81 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,33,23 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.

AB700, s. 64 Section 64. 6.15 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,34,11 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.

AB700, s. 65 Section 65. 6.22 (2) (b) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB700,34,15 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.

AB700, s. 66 Section 66. 6.22 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,35,7 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).

AB700, s. 67 Section 67. 6.22 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,35,14 6.22 (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 affidavit certification under s. 6.87 (2) shall have a statement of the elector's birth date. Failure to return the any unused ballots in a primary election does not invalidate the ballot on which the elector casts his or her votes.

AB700, s. 68 Section 68 . 6.24 (1) and (2) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB700,35,22 6.24 (1) Definition. In this section, "overseas elector" means a U.S. citizen who is not disqualified from voting under s. 6.03, who has attained or will attain the age of 18 by the date of an election at which the citizen proposes to vote and who does not qualify as a resident of this state under s. 6.10, but who was last domiciled in this state or whose parent was last domiciled in this state immediately prior to the parent's departure from the United States, and who is not registered to vote or voting in any other state, territory or possession.

AB700,36,3 (2) Eligibility. An overseas elector under sub. (1) may vote in any election for national office, including the September primary and presidential preference primary and any special primary or election. Such elector may not vote in an election for state or local office. An overseas elector shall vote in the ward or election district in which he or she the elector was last domiciled or in which the elector's parent was last domiciled prior to departure from the United States.

AB700, s. 69 Section 69. 6.24 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,36,9 6.24 (3) Registration. If registration is required in the municipality where the overseas elector resides, the elector shall register on a form prescribed by the board designed to ascertain the elector's qualifications under this section. The form shall be substantially similar to the original form under s. 6.33 (1), insofar as applicable. Registration shall be accomplished in accordance with s. 6.30 (3) (4).

AB700, s. 70 Section 70 . 6.24 (3) of the statutes, as affected by 1999 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB700,36,17 6.24 (3) Registration. If registration is required in the municipality where the overseas elector resides resided or where the elector's parent resided, the elector shall register on a form prescribed by the board designed to ascertain the elector's qualifications under this section. The form shall be substantially similar to the original form under s. 6.33 (1), insofar as applicable. Registration shall be accomplished in accordance with s. 6.30 (4).

AB700, s. 71 Section 71. 6.24 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,36,25 6.24 (4) (c) Upon receipt of a timely application from an individual who qualifies as an overseas elector and who has registered to vote in a municipality under sub. (3) whenever registration is required in that municipality, the municipal clerk of the municipality shall mail send an absentee ballot to the individual for all subsequent elections for national office to be held during the year in which the ballot is requested, unless the individual otherwise requests or until the individual no longer qualifies as an overseas elector.

AB700, s. 72 Section 72. 6.24 (4) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,37,12 6.24 (4) (d) An overseas elector who is not registered may request both a registration form and an absentee ballot at the same time, and the municipal clerk shall mail send the ballot automatically if the registration form is received within the time prescribed in s. 6.30 (3) 6.28 (1). The board shall prescribe a special certificate affidavit form for the envelope in which the absentee ballot for overseas electors is contained, which shall be substantially similar to that provided under s. 6.87 (2). Whenever an application, affidavit or other act is required in ss. 6.86 to 6.89 an overseas elector may fulfill the requirements by subscribing or swearing before any person authorized to administer oaths or 2 adult U.S. citizens Notwithstanding s. 6.87 (4), an overseas elector shall make and subscribe to the special certificate form before a witness who is an adult U.S. citizen.

AB700, s. 73 Section 73. 6.24 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,37,18 6.24 (5) Ballots. The board shall prescribe a special ballot for use under this section whenever necessary. Official ballots under ss. 5.60 (8) and 5.64 (3) prescribed for use in the presidential preference primary may also be used. The ballot shall be designed to comply with the requirements of prescribed under ss. 5.60 (8), 5.62 and 5.64 (1) insofar as applicable. All ballots shall be limited to national offices only.

AB700, s. 74 Section 74. 6.24 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,38,3 6.24 (6) Instructions and handling. The municipal clerk shall mail 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. The Except as authorized under s. 6.87 (3) (d), the municipal clerk shall mail the material postage prepaid to any place in the world. The overseas elector shall provide return postage.

AB700, s. 75 Section 75. 6.24 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,38,10 6.24 (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 affidavit 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.

AB700, s. 76 Section 76. 6.275 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,38,14 6.275 (1) (c) Where registration applies, the total number of electors of the municipality residing in that county who registered after the close of registration and prior to the day of the primary or election under s. ss. 6.28 (1) and 6.29.

AB700, s. 77 Section 77. 6.28 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,39,9 6.28 (1) Registration locations; deadline. Registration Except as authorized in ss. 6.29 and 6.55 (2), registration in person for any election shall close at 5 p.m. on the 2nd Wednesday preceding the election. Registrations made by mail under s. 6.30 (4) must be delivered to the office of the municipal clerk or postmarked no later than the 2nd Wednesday preceding the election. An application for registration in person or by mail may be accepted for placement on the registration list after the specified deadline, if the municipal clerk determines that the registration list can be revised to incorporate the registration in time for the election. All applications for registration corrections and additions may be made throughout the year at the office of the city board of election commissioners, at the office of the municipal clerk, at the office of any register of deeds or at other locations provided by the board of election commissioners or the common council in cities over 500,000 population or by either or both the municipal clerk, or the common council, village or town board in all other municipalities and may also be made during the school year at any high school by qualified persons under sub. (2) (a). Other registration locations may include but are not limited to fire houses, police stations, public libraries, institutions of higher education, supermarkets, community centers, plants and factories, banks, savings and loan associations and savings banks. Special registration deputies shall be appointed for all locations.

AB700, s. 78 Section 78. 6.29 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,39,14 6.29 (1) No names may be added to a registration list for any election after the close of registration, except as authorized under this section or s. 6.28 (1) or 6.55 (2) or (3). Any person whose name is not on the registration list but who is otherwise a qualified elector is entitled to vote at the election upon compliance with this section.

AB700, s. 79 Section 79. 6.29 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,39,21 6.29 (2) (b) Upon the filing of the registration form required by this section, the municipal clerk shall issue a certificate addressed to the inspectors of the proper ward directing that the elector be permitted to cast his or her vote , unless the clerk determines that the registration list will be revised to incorporate the registration in time for the election. The certificate shall be numbered serially, prepared in duplicate and one copy preserved in the office of the municipal clerk.

AB700, s. 80 Section 80. 6.29 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,40,2 6.29 (2) (c) The elector, at At the time he or she appears at the correct polling place, the elector shall deliver the any certificate issued under par. (b) to the inspectors. If the elector applies for and obtains an absentee ballot, the any certificate shall be annexed to and mailed with the absentee ballot to the office of the municipal clerk.

AB700, s. 81 Section 81. 6.30 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,40,5 6.30 (1) In person. Registration applications shall be made in person, except under subs. (2) to sub. (4).

AB700, s. 82 Section 82. 6.30 (2) and (3) of the statutes are repealed.

AB700, s. 83 Section 83. 6.30 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,40,19 6.30 (4) By mail. Any eligible elector who is located not more than 50 miles from his or her legal voting residence may register by mail on a form prescribed by the board and provided by each municipality. The form shall be designed to obtain the information required in ss. 6.33 (1) and 6.40 (1) (a) and (b). The form shall contain a certification by the elector that all statements are true and correct. The form shall be prepostpaid for return when mailed at any point within the United States, and shall be signed by a special registration deputy or shall be signed and substantiated by one other elector residing in the same municipality in which the registering elector resides, corroborating all material statements therein. The form shall be available in the municipal clerk's office and may be distributed by any elector of the municipality. The clerk shall mail a registration form to any elector upon written or oral request.

AB700, s. 84 Section 84. 6.33 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,40,24 6.33 (2) (b) The registration form shall be signed by the registering elector and any corroborating elector under s. 6.29 (2) (a), 6.30 (2) to (4) or 6.55 (2) before the clerk, issuing officer or registration deputy. The form shall contain a certification by the registering elector that all statements are true and correct.

AB700, s. 85 Section 85. 6.45 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,41,8 6.45 (1) After the deadline for revision of the registration list, the municipal clerk shall make copies of the list for election use. The registration list and any supplemental lists which are prepared at polling places or other registration locations under s. 6.55, shall be open to public inspection. Under the regulations prescribed by the municipal clerk, any person may copy the registration list at the office of the clerk. A registration list maintained at a polling place may be examined by an observer any person who is observing the proceedings under s. 7.41 when such use does not interfere with the conduct of the election.

AB700, s. 86 Section 86. 6.79 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,41,16 6.79 Recording electors. (intro.) Two election officials at each election ward shall be in charge of and shall maintain 2 separate lists of all persons voting. The municipal clerk may elect to maintain the information on the poll list manually or electronically. If the list is maintained electronically, the officials shall enter the information into an electronic data recording system that enables retrieval of a printed copy of the poll list at the polling place. The system employed is subject to the approval of the board.

AB700, s. 87 Section 87. 6.79 (1) and (2) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB700,42,9 6.79 (1) Municipalities without registration. Where there is no registration, before being permitted to vote, each person shall state his or her full name and address. The officials shall record enter each name and address on a poll list in the same order as the votes are cast. If the residence of the elector does not have a number, the election officials shall, in the appropriate space, write enter "none". Alternatively, the municipal clerk may maintain a poll list consisting of the full name and address of electors compiled from previous elections. Whenever an elector appears to vote, the officials shall verify the correctness of the elector's name and address, and shall enter a serial number next to the name of the elector in the order that the votes are cast, beginning with the number one. If the name and address of an elector do not appear on the prepared poll list, the officials shall record enter the name, address and serial number of the elector at the bottom of the list. The officials may require any elector to provide identification, including acceptable proof of residence, or to have another elector corroborate his or her information in accordance with the procedure specified in s. 6.55 (2) (b) before permitting the elector to vote. The officials shall maintain a separate list of those persons voting under ss. 6.15 and 6.24.

AB700,42,18 (2) Municipalities with registration. Where there is registration, each person, before receiving a voting number, shall state his or her full name and address. Upon the prepared registration list, after the name of each elector, the officials shall enter the serial number of the vote as it is polled, beginning with number one. Each elector shall receive a slip bearing the same serial number. A separate list shall be maintained for electors who are voting under s. 6.15, 6.29 or 6.55 (2) or (3) and electors who are reassigned from another polling place under s. 5.25 (5) (b). Each such elector shall have his or her full name, address and serial number likewise recorded entered and shall be given a slip bearing such number.

AB700, s. 88 Section 88. 6.79 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,42,24 6.79 (5) Poll list forms format. Poll lists shall be kept on forms designed or in an electronic format prescribed by the board to be substantially similar to the standard registration list forms used in municipalities where registration is required and shall require, for each person offering to vote, the entry of the person's full name and address.

AB700, s. 89 Section 89. 6.80 (2) (e) and (f) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB700,43,3 6.80 (2) (e) Upon voting his or her ballot, the elector shall publicly and in person deposit it in into the ballot box or deliver it to an inspector for, who shall deposit in the ballot into the ballot box.

AB700,43,16 (f) In the presidential preference primary and other partisan primary elections at polling places where ballots are distributed to electors, unless the ballots are prepared under s. 5.655 or are utilized with an electronic voting system in which all candidates appear on the same ballot, after the elector prepares his or her ballot the elector shall detach the remaining ballots, fold the ballots to be discarded, and fold the completed ballot unless the ballot is intended for counting with automatic tabulating equipment,. The elector shall then either personally deposit the ballots to be discarded in into the separate ballot box marked "blank ballot box", and deposit the completed ballot in into the ballot box indicated by the inspectors, or give the ballots to an inspector who shall deposit the ballots directly into the appropriate ballot boxes. The inspectors shall keep the blank ballot box locked until the canvass is completed and shall dispose of the blank ballots as prescribed by the municipal clerk.

AB700, s. 90 Section 90. 6.85 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,44,4 6.85 Absent elector; definition. An absent elector is any otherwise qualified elector who is or expects to be absent from the municipality in which the absent elector is a qualified elector on election day whether by reason of active service in the U.S. armed forces or for any other reason, or who because of age, sickness, handicap, physical disability, jury duty, service as an election official or religious reasons cannot is unable or unwilling to appear at the polling place in his or her ward. No person under the age of 70 qualifies as an absent elector solely because of age. Any otherwise qualified elector who changes residence within this state by moving to a different ward or municipality later than 10 days prior to an election may vote an absentee ballot in the ward or municipality where he or she was qualified to vote before moving. An elector qualifying under this section may vote by absentee ballot under ss. 6.86 to 6.89.

AB700, s. 91 Section 91. 6.86 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,44,21 6.86 (1) (b) Except as provided in this section, if application is made in writing, the application, signed by the elector, shall be received no later than 5 p.m. on the Friday immediately preceding the election. If application is made in person, the application shall be made no later than 5 p.m. on the day preceding the election. If the elector is making written application and the application indicates that the reason for requesting an absentee ballot is that the elector is a sequestered juror, the application shall be received no later than 5 p.m. on election day. If the application is received after 5 p.m. on the Friday immediately preceding the election, the municipal clerk or the clerk's agent shall immediately take the ballot to the court in which the elector is serving as a juror and deposit it with the judge. The judge shall recess court, as soon as convenient, and give the elector the ballot. The judge shall then notarize the affidavit witness the voting procedure as provided in s. 6.87 and shall deliver the ballot to the clerk or agent of the clerk who shall deliver it to the polling place as required in s. 6.88. If application is made under sub. (2), the application may be received no later than 5 p.m. on the Friday immediately preceding the election.

AB700, s. 92 Section 92. 6.86 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,45,6 6.86 (3) (a) Any elector who is registered, or otherwise qualified where registration is not required, and who qualifies under ss. 6.20 and 6.85 as an absent elector because the elector is hospitalized, may apply for and obtain an official ballot by agent. The agent may apply for and obtain a ballot for the hospitalized absent elector by presenting a form prescribed by the board and containing the required information supplied by the hospitalized elector and signed by that elector and any other elector residing in the same municipality as the hospitalized elector, corroborating the information contained therein. The corroborating elector shall state on the form his or her full name and address.

AB700, s. 93 Section 93. 6.865 (intro.) and (1) of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 6.865 and amended to read:

AB700,45,14 6.865 Federal postcard request form. A federal postcard registration and absentee ballot request form may be used to apply for an absentee ballot under s. 6.86 (1) if the form is completed in such manner that the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners with whom it is filed is able to determine all of the following: (1) That that the applicant is an elector of this state and of the ward or election district where the elector seeks to vote.

AB700, s. 94 Section 94. 6.865 (2) of the statutes is repealed.

AB700, s. 95 Section 95. 6.87 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB700,45,21 6.87 (2) The Except as authorized under sub. (3) (d), the municipal clerk shall place the ballot in an unsealed envelope furnished by the clerk. The envelope shall have the name, official title and post-office address of the clerk upon its face. The other side of the envelope shall have a printed certificate-affidavit certificate in substantially the following form:

AB700,45,22 [STATE OF ....

AB700,45,23 County of ....]

AB700,45,24 or

AB700,45,25 [(name of foreign country and city or other jurisdictional unit)]

AB700,46,16 I, ...., (certify) (do solemnly swear) subject to the penalties of s. 12.60 (1) (b), Wis. Stats., for false statements, that I am a resident of the [.... ward of the] (town) (village) of ...., or of the .... aldermanic district in the city of ...., residing at .... in said city, the county of ...., state of Wisconsin, and am entitled to vote in the (ward) (election district) at the election to be held on ....; that I am not voting at any other location in this election; that I cannot am unable or unwilling to appear at the polling place in the (ward) (election district) on election day because I expect to be absent from the municipality or because of age, sickness, handicap, physical disability, religious reasons, jury duty, service as an election official, or because I have changed my residence within the state from one ward or election district to another within 10 days before the election. I (certify) (swear) that I exhibited the enclosed ballot unmarked to the (2 witnesses) (person administering the oath) witness, that I then in (their) (his) (her) presence and in the presence of no other person marked the ballot and enclosed and sealed the same in this envelope in such a manner that no one but myself and any person rendering assistance under s. 6.87 (5), Wis. Stats., if I requested assistance, could know how I voted.

AB700,46,17 Signed ....

AB700,46,19 The (2 witnesses) (person administering the oath) witness shall execute either of the following as appropriate:

AB700,46,25 We I, the undersigned witnesses witness, subject to the penalties of s. 12.60 (1) (b), Wis. Stats., for false statements, certify that the above statements are true and the voting procedure was executed as there stated. Neither of us is I am not a candidate for any office on the enclosed ballot (except in the case of an incumbent municipal clerk). The elector was not solicited or advised by us I did not solicit or advise the elector to vote for or against any candidate or measure.

AB700,47,1 ....(Name)

AB700,47,2 ....(Address)

AB700,47,3 ....(Name)

AB700,47,4 ....(Address)

AB700,47,9 Subscribed and sworn to before me this .... day of ...., A.D., ...., and I hereby certify that I am not a candidate on the ballot upon which the affiant voted (unless I am an incumbent municipal clerk), that the voting procedure above was executed as therein stated, and that the affiant was not solicited or advised by me to vote for or against any candidate or measure.