SB612,102,410 (b) Except as provided in par. (c), the municipal board of absentee ballot
11canvassers shall be composed of the municipal clerk, or a qualified elector of the
12municipality designated by the clerk, and 2 other qualified electors of the
13municipality appointed by the clerk. The members of the board of absentee ballot
14canvassers shall serve for 2-year terms commencing on January 1 of each
15odd-numbered year, except that any member who is appointed to fill a permanent
16vacancy shall serve for the unexpired term of the original appointee. If the municipal
17clerk's office is vacant or if the clerk and the clerk's designee cannot perform his or
18her duties, the mayor, president, or board chairperson of the municipality shall
19designate another qualified elector of the municipality to serve in lieu of the clerk for
20that election. If the clerk is a candidate at an election being canvassed, the clerk or
21the clerk's designee may perform the clerk's duties on the board of absentee ballot
22canvassers only if the clerk does not have an opponent whose name appears on the
23ballot. If the clerk is a candidate at the election being canvassed by the board of
24absentee ballot canvassers and has an opponent whose name appears on the ballot,
25the mayor, president, or board chairperson of the municipality shall designate

1another qualified elector of the municipality to serve in lieu of the clerk and his or
2her designee for that election. If any other member of the board of absentee ballot
3canvassers is a candidate at the election being canvassed, the clerk shall appoint
4another qualified elector of the municipality to temporarily fill the vacancy.
SB612,102,75 (c) Nothing in this subsection precludes a municipal clerk from appointing
6individuals to the board of absentee ballot canvassers who are simultaneously
7serving on any other board of canvassers.
SB612, s. 145 8Section 145. 7.60 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,103,109 7.60 (2) County board of canvassers. The county clerk and 2 qualified electors
10of the county appointed by the clerk constitute the county board of canvassers. The
11members of the board of canvassers shall serve for 2-year terms commencing on
12January 1 of each odd-numbered year, except that any member who is appointed to
13fill a permanent vacancy shall serve for the unexpired term of the original appointee.
14One member of the board of canvassers shall belong to a political party other than
15the clerk's. The county clerk shall designate a deputy clerk who shall perform the
16clerk's duties as a member of the board of canvassers in the event that the county
17clerk's office is vacant, or the clerk cannot perform his or her duties, or the clerk is
18a candidate at an election being canvassed
. If the county clerk and designated
19deputy clerk are both unable to perform their duties, the county executive or, if there
20is no county executive, the chairperson of the county board of supervisors shall
21designate another qualified elector of the county to perform the clerk's duties. If a
22member other than the clerk cannot perform his or her duties, the clerk shall appoint
23another member to serve. No Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, no
24person may serve on the county board of canvassers if the person is a candidate for
25an office to be canvassed by that board. If the clerk is a candidate at an election being

1canvassed, the clerk may perform his or her duties on the board only if the clerk has
2no opponent whose name appears on the ballot, or, in the case of a recount, if the office
3the clerk is seeking is not a subject of the recount.
If lists of candidates for the county
4board of canvassers are submitted to the county clerk by political party county
5committees, the lists shall consist of at least 3 names and the clerk shall choose the
6board members from the lists. Where there is a county board of election
7commissioners, it shall serve as the board of canvassers. If the county board of
8election commissioners serves as the board of canvassers, the executive director of
9the county board of election commissioners shall serve as a member of the board of
10canvassers to fill a temporary vacancy on that board.
SB612, s. 146 11Section 146. 8.10 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,103,1412 8.10 (3) (intro.) The certification of a qualified elector circulator under s. 8.15
13(4) (a) shall be appended to each nomination paper. The number of required
14signatures on nomination papers filed under this section is as follows:
SB612, s. 147 15Section 147. 8.15 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,104,616 8.15 (4) (a) The certification of a qualified elector circulator stating his or her
17residence with street and number, if any, shall appear at the bottom of each
18nomination paper, stating he or she personally circulated the nomination paper and
19personally obtained each of the signatures; he or she knows they are electors of the
20ward, aldermanic district, municipality or county, as the nomination papers require;
21he or she knows they signed the paper with full knowledge of its content; he or she
22knows their respective residences given; he or she knows each signer signed on the
23date stated opposite his or her name; and, that he or she, the circulator, resides
24within the district which the candidate named therein will represent, if elected
is a
25qualified elector of this state, or if not a qualified elector of this state, is a U.S. citizen

1age 18 or older who, if he or she were a resident of this state, would not be disqualified
2from voting under s. 6.03, Wis. stats.
; that he or she intends to support the candidate;
3and that he or she is aware that falsifying the certification is punishable under s.
412.13 (3) (a), Wis. stats. The circulator shall indicate the date that he or she makes
5the certification next to his or her signature. The certification may be made by the
6candidate or any qualified elector circulator.
SB612, s. 148 7Section 148. 8.20 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,104,98 8.20 (3) The certification of an elector a qualified circulator under s. 8.15 (4)
9(a) shall be appended to each nomination paper.
SB612, s. 149 10Section 149. 8.37 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,104,20 118.37 Filing of referenda petitions or questions. Unless otherwise required
12by law, all proposed constitutional amendments and any other measure or question
13that is to be submitted to a vote of the people, or any petitions requesting that a
14measure or question be submitted to a vote of the people, if applicable, shall be filed
15with the official or agency responsible for preparing the ballots for the election no
16later than 42 days prior to the election at which the amendment, measure or question
17will appear on the ballot. No later than the end of the next business day after a
18proposed measure is filed with a school district clerk under this section, the clerk
19shall file a copy of the measure or question with the clerk of each county having
20territory within the school district.
SB612, s. 150 21Section 150. 8.40 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,105,1122 8.40 (2) The certification of a qualified elector circulator stating his or her
23residence with street and number, if any, shall appear at the bottom of each separate
24sheet of each petition specified in sub. (1), stating that he or she personally circulated
25the petition and personally obtained each of the signatures; that the circulator knows

1that they are electors of the jurisdiction or district in which the petition is circulated;
2that the circulator knows that they signed the paper with full knowledge of its
3content; that the circulator knows their respective residences given; that the
4circulator knows that each signer signed on the date stated opposite his or her name;
5that the circulator resides within the jurisdiction or district in which the petition is
6circulated
is a qualified elector of this state, or if not a qualified elector of this state,
7that the circulator is a U.S. citizen age 18 or older who, if he or she were a resident
8of this state, would not be disqualified from voting under s. 6.03, Wis. stats.
; and that
9the circulator is aware that falsifying the certification is punishable under s. 12.13
10(3) (a). The circulator shall indicate the date that he or she makes the certification
11next to his or her signature.
SB612, s. 151 12Section 151. 9.01 (1) (ag) 1., 1m. and 2. of the statutes are amended to read:
SB612,105,1813 9.01 (1) (ag) 1. If the difference between the votes cast for the leading candidate
14and those cast for the petitioner or the difference between the affirmative and
15negative votes cast upon any referendum question is less than 10 if 1,000 or less votes
16are cast or not more than 0.5% of the total votes cast for the office or on the question
17if more than 1,000 votes are cast prior to issuance of any amended return under s.
186.22 (5m) (f)
, the petitioner is not required to pay a fee.
SB612,105,2519 1m. If the difference between the votes cast for the leading candidate and those
20cast for the petitioner or the difference between the affirmative and negative votes
21cast upon any referendum question is at least 10 if 1,000 or less votes are cast or is
22more than 0.5% but not more than 2% if more than 1,000 votes are cast prior to
23issuance of any amended return under s. 6.22 (5m) (f)
, the petitioner shall pay a fee
24of $5 for each ward for which the petition requests a ballot recount, or $5 for each
25municipality for which the petition requests a recount where no wards exist.
SB612,106,7
12. If the difference between the votes cast for the leading candidate and those
2cast for the petitioner or the difference between the affirmative and negative votes
3cast upon any referendum question is more than 2% if more than 1,000 votes are cast
4prior to issuance of any amended return under s. 6.22 (5m) (f), the petitioner shall
5pay a fee equal to the actual cost of performing the recount in each ward for which
6the petition requests a recount, or in each municipality for which the petition request
7a recount where no wards exist.
SB612, s. 152 8Section 152. 9.01 (1) (ag) 2m. of the statutes is created to read:
SB612,106,119 9.01 (1) (ag) 2m. For purposes of subds. 1m. and 2., the number of votes cast
10at an election excludes any votes that may be eligible to be counted under s. 6.22 (5m)
11(a).
SB612, s. 153 12Section 153. 9.01 (1) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,106,2213 9.01 (1) (b) (intro.) The Except as provided in this paragraph, the proper board
14of canvassers shall reconvene no earlier than 9 a.m. on the day following delivery of
15notice to all candidates under sub. (2) and no later than 9 a.m. on the day following
16the last day for filing of a petition and proceed to recount the ballots in the wards or
17municipalities specified and to review the allegations of fact contained in the petition
18or petitions. If s. 6.22 (5m) (dm) applies, the board of canvassers shall not proceed
19with the recount until 9 a.m. on the day following the last day for filing of a petition
20and, if s. 6.22 (5m) (e) applies, shall not proceed with the recount until it complies
21with s. 6.22 (5m) (f).
The recount shall proceed for each ward or municipality as
22follows:
SB612, s. 154 23Section 154. 9.01 (10) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,107,424 9.01 (10) Standard forms and methods. The elections board shall prescribe
25standard forms and procedures for the making of recounts under this section. The

1procedures prescribed by the elections board shall require the boards of canvassers
2in recounts involving more than one board of canvassers to consult with the elections
3board staff prior to beginning any recount in order to ensure that uniform procedures
4are used, to the extent practicable, in such recounts.
SB612, s. 155 5Section 155. 9.10 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,107,106 9.10 (2) (b) A recall petition for requesting the recall of a city, village, town or
7school district office officer shall contain a statement of a reason for the recall which
8is related to the official responsibilities of the official for whom removal is sought

9each cause for the recall and the grounds that constitute each cause. In this
10paragraph, "cause" means official misconduct or malfeasance in office
.
SB612, s. 156 11Section 156. 9.10 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,108,212 9.10 (2) (d) No petition may be offered for filing for the recall of an officer unless
13the petitioner first files a registration statement under s. 11.05 (1) or (2) with the
14filing officer with whom the petition is filed. The petitioner shall append to the
15registration a statement indicating his or her intent to circulate a recall petition, the
16name of the officer for whom recall is sought and, in the case of a petition for the recall
17of a city, village, town or school district officer, a statement of a reason for the recall
18which is related to the official responsibilities of the official for whom removal is
19sought
each cause, as defined in par. (b), for the recall and the grounds that constitute
20each cause
. No petitioner may circulate a petition for the recall of an officer prior to
21completing registration. The last date that a petition for the recall of a state,
22congressional, legislative, judicial or county officer may be offered for filing is 5 p.m.
23on the 60th day commencing after registration. The last date that a petition for the
24recall of a city, village, town or school district officer may be offered for filing is 5 p.m.
25on the 30th day commencing after registration. After the recall petition has been

1offered for filing, no name may be added or removed. No signature may be counted
2unless the date of the signature is within the period provided in this paragraph.
SB612, s. 157 3Section 157. 9.10 (2) (em) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,108,54 9.10 (2) (em) 2. The residency of the circulator cannot be determined by the
5information given on the petition
is not a qualified circulator.
SB612, s. 158 6Section 158. 9.10 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,109,67 9.10 (4) (a) Within 10 days after a petition for the recall of a city, village, town,
8or school district official, officer is offered for filing, the officer against whom the
9petition is filed may file a written challenge with the municipal clerk or board of
10election commissioners or school district clerk with whom it is filed, specifying any
11alleged insufficiency. If a challenge is filed, the petitioner may file a written rebuttal
12to the challenge with the clerk or board of election commissioners within 5 days after
13the challenge is filed. If a rebuttal is filed, the officer against whom the petition is
14filed may file a reply to any new matter raised in the rebuttal within 2 days after the
15rebuttal is filed. Within 14 days after the expiration of the time allowed for filing a
16reply to a rebuttal, the clerk or board of election commissioners shall file the
17certificate or an amended certificate. Within 31 days after the petition is offered for
18filing, the clerk or board of election commissioners shall determine by careful
19examination of the face of the petition whether the petition is sufficient and shall so
20state in a certificate attached to the petition. If the petition is found to be insufficient,
21the certificate shall state the particulars creating the insufficiency. The petition may
22be amended to correct any insufficiency within 5 days following the affixing of the
23original certificate. Within 2 days after the offering of the amended petition for filing,
24the clerk or board of election commissioners shall again carefully examine the face
25of the petition to determine sufficiency and shall attach to the petition a certificate

1stating the findings. Immediately upon finding an original or amended petition
2sufficient, except in cities over 500,000 population, the municipal clerk or school
3district clerk shall transmit the petition to the governing body or to the school board.
4Immediately upon finding an original or amended petition sufficient, in cities over
5500,000 population, the board of election commissioners shall file the petition in its
6office.
SB612, s. 159 7Section 159. 10.01 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,109,248 10.01 (2) (e) Type E—The type E notice shall state the qualifications for
9absentee voting, the procedures for obtaining an absentee ballot in the case of
10registered and unregistered voters, and the places and the deadlines for application
11and return of application, including any alternate site under s. 6.855, and the office
12hours during which an elector may cast an absentee ballot in the municipal clerk's
13office or at an alternate site under s. 6.855
. The municipal clerk shall publish a type
14E notice on the 4th Tuesday preceding each spring primary and election, on the 4th
15Tuesday preceding each September primary and general election, on the 4th Tuesday
16preceding the primary for each special national, state, county or municipal election
17if any, on the 4th Tuesday preceding a special county or municipal referendum, and
18on the 3rd Tuesday preceding each special national, state, county or municipal
19election to fill an office which is not held concurrently with the spring or general
20election. The clerk of each special purpose district which calls a special election shall
21publish a type E notice on the 4th Tuesday preceding the primary for the special
22election, if any, on the 4th Tuesday preceding a special referendum, and on the 3rd
23Tuesday preceding a special election for an office which is not held concurrently with
24the spring or general election except as authorized in s. 8.55 (3).
SB612, s. 160 25Section 160. 10.02 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,110,12
110.02 (3) (a) Upon entering the polling place and before being permitted to vote,
2an elector shall state his or her name and address and provide identification if
3required by federal law
. If an elector is not registered to vote, an elector may register
4to vote at the polling place serving his or her residence if the elector provides proof
5of residence or the elector's registration is verified by another elector of the same
6municipality where the elector resides
. Where ballots are distributed to electors, the
7initials of 2 inspectors must appear on the ballot. Upon being permitted to vote, the
8elector shall retire alone to a voting booth or machine and cast his or her ballot, except
9that an elector who is a parent or guardian may be accompanied by the elector's
10minor child or minor ward. An election official may inform the elector of the proper
11manner for casting a vote, but the official may not in any manner advise or indicate
12a particular voting choice.
SB612, s. 161 13Section 161. 12.03 (title) and (1) of the statutes are amended to read:
SB612,110,18 1412.03 (title) Election day campaigning Campaigning restricted. (1) No
15election official may engage in electioneering on election day. No municipal clerk or
16employee of the clerk may engage in electioneering in the clerk's office or at the
17alternate site under s. 6.855 during the hours that ballots may be cast at those
18locations.
SB612, s. 162 19Section 162. 12.03 (2) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
SB612,110,2120 12.03 (2) (a) 1. No person may engage in electioneering during polling hours
21on election day at a polling place.
SB612,110,2322 2. No person may engage in electioneering in the municipal clerk's office or at
23an alternate site under s. 6.855 during the hours that absentee ballots may be cast.
SB612,111,3
1(b) 1. No person may engage in electioneering during polling hours on any
2public property on election day within 100 feet of an entrance to a building containing
3a polling place.
SB612,111,64 2. No person may engage in electioneering during the hours that absentee
5ballots may be cast on any public property within 100 feet of an entrance to a building
6containing the municipal clerk's office or an alternate site under s. 6.855.
SB612,111,97 3. No person may engage in electioneering within 100 feet of an entrance to or
8within a nursing home or qualified retirement home or community-based
9residential facility while special voting deputies are present at the home or facility.
SB612,111,1210 (d) This subsection does not apply to the placement of any material on the
11bumper of a motor vehicle that is parked or operated at a place and time where
12electioneering is prohibited under this subsection.
SB612, s. 163 13Section 163 . 12.035 of the statutes is created to read:
SB612,111,18 1412.035 Posting and distribution of election-related material. (1) In this
15section, "election-related material" means any written matter which describes, or
16purports to describe, the rights or responsibilities of individuals voting or registering
17to vote at a polling place or voting an absentee ballot at the office of the municipal
18clerk or an alternate site under s. 6.855.
SB612,112,2 19(2) The legislature finds that posting or distributing election-related material
20at the polling place, at locations where absentee ballots may be cast, or near the
21entrance to such locations when voting is taking place may mislead and confuse
22electors about their rights and responsibilities regarding the exercise of the franchise
23and tends to disrupt the flow of voting activities at such locations. The legislature
24finds that the restrictions imposed by this section on the posting or distribution of

1election-related material are necessary to protect the compelling governmental
2interest in orderly and fair elections.
SB612,112,4 3(3) (a) No person may post or distribute any election-related material during
4polling hours on election day at a polling place.
SB612,112,75 (b) No person may post or distribute any election-related material during
6polling hours on any public property on election day within 100 feet of an entrance
7to a building containing a polling place.
SB612,112,108 (c) No person may post or distribute any election-related material at the office
9of the municipal clerk or at an alternate site under s. 6.855 during hours that
10absentee ballots may be cast.
SB612,112,1411 (d) No person may post or distribute election-related material during the hours
12that absentee ballots may be cast on any public property within 100 feet of an
13entrance to a building containing the office of the municipal clerk or an alternate site
14under s. 6.855.
SB612,112,15 15(4) Subsection (3) does not apply to any of the following:
SB612,112,1716 (a) The posting or distribution of election-related material posted or
17distributed by the municipal clerk or other election officials.
SB612,112,1918 (b) The placement of any material on the bumper of a motor vehicle located on
19public property.
SB612,112,22 20(5) A municipal clerk, election inspector, or law enforcement officer may
21remove election-related material posted in violation of sub. (3) and may confiscate
22election-related material distributed in violation of sub. (3).
SB612, s. 164 23Section 164. 12.04 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,113,3
112.04 (2) Except as provided in s. ss. 12.03 or 12.035 or as restricted under sub.
2(4), any individual may place a sign containing a political message upon residential
3property owned or occupied by that individual during an election campaign period.
SB612, s. 165 4Section 165. 12.07 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,113,75 12.07 (2) No employer may refuse to allow an employee to serve as an election
6official under s. 7.30 or make any threats or offer any inducements of any kind to the
7employee for the purpose of preventing the employee from so serving.
SB612, s. 166 8Section 166. 12.09 of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
SB612,113,11 912.09 Election threats. (1) No person may personally or through an agent
10make use of or threaten to make use of force, violence, or restraint in order to induce
11or compel any person to vote or refrain from voting at an election.
SB612,113,14 12(2) No person may personally or through an agent, by abduction, duress, or any
13fraudulent device or contrivance, impede or prevent the free exercise of the franchise
14at an election.
SB612,113,17 15(3) No person may personally or through an agent, by any act compel, induce,
16or prevail upon an elector either to vote or refrain from voting at any election for or
17against a particular candidate or referendum.
SB612, s. 167 18Section 167. 12.13 (3) (ze) of the statutes is created to read:
SB612,113,2119 12.13 (3) (ze) Compensate a person who obtains voter registration forms from
20other persons at a rate that varies in relation to the number of voter registrations
21obtained by the person.
SB612, s. 168 22Section 168 . 12.13 (4) of the statutes is repealed.
SB612, s. 169 23Section 169. 12.60 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,114,3
112.60 (1) (b) Whoever violates s. 12.03, 12.05, 12.07, 12.08 or 12.13 (2) (b) 8.,
2(3) (b), (c), (d), (g), (i), (n) to (x), (ze), (zm) or (zn) may be fined not more than $1,000,
3or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both.
SB612, s. 170 4Section 170 . 12.60 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,114,65 12.60 (1) (c) Whoever violates s. 12.13 (3) (am) or (4) may be required to forfeit
6not more than $500.
SB612, s. 171 7Section 171 . 12.60 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,114,98 12.60 (1) (d) Whoever violates s. 12.035 or 12.13 (3) (h) may be required to
9forfeit not more than $100.
SB612, s. 172 10Section 172. 17.29 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,114,17 1117.29 Effect of chapter. The provisions of this chapter supersede all contrary
12provisions in either the general law or in special acts, except ch. 7 ss. 6.26 (2) (b), 6.28
13(2) (b), 6.55 (6), 6.875, and 7.30
relating to appointed election officers appointed for
14the election wards or polling places in the state
officials and ch. 21 relating to the
15military staff of the governor and to officers of the Wisconsin national guard; and
16shall govern all offices whether created by general law or special act, unless
17otherwise specially provided.
SB612, s. 173 18Section 173. 301.03 (3a) of the statutes is created to read:
SB612,114,2019 301.03 (3a) Subject to all of the following, design a form to provide notice under
20ss. 302.117, 973.09 (4m), and 973.176 (2) of ineligibility to vote under s. 6.03 (1) (b):
SB612,114,2221 (a) The form shall inform the person who is ineligible to vote that he or she may
22not vote in any election until his or her civil rights are restored.
SB612,114,2423 (b) The form shall inform the person who is ineligible to vote when his or her
24civil rights are expected to be restored.
SB612,115,3
1(c) The form shall include a place for the person to sign indicating that he or
2she understands that he or she may not vote in any election until his or her civil
3rights are restored. The form shall include a place also for a witness signature.
SB612,115,54 (d) The department shall retain the form, and a copy shall be given to the
5person.
SB612, s. 174 6Section 174. 301.03 (20) of the statutes is created to read:
SB612,115,117 301.03 (20) Transmit to the elections board, on a continuous basis, a list
8containing the name of each living person who has been convicted of a felony under
9the laws of this state and whose civil rights have not been restored, together with his
10or her residential address and the date on which the department expects his or her
11civil rights to be restored.
SB612, s. 175 12Section 175. 302.117 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,115,18 13302.117 Notice regarding ineligibility to vote. When an inmate who is
14disqualified from voting under s. 6.03 (1) (b) is released to parole or extended
15supervision, the department shall inform the person in writing that he or she may
16not vote in any election until his or her civil rights are restored. The department shall
17use the form designed under s. 301.03 (3a) to inform the person, and the person and
18a witness shall sign the form.
SB612, s. 176 19Section 176. 343.11 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB612,115,2320 343.11 (2m) Within 30 days following surrender of a license under sub. (1), the
21department shall provide notice to the elections board of the person's name and
22address, the name of the jurisdiction issuing the surrendered license, and the date
23on which the license was surrendered.
SB612, s. 177 24Section 177. 880.33 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB612,116,13
1880.33 (9) All the rights and privileges afforded a proposed incompetent under
2this section shall be given to any person who is alleged to be ineligible to register to
3vote or to vote in an election by reason that such person is incapable of understanding
4the objective of the elective process. The determination of the court shall be limited
5to a finding that the elector is either eligible or ineligible to register to vote or to vote
6in an election by reason that the person is or is not capable of understanding the
7objective of the elective process. The determination of the court shall be
8communicated in writing by the clerk of court to the election official or agency
9charged under s. 6.48, 6.92, 6.925 or, 6.93, or 7.52 (5) with the responsibility for
10determining challenges to registration and voting which may be directed against
11that elector. The determination may be reviewed as provided in s. 880.34 (4) and (5)
12and any subsequent determination of the court shall be likewise communicated by
13the clerk of court.
Loading...
Loading...