SB612,75,2520 7.30 (2) (c) The governing body of any municipality may require all persons
21serving as election officials to prove their ability to read and write English and to
22have a general knowledge of the election laws. Examinations may be given to prove
23the qualifications can be met. The municipal clerk shall ensure that all training
24meets the training requirements prescribed in rules promulgated by the board under
25ss. 7.31 and 7.315.
SB612, s. 113
1Section 113. 7.30 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,76,82 7.30 (4) (a) Except in cities where there is a board of election commissioners,
3the mayor, president or board chairperson of each municipality shall nominate to the
4governing body no later than their last regular meeting in December of each
5even-numbered odd-numbered year the necessary election officials for each polling
6place and any election officials required under s. 7.52 (1) (b). If no regular meeting
7is scheduled, the mayor, president or chairperson shall call a special meeting for the
8purpose of considering nominations no later than December 31.
SB612, s. 114 9Section 114. 7.30 (4) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,76,1310 7.30 (4) (b) (intro.) The 2 dominant parties, under sub. (2), are each responsible
11for submitting a list of names from which the all appointees to inspector positions,
12other than appointees to inspector positions authorized under sub. (1) (b),
shall be
13chosen.
SB612, s. 115 14Section 115. 7.30 (4) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,77,615 7.30 (4) (b) 1. In cities where there is a board of election commissioners, the
16aldermanic district committeemen or committeewomen under s. 8.17 of each of the
172 dominant recognized political parties shall submit a certified list no later than
18November 30 of each even-numbered odd-numbered year containing the names of
19at least as many nominees as there are inspectors from that party for each of the
20voting wards in the aldermanic district. For inspectors serving under s. 7.52 (1) (b),
21the aldermanic district committeemen and committeewomen under s. 8.17 of the 2
22dominant recognized political parties shall jointly submit a certified list of nominees
23containing at least twice as many nominees as there are inspectors from that party
24who are to be appointed under s. 7.52 (1) (b).
The chairperson may designate any
25individual whose name is submitted as a first choice nominee. The board of election

1commissioners shall appoint, no later than December 31 of even-numbered
2odd-numbered years, at least 5 inspectors for each ward. The board of election
3commissioners shall appoint all first choice nominees for so long as positions are
4available, unless nonappointment is authorized under par. (e), and shall appoint
5other individuals in its discretion. The board of election commissioners may
6designate such alternates as it deems advisable.
SB612, s. 116 7Section 116. 7.30 (4) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,78,198 7.30 (4) (b) 2. In municipalities other than cities and villages located in counties
9having a population of more than 500,000, the committees organized under s. 8.17
10from each of the 2 dominant parties under sub. (2) shall submit a list containing at
11least as many names as there are needed appointees from that party. The list shall
12be submitted by the chairperson of each of the 2 committees to the mayor, president
13or chairperson of the municipality. If committees are organized in subdivisions of a
14city, the list shall be submitted through the chairperson of the city committee. If
15there is no municipal committee, the list shall be submitted by the chairperson of the
16county or legislative district committee. Except as provided in par. (c), only those
17persons submitted by the chairperson of each committee under s. 8.17 may act as
18election officials. The chairperson may designate any individual whose name is
19submitted as a first choice nominee. The list shall contain the signature of the
20chairperson and secretary of the submitting committee. In cities or villages located
21in counties having a population of more than 500,000, other than cities where there
22is a board of election commissioners, the aldermanic district or village
23committeeman or committeewoman for the ward or wards where each polling place
24is located, if there is one, or for inspectors serving under s. 7.52 (1) (b), the
25committeemen and committeewomen for the municipality acting jointly,
shall

1submit a list containing at least as many names as there are needed appointees for
2inspector positions from the party represented by the committeeman or
3committeewoman or by the committeemen and committeewomen acting jointly. For
4appointments of inspectors in cities and villages where there is no aldermanic
5district or village committeeman or committeewoman, nominations shall proceed in
6the same manner as in municipalities located in counties having a population of
7500,000 or less. The list shall be submitted to the mayor or president. Except as
8provided in par. (c), only those persons whose names are submitted as provided in
9this paragraph may act as election officials. The committeeman or committeewoman
10may designate any individual whose name is submitted as a first choice nominee.
11The list shall contain the signature of the aldermanic district or village
12committeeman or committeewoman or the chairperson of the appropriate
13committee. Upon submission of each nominee's name, the governing body shall
14appoint each first choice nominee for so long as positions are available, unless
15nonappointment is authorized under par. (e), and shall appoint other nominees in its
16discretion. If any nominee is not appointed, the mayor, president or chairperson of
17the municipality shall immediately nominate another person from the appropriate
18lists submitted and continue until the necessary number of election officials from
19each party is achieved at that meeting.
SB612, s. 117 20Section 117. 7.30 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,79,921 7.30 (4) (c) For Except with respect to inspectors who are appointed under sub.
22(1) (b), for
so long as nominees are made available by the political parties under this
23section, appointments may be made only from the lists of submitted nominees. If the
24lists are not submitted by November 30 of the year in which appointments are to be
25made, the board of election commissioners shall appoint, or the mayor, president or

1chairperson of a municipality shall nominate qualified persons whose names have
2not been submitted. If an insufficient number of nominees appears on the lists as
3of November 30, the board of election commissioners shall similarly appoint, or the
4mayor, president or chairperson shall similarly nominate sufficient individuals to fill
5the remaining vacancies. In addition, the mayor, president, or board chairperson of
6the municipality shall similarly nominate qualified persons to serve in the inspector
7positions authorized under sub. (1) (b).
Any appointment which is made due to the
8lack of availability of names submitted under par. (b) may be made without regard
9to party affiliation.
SB612, s. 118 10Section 118. 7.30 (6) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,79,1311 7.30 (6) (a) The Except as provided in par. (am), the appointed election officials
12shall hold office for 2 years and until their successors are appointed and qualified.
13They shall serve at every election held in their ward during their term of office.
SB612, s. 119 14Section 119. 7.30 (6) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
SB612,79,1815 7.30 (6) (am) A pupil appointed as an inspector under sub. (2) (am) shall serve
16as an inspector only for the election for which he or she is appointed. Nothing in this
17paragraph shall be construed to limit the number of times a pupil may be appointed
18as an inspector.
SB612, s. 120 19Section 120. 7.30 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,80,620 7.30 (6) (b) Prior to the first election following the appointment of the
21inspectors, the municipal clerk shall appoint one of the inspectors at each polling
22place, other than an inspector who is appointed under sub. (1) (b), to serve as chief
23inspector. No person may serve as chief inspector at any election who is not certified
24by the board under s. 7.31 at the time of the election. The chief inspector shall hold
25the position for the remainder of the term unless the inspector is removed by the clerk

1or the inspector ceases to be certified under s. 7.31, except that whenever wards are
2combined or separated under s. 5.15 (6) (b), the municipal clerk shall appoint another
3inspector who is certified under s. 7.31 to serve as chief inspector at each polling place
4designated under s. 5.15 (6) (b). If a vacancy occurs in the position of chief inspector
5at any polling place, the municipal clerk shall appoint one of the other inspectors who
6is certified under s. 7.31 to fill the vacancy.
SB612, s. 121 7Section 121. 7.30 (6) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,80,138 7.30 (6) (c) If any election official appointed under this section lacks the
9qualifications set forth in this section, fails to attend training sessions required
10under s. 7.15 (1) (e) unless excused therefrom, is guilty of neglecting his or her official
11duties or commits official misconduct, the municipal clerk or board of election
12commissioners shall summarily remove the official from office and the vacancy shall
13be filled under sub. (2) (b).
SB612, s. 122 14Section 122. 7.315 of the statutes is created to read:
SB612,80,18 157.315 Training of other election officials. (1) (a) The board shall, by rule,
16prescribe the contents of the training that municipal clerks must provide to
17inspectors, other than chief inspectors, to special voting deputies appointed under
18s. 6.875, and to special registration deputies appointed under ss. 6.26 and 6.55 (6).
SB612,80,2319 (b) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., no individual may serve as an inspector,
20other than a chief inspector, as a special voting deputy under s. 6.875, or as a special
21registration deputy under s. 6.26 or 6.55 (6) at any election unless the individual has
22completed training for that election provided by the municipal clerk pursuant to
23rules promulgated under par. (a).
SB612,81,524 2. Only when an individual who has received training under subd. 1. is
25unavailable to perform his or her election duties due to sickness, injury, or other

1unforeseen occurrence may an individual who has not received training under subd.
21. be appointed to serve as an inspector, other than chief inspector, or a special voting
3deputy or special registration deputy. The appointment of an individual to serve
4under this subdivision shall be for a specific election and no individual may be
5appointed under this subdivision more than one time in a 2-year period.
SB612,81,11 6(2) The board shall, by rule, prescribe requirements for, and the content of,
7training required of municipal clerks under s. 7.15 (1m). The board may provide such
8training directly or arrange for such training to be provided by other organizations.
9The rules may not require training more than once every 2 years. The rules shall
10provide a method for notifying the relevant municipal governing body if a municipal
11clerk fails to attend required training.
SB612,81,15 12(3) The board may produce and periodically reissue as necessary a video
13program for the purpose of training election officials, including special voting
14deputies and special registration deputies. The board shall make any such program
15available for viewing electronically through an Internet-based system.
SB612, s. 123 16Section 123. 7.32 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,81,21 177.32 Change of election official numbers. Notwithstanding s. 7.30 (1) (a),
18the governing body or board of election commissioners of any municipality may by
19resolution reduce the number of election officials and modify or rescind any similar
20previous action. No such action may reduce the number of officials at a polling place
21to less than 3.
SB612, s. 124 22Section 124. 7.33 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,82,323 7.33 (3) Every employer shall grant to each employee who is appointed to serve
24as an election official under s. 7.30 a leave of absence for the entire 24-hour period
25of each election day in which the official serves in his or her official capacity. An

1employee who serves as an election official shall provide his or her employer with at
2least 7 days' notice of application for a leave. The municipal clerk shall verify
3appointments upon request of any employer.
SB612, s. 125 4Section 125. 7.33 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,82,145 7.33 (4) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, each local
6governmental unit, as defined in s. 16.97 (7), may, and each state agency shall, upon
7proper application under sub. (3), permit each of its employees to serve as an election
8official under s. 7.30 without loss of fringe benefits or seniority privileges earned for
9scheduled working hours during the period specified in sub. (3), without loss of pay
10for scheduled working hours during the period specified in sub. (3) except as provided
11in sub. (5), and without any other penalty. For employees who are included in a
12collective bargaining unit for which a representative is recognized or certified under
13subch. V of ch. 111, this subsection shall apply unless otherwise provided in a
14collective bargaining agreement.
SB612, s. 126 15Section 126. 7.33 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,82,2216 7.33 (6) Each employer other than a state agency shall, upon proper application
17under sub. (3), permit each of its employees to serve as an election official under s.
187.30
without loss of fringe benefits or seniority privileges earned for scheduled
19working hours during the period specified in sub. (3), and shall not impose any other
20penalty upon an employee who serves as an election official, except the employer
21need not pay wages to an employee for time not worked while the employee is serving
22as an election official.
SB612, s. 127 23Section 127. 7.37 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,83,924 7.37 (2) Preserve order. The inspectors shall possess full authority to
25maintain order and to enforce obedience to their lawful commands during the

1election and the canvass of the votes. They shall permit only one person in a voting
2booth at a time and shall prevent any person from taking notice of how another
3person has voted, except when assistance is given under s. 6.82. They shall enforce
4s. 5.35 (5) and prevent electioneering and distribution of election-related material
5from taking place in violation of s. ss. 12.03 and 12.035. If any person refuses to obey
6the lawful commands of an inspector, or is disorderly in the presence or hearing of
7the inspectors, interrupts or disturbs the proceedings, they may order any law
8enforcement officer to remove the person from the voting area or to take the person
9into custody.
SB612, s. 128 10Section 128. 7.37 (13) of the statutes is created to read:
SB612,83,1711 7.37 (13) Closing of polls. For each polling place, the municipal clerk shall
12designate an official of the municipality who shall position himself or herself at the
13end of the line of individuals waiting to vote, if any at the time that the polls officially
14close. The official may be an inspector or special registration deputy appointed under
15s. 6.55 (6) who serves at that polling place, an employee of the municipal clerk or a
16police officer, Only individuals in line ahead of the official shall be permitted to vote
17under s. 6.78 (4).
SB612, s. 129 18Section 129. 7.41 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,84,3 197.41 Public's right to access. (1) Any member of the public may be present
20at any polling place, in the office of any municipal clerk whose office is located in a
21public building on any day that absentee ballots may be cast in that office, or at an
22alternate site under s. 6.855 on any day that absentee ballots may be cast at that site

23for the purpose of observation of an election and the absentee ballot voting process,
24except a candidate whose name appears on the ballot at the polling place or on an
25absentee ballot to be cast at the clerk's office or alternate site
at that election. The

1chief inspector or municipal clerk may reasonably limit the number of persons
2representing the same organization who are permitted to observe an election under
3this subsection
at the same time.
SB612,84,9 4(2) The chief inspector or municipal clerk may restrict the location of any
5individual exercising the right under sub. (1) to certain areas within a polling place,
6the clerk's office, or alternate site under s. 6.855
. The chief inspector or municipal
7clerk
shall clearly designate such an area as an observation area. Designated
8observation areas shall be so positioned to permit any authorized individual to
9readily observe all public aspects of the voting process.
SB612,84,12 10(3) The chief inspector or municipal clerk may order the removal of any
11individual exercising the right under sub. (1) if that individual commits an overt act
12which:
SB612,84,1413 (a) Disrupts the operation of the polling place, clerk's office, or alternate site
14under s. 6.855
; or
SB612,84,1515 (b) Violates s. 12.03 (2) or 12.035.
SB612,84,22 16(4) No individual exercising the right under sub. (1) may view the confidential
17portion of a registration list maintained under s. 6.36 (4) or a poll list maintained
18under s. 6.79 (6). However, the inspectors or municipal clerk shall disclose to such
19an individual, upon request, the existence of such a list, the number of electors whose
20names appear on the list, and the number of those electors who have voted at any
21point in the proceedings. No such individual may view the certificate of an absent
22elector who obtains a confidential listing under s. 6.47 (2).
SB612, s. 130 23Section 130. 7.41 (5) of the statutes is created to read:
SB612,85,3
17.41 (5) The board shall promulgate rules regarding the proper conduct of
2individuals exercising the right under sub. (1), including the interaction of those
3individuals with inspectors and other election officials.
SB612, s. 131 4Section 131. 7.51 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,85,205 7.51 (1) Canvass procedure. Immediately after the polls close the inspectors
6except any inspector appointed under s. 7.30 (1) (b) shall proceed to canvass publicly
7all votes received at the polling place. In any municipality where an electronic voting
8system is used, the municipal governing body or board of election commissioners may
9provide or authorize the municipal clerk or executive director of the board of election
10commissioners to provide for the adjournment of the canvass to one or more central
11counting locations for specified polling places in the manner prescribed in subch. III
12of ch. 5. No central counting location may be used to count votes at a polling place
13where an electronic voting system is not employed. The canvass, whether conducted
14at the polling place or at a central counting location, shall continue without
15adjournment until the canvass is completed and the return statements are
16statement is made or, in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed under
17s. 7.52, until the canvass of all ballots cast is completed and the return statement for
18those ballots are made
. The inspectors shall not permit access to the name of any
19elector who has obtained a confidential listing under s. 6.47 (2) during the canvass,
20except as authorized in s. 6.47 (8).
SB612, s. 132 21Section 132. 7.51 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,86,722 7.51 (2) (c) Whenever the number of ballots exceeds the number of voting
23electors as indicated on the poll list, the inspectors shall place all ballots face up to
24check for blank ballots. In this paragraph, "blank ballot" means a ballot on which
25no votes are cast for any office or question. The inspectors shall mark, lay aside and

1preserve any blank ballots. If Except in municipalities where absentee ballots are
2canvassed under s. 7.52, if
the number of ballots still exceeds the number of voting
3electors, the inspectors shall place all ballots face down and proceed to check for the
4initials. The inspectors shall mark, lay aside and preserve any ballot not bearing the
5initials of 2 inspectors or any absentee ballot not bearing the initials of the municipal
6clerk. During the count the inspectors shall count those ballots cast by challenged
7electors the same as the other ballots.
SB612, s. 133 8Section 133. 7.51 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,87,29 7.51 (2) (e) If, Except in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed
10under s. 7.52, if
after any ballots have been laid aside, the number of ballots still
11exceeds the total number of electors recorded on the poll list, the inspectors shall
12separate the absentee ballots from the other ballots. If there is an excess number of
13absentee ballots, the inspectors shall place the absentee ballots in the ballot box and
14one of the inspectors shall publicly and without examination draw therefrom by
15chance the number of ballots equal to the excess number of absentee ballots. If there
16is an excess number of other nonabsentee ballots, the inspectors shall place those
17ballots in the ballot box and one of the inspectors shall publicly and without
18examination draw therefrom by chance the number of ballots equal to the excess
19number of those ballots. All ballots so removed may not be counted but shall be
20specially marked as having been removed by the inspectors on original canvass due
21to an excess number of ballots, set aside and preserved. When the number of ballots
22and total shown on the poll list agree, the inspectors shall return all ballots to be
23counted to the ballot box and shall turn the ballot box in such manner as to
24thoroughly mix the ballots. The inspectors shall then open, count and record the
25number of votes. When the ballots are counted, the inspectors shall separate them

1into piles for ballots similarly voted. Objections may be made to placement of ballots
2in the piles at the time the separation is made.
SB612, s. 134 3Section 134. 7.51 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,87,104 7.51 (3) (d) All Except in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed
5under s. 7.52, all
absentee certificate envelopes which have been opened shall be
6returned by the inspectors to the municipal clerk in a securely sealed carrier
7envelope which is clearly marked "used absentee certificate envelopes". The
8envelopes shall be signed by the chief inspector and 2 other inspectors. Except when
9the ballots are used in a municipal or school district election only, the municipal clerk
10shall transmit the used envelopes to the county clerk.
SB612, s. 135 11Section 135. 7.51 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,88,212 7.51 (4) (a) The tally sheets shall state the total number of votes cast for each
13office and for each individual receiving votes for that office, whether or not the
14individual's name appears on the ballot, and shall state the vote for and against each
15proposition voted on. Upon completion of the tally sheets, the inspectors shall
16immediately complete the inspectors' statements in duplicate statement. The
17inspectors shall state the excess, if any, by which the number of ballots exceeds the
18number of electors voting as shown by the poll list and shall state the number of the
19last elector as shown by the poll lists. At least 3 inspectors, including the chief
20inspector and, unless election officials are appointed under s. 7.30 (4) (c) without
21regard to party affiliation, at least one inspector representing each political party,
22but not including any inspector appointed under s. 7.30 (1) (b), shall then certify to
23the correctness of the statements statement and tally sheets and sign their names.
24All other election officials assisting with the tally shall also certify to the correctness

1of the tally sheets. When the tally is complete, the inspectors shall publicly announce
2the results from the statements statement.
SB612, s. 136 3Section 136. 7.51 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,88,94 7.51 (5) (a) 1. The inspectors shall make full and accurate return of the votes
5cast for each candidate and proposition on tally sheet forms provided by the
6municipal clerk for that purpose. Each tally sheet shall record the returns for each
7office or referendum by ward, unless combined returns are authorized in accordance
8with s. 5.15 (6) (b) in which case the tally sheet shall record the returns for each group
9of combined wards.
SB612,88,13 102. After recording the votes, the inspectors shall seal in a carrier envelope
11outside the ballot bag or container one inspectors' statement under sub. (4) (a), one
12tally sheet, and one poll list for delivery to the county clerk, unless the election relates
13only to municipal or school district offices or referenda.
SB612,88,18 143. The inspectors shall also similarly seal one the inspectors' statement, inside
15a separate carrier envelope, and shall similarly seal in a separate carrier envelope

16one tally sheet, and one poll list for delivery to the municipal clerk. For school district
17elections, except in 1st class cities, the inspectors shall similarly seal one inspectors'
18statement,
one tally sheet, and one poll list for delivery to the school district clerk.
SB612,88,20 194. The inspectors shall immediately deliver all ballots, statements, tally sheets,
20lists, and envelopes to the municipal clerk.
SB612, s. 137 21Section 137. 7.51 (5) (a) 5. of the statutes is created to read:
SB612,89,222 7.51 (5) (a) 5. Upon receipt of the materials under subd. 4., the municipal clerk
23shall make sufficient copies of the inspectors' statement under sub. (4) (a) and seal
24one copy of the statement inside a carrier envelope together with the envelope

1containing any materials required to be delivered to the county clerk or the school
2district clerk. The municipal clerk shall retain the original inspectors' statement.
SB612, s. 138 3Section 138. 7.51 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,89,144 7.51 (5) (b) The municipal clerk shall arrange for delivery of deliver all ballots,
5statements, tally sheets, lists, and envelopes relating to a school district election to
6the school district clerk by 4 p.m. on the day following each such election. The
7municipal clerk shall deliver the ballots, statements, tally sheets, lists, and
8envelopes for his or her municipality relating to any county, technical college district,
9state, or national election to the county clerk by 2 4 p.m. on the day following each
10such election or, in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed under s.
117.52, by 4. p.m. on the 2nd day following each such election
. The person delivering
12the returns shall be paid out of the municipal treasury. Each clerk shall retain
13ballots, statements, tally sheets, or envelopes received by the clerk until destruction
14is authorized under s. 7.23 (1).
SB612, s. 139 15Section 139. 7.52 of the statutes is created to read:
SB612,90,7 167.52 Canvassing of absentee ballots. (1) (a) The governing body of any
17municipality may provide by ordinance that, in lieu of canvassing absentee ballots
18at polling places under s. 6.88, the municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers
19designated under s. 7.53 (2m) shall canvass all absentee ballots at all elections held
20in the municipality. Prior to enacting an ordinance under this subsection, the
21municipal clerk or board of election commissioners of the municipality shall notify
22the board in writing of the proposed enactment and shall consult with the board
23concerning administration of this section. At every election held in the municipality
24following enactment of an ordinance under this subsection, the board of absentee
25ballot canvassers shall, any time after the opening of the polls and before 10 p.m. on

1election day, publicly convene to count the absentee ballots for the municipality. The
2municipal clerk shall give at least 48 hours' notice of any meeting under this
3subsection. Any member of the public has the same right of access to a meeting of
4the municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers under this subsection that the
5individual would have under s. 7.41 to observe the proceedings at a polling place. The
6board of absentee ballot canvassers may order the removal of any individual
7exercising the right to observe the proceedings if the individual disrupts the meeting.
SB612,90,208 (b) A municipality that adopts the canvassing procedure under this section may
9appoint additional inspectors under s. 7.30 (2) (a) to assist the absentee ballot board
10of canvassers in canvassing absentee ballots under this section. In such case, an odd
11number of inspectors shall be appointed, and at no time may there be less than 3
12inspectors who serve. Except as authorized in s. 7.30 (4) (c), all inspectors shall be
13affiliated with one of the 2 recognized political parties receiving the largest numbers
14of votes for president, or for governor in nonpresidential general election years, in the
15municipality. The party whose candidate received the largest number of votes in the
16municipality is entitled to one more inspector than the party whose candidate
17received the next largest number of votes in the municipality. Each inspector so
18appointed shall be a qualified elector of the municipality. The inspectors who are
19appointed under this paragraph shall serve under the direction and supervision of
20the board of absentee ballot canvassers.
SB612,91,221 (c) In each municipality where absentee ballots are canvassed under this
22section, no later than the closing hour of the polls, the municipal clerk shall post at
23his or her office and on the Internet at a site announced by the clerk before the polls
24open, and shall make available to any person upon request, a statement of the
25number of absentee ballots that the clerk has mailed or transmitted to electors and

1that have been returned by the closing hour on election day. The posting shall not
2include the names or addresses of any electors.
SB612,91,10 3(2) In counting the absentee ballots, the board of absentee ballot canvassers
4shall use 2 duplicate copies of a single poll list for the entire municipality prepared
5in accordance with s. 6.36 (2). Upon accepting each absentee ballot, the board of
6absentee ballot canvassers shall enter a poll list number on the poll list next to the
7name of the elector who voted the ballot, beginning with the number one. If the
8elector's name does not appear on the poll list, the board of absentee ballot
9canvassers shall enter the number on a separate list maintained under this
10subsection.
SB612,92,6 11(3) (a) The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall first open the carrier
12envelope only, and, in such a manner that a member of the public, if he or she desired,
13could hear, announce the name of the absent elector or the identification serial
14number of the absent elector if the elector has a confidential listing under s. 6.47 (2).
15When the board of absentee ballot canvassers finds that the certification has been
16properly executed and the applicant is a qualified elector of the ward or election
17district, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall enter an indication on the poll
18list next to the applicant's name indicating an absentee ballot is cast by the elector.
19The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall then open the envelope containing the
20ballot in a manner so as not to deface or destroy the certification thereon. The board
21of absentee ballot canvassers shall take out the ballot without unfolding it or
22permitting it to be unfolded or examined. Unless the ballot is cast under s. 6.95, the
23board of absentee ballot canvassers shall verify that the ballot has been endorsed by
24the issuing clerk. If the poll list indicates that proof of residence is required and no
25proof of residence is enclosed or the name or address on the document that is provided

1is not the same as the name and address shown on the poll list, the board of absentee
2ballot canvassers shall proceed as provided under s. 6.97 (2). The board of absentee
3ballot canvassers shall mark the poll list number of each elector who casts an
4absentee ballot on the back of the elector's ballot. The board of absentee ballot
5canvassers shall then deposit the ballot into the proper ballot box and enter the
6absent elector's name or poll list number after his or her name on the poll list.
SB612,92,237 (b) When the board of absentee ballot canvassers finds that a certification is
8insufficient, that the applicant is not a qualified elector in the ward or election
9district, that the ballot envelope is open or has been opened and resealed, that the
10ballot envelope contains more than one ballot of any one kind, or that the certificate
11of an elector who received an absentee ballot by facsimile transmission or electronic
12mail is missing, or if proof is submitted to the board of absentee ballot canvassers that
13an elector voting an absentee ballot has since died, the board of absentee ballot
14canvassers shall not count the ballot. Each member of the board of absentee ballot
15canvassers shall endorse every ballot not counted on the back as "rejected (giving the
16reason)." The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall reinsert each rejected ballot
17into the certificate envelope in which it was delivered and enclose the certificate
18envelopes and ballots, and securely seal the ballots and envelopes in an envelope
19marked for rejected absentee ballots. The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall
20endorse the envelope as "rejected ballots," with a statement of the ward or election
21district and date of the election, and each member of the board of absentee ballot
22canvassers shall sign the statement. The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall
23then return the envelope containing the ballots to the municipal clerk.
SB612,93,8 24(4) (a) The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall then open the ballot box
25and remove and count the number of ballots therein without examination except as

1is necessary to ascertain that each is a single ballot. If 2 or more ballots are folded
2together so as to appear as a single ballot, the board of absentee ballot canvassers
3shall lay them aside until the count is completed; and if, after a comparison of the
4count and the appearance of the ballots it appears to the board of absentee ballot
5canvassers that the ballots folded together were voted by the same person they shall
6not be counted but the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall mark them as to the
7reason for removal, set them aside, and carefully preserve them. The board of
8absentee ballot canvassers shall then proceed under par. (b).
SB612,93,149 (b) When during the counting of the ballots cast at an election the board of
10absentee ballot canvassers finds that a ballot is so defective that it cannot determine
11with reasonable certainty for whom it was cast, the board of absentee ballot
12canvassers shall so mark the ballot and preserve it. The board of absentee ballot
13canvassers shall not count the vote cast on the ballot for any office for which it
14determines the ballot to be defective.
SB612,93,2515 (c) Whenever the number of ballots exceeds the number of voting electors as
16indicated on the poll list, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall place all
17ballots face up to check for blank ballots. In this paragraph, "blank ballot" means
18a ballot on which no votes are cast for any office or question. The board of absentee
19ballot canvassers shall mark, lay aside, and preserve any blank ballots. If the
20number of ballots still exceeds the number of voting electors, the board of absentee
21ballot canvassers shall place all ballots face down and proceed to check for the
22initials. The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall mark, lay aside, and preserve
23any ballot not bearing the initials of the municipal clerk. During the count, the board
24of absentee ballot canvassers shall count those ballots cast by challenged electors the
25same as the other ballots.
SB612,94,6
1(d) The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall keep a written statement, in
2duplicate, of the number of ballots set aside and the number of defective ballots and
3challenged ballots. The statement shall contain a record of the reasons for setting
4aside each ballot and the reasons why each defective or challenged ballot is defective
5or challenged. The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall certify that the
6statement is correct, sign it, and attach it to the tally sheets.
SB612,94,217 (e) If, after any ballots have been set aside, the number of ballots still exceeds
8the total number of electors recorded on the poll list, the board of absentee ballot
9canvassers shall place the absentee ballots in the ballot box and one of the members
10shall publicly and without examination draw therefrom by chance the number of
11ballots equal to the excess number of ballots. All ballots so removed shall not be
12counted but shall be specially marked as having been removed by the board of
13absentee ballot canvassers on original canvass due to an excess number of ballots,
14set aside, and preserved. When the number of ballots and total shown on the poll list
15agree, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall return all ballots to be counted
16to the ballot box and shall turn the ballot box in such manner as to thoroughly mix
17the ballots. The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall then open, count, and
18record the number of votes. When the ballots are counted, the board of absentee
19ballot canvassers shall separate them into piles for ballots similarly voted.
20Objections may be made to placement of ballots in the piles at the time the separation
21is made.
SB612,94,2422 (f) If corrected ballots under s. 5.06 (6) or 5.72 (3) are distributed under s. 7.10
23(3), only the votes cast on the corrected ballots may be counted for any office or
24referendum in which the original ballots differ from the corrected ballots.
SB612,95,13
1(g) The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall place together all ballots
2counted by it that relate to any national, state, or county office or any state, county,
3or technical college district referendum and secure them together so they cannot be
4untied or tampered with without breaking the seal. The secured ballots, together
5with any ballots marked "Defective," shall then be secured by the board of absentee
6ballot canvassers in the ballot container in such a manner that the container cannot
7be opened without breaking the seals or locks, or destroying the container. The board
8of absentee ballot canvassers shall place the ballots cast under s. 6.97 in a separate,
9securely sealed carrier envelope which is clearly marked "Section 6.97 ballots." Each
10member of the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall sign the carrier envelope.
11The carrier envelope shall not be placed in the ballot container. The board of
12absentee ballot canvassers shall then deliver the ballots to the municipal clerk in the
13ballot container and carrier envelope.
SB612,95,1914 (h) For ballots that relate only to municipal or school district offices or
15referenda, the board of absentee ballot canvassers, in lieu of par. (a), after counting
16the ballots shall return them to the proper ballot boxes, lock the boxes, paste paper
17over the slots, sign their names to the paper, and deliver them and the keys therefor
18to the municipal or school district clerk. The clerk shall retain the ballots until
19destruction is authorized under s. 7.23.
SB612,95,2520 (i) All absentee certificate envelopes that have been opened shall be returned
21by the board of absentee ballot canvassers to the municipal clerk in a securely sealed
22carrier envelope that is clearly marked "used absentee certificate envelopes." The
23envelopes shall be signed by each member of the board of absentee ballot canvassers.
24Except when the ballots are used in a municipal or school district election only, the
25municipal clerk shall transmit the used envelopes to the county clerk.
SB612,96,4
1(5) The vote of any absent elector may be challenged for cause and the board
2of absentee ballot canvassers shall have all the power and authority given the
3inspectors to hear and determine the legality of the ballot the same as if the ballot
4had been voted in person.
SB612,96,13 5(6) (a) The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall review each certificate
6envelope to determine whether any absentee ballot is cast by an elector whose name
7appears on the poll list as ineligible to vote at the election, including ineligibility to
8vote by reason of a felony conviction. If the board of absentee ballot canvassers
9receives an absentee ballot that has been cast by an elector whose name appears on
10the poll list as ineligible to vote, the inspectors shall challenge the ballot in the same
11manner as provided for inspectors making challenges under s. 6.92 and shall treat
12the ballot in the manner as provided for treatment of challenged ballots by inspectors
13under s. 6.95.
SB612,97,814 (b) Any elector may challenge for cause any absentee ballot. For the purpose
15of deciding upon ballots that are challenged for any reason, the board of absentee
16ballot canvassers may call before it any person whose absentee ballot is challenged
17if the person is available to be called. If the person challenged refuses to answer fully
18any relevant questions put to him or her by the board of absentee ballot canvassers
19under s. 6.92, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall reject the person's vote.
20If the challenge is not withdrawn after the person offering to vote has answered the
21questions, one of the members of the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall
22administer to the person the following oath or affirmation: "You do solemnly swear
23(or affirm) that: you are 18 years of age; you are a citizen of the United States; you
24are now and for 10 days have been a resident of this ward except under s. 6.02 (2),
25stats.; you have not voted at this election; you have not made any bet or wager or

1become directly or indirectly interested in any bet or wager depending upon the
2result of this election; you are not on any other ground disqualified to vote at this
3election." If the person challenged refuses to take the oath or affirmation, the
4person's vote shall be rejected. If the person challenged answers fully all relevant
5questions put to the elector by the board of absentee ballot canvassers under s. 6.92,
6takes the oath or affirmation, and fulfills the applicable registration requirements,
7and if the answers to the questions given by the person indicate that the person meets
8the voting qualification requirements, the person's vote shall be received.
SB612,97,24 9(7) The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall maintain tally sheets on
10forms provided by the municipal clerk, which shall state the total number of votes
11cast for each office and for each individual receiving votes for that office, whether or
12not the individual's name appears on the ballot, and shall state the vote for and
13against each proposition voted on. Upon completion of the canvass of the absentee
14ballots, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall immediately complete
15statements in duplicate. The statements shall state the excess, if any, by which the
16number of ballots exceeds the number of electors voting as shown by the poll list used
17by the board of absentee ballot canvassers under this section and shall state the poll
18list number of the last elector as shown by the poll list. Each member of the board
19of absentee ballot canvassers shall then certify to the correctness of the statements
20and tally sheets and sign their names. All other election officials assisting with the
21tally shall also certify to the correctness of the tally sheets. When the tally is
22complete, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall publicly announce the results
23from the statements, and the records of the count are open to public inspection and
24copying under s. 19.35 (1).
SB612,98,11
1(8) The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall make full and accurate return
2of the votes cast for each candidate and proposition on the tally sheet forms. Each
3tally sheet shall record the returns for each office or referendum by ward, unless
4combined returns are authorized in accordance with s. 5.15 (6) (b), in which case the
5tally sheet shall record the returns for each group of combined wards. After
6recording the votes, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall seal in a carrier
7envelope outside the ballot bag or container one inspector's statement under sub. (4)
8(d), one tally sheet, and one poll list for delivery to the county clerk, unless the
9election relates only to municipal or school district offices or referenda. The board
10of absentee ballot canvassers shall also similarly seal one statement, one tally sheet,
11and one poll list for delivery to the municipal clerk.
SB612,98,16 12(9) The governing body of any municipality that has provided by ordinance
13enacted under sub. (1) for the canvassing of absentee ballots at all elections held in
14the municipality under this section may by similar action rescind that decision.
15Thereafter, the absentee ballots at all elections held in the municipality shall be
16canvassed as provided in s. 6.88.
SB612, s. 140 17Section 140. 7.53 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,99,1218 7.53 (1) Municipalities with one polling place. Where the municipality
19constitutes one ward or combines all wards to utilize a single polling place under s.
205.15 (6) (b), the canvass of the votes cast at the polling place shall be conducted
21publicly under s. 7.51 and the inspectors, other than any inspector appointed under
22s. 7.30 (1) (b),
shall act as the municipal board of canvassers. In municipalities where
23absentee ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, after the canvass of the absentee ballots
24is completed under s. 7.52, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall reconcile the
25poll list of the electors who vote by absentee ballot with the corresponding poll list

1of the electors who vote in person to ensure that no elector is allowed to cast more
2than one ballot. If an elector who votes in person has submitted an absentee ballot,
3the absentee ballot is void.
Upon completion of the canvass under this subsection and
4any canvass that is conducted under s. 7.52
and ascertainment of the results by the
5inspectors or, in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52,
6by the inspectors and the board of absentee ballot canvassers
, the municipal clerk
7shall publicly read to the inspectors or the board of absentee ballot canvassers the
8names of the persons voted for and the number of votes for each person for each
9municipal office, the names of the persons declared by the inspectors or board of
10absentee ballot canvassers
to have won nomination or election to each municipal
11office, and the number of votes cast for and against each municipal referendum
12question.
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