AB126: Bill Text

AB126,28,23 6.22 (4) (d) The board division shall prescribe the instructions for marking 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 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.

AB126, s. 42 Section 42. 6.24 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,29,6 6.24 (3) Registration. The overseas elector shall register in the municipality where he or she was last domiciled or where the overseas elector's parent was last domiciled on a form prescribed by the board division 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).

AB126, s. 43 Section 43. 6.24 (4) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,29,15 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 send the ballot automatically if the registration form is received within the time prescribed in s. 6.28 (1). The board division shall prescribe a special certificate 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). An overseas elector shall make and subscribe to the special certificate form before a witness who is an adult U.S. citizen.

AB126, s. 44 Section 44. 6.24 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,29,21 6.24 (5) Ballots. The board division shall prescribe a special ballot for use under this section whenever necessary. Official ballots prescribed for use in the presidential preference primary may also be used. The ballot shall be designed to comply with the requirements prescribed under ss. 5.58 (2r), 5.62, and 5.64 (1) insofar as applicable. All ballots shall be limited to national offices only.

AB126, s. 45 Section 45. 6.24 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,30,12 6.24 (6) Instructions and handling. The municipal clerk shall send a ballot, as soon as available, to each overseas elector by whom a request has been made. The board division shall prescribe the instructions for marking 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. Except as authorized in s. 6.87 (3), the municipal clerk shall mail the material, with sufficient postage to ensure that the elector receives the ballot, unless the material qualifies for mailing free of postage under federal free postage laws. If the return envelope qualifies for mailing free of postage under federal free postage laws, the clerk shall affix the appropriate legend required by U.S. postal regulations. Otherwise, the municipal clerk shall pay the postage required for return when the ballot is mailed from within the United States. If the ballot is not mailed by the overseas elector from within the United States, the overseas elector shall provide return postage.

AB126, s. 46 Section 46. 6.26 (2) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,30,16 6.26 (2) (am) A qualified elector of this state may apply to the board division to be appointed as a special registration deputy for the purpose of registering electors of any municipality prior to the close of registration.

AB126, s. 47 Section 47. 6.26 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,30,23 6.26 (2) (b) The municipal clerk, board of election commissioners, or elections board division may appoint any applicant who qualifies under this subsection, unless the applicant's appointment has been revoked by a municipality or by the board division for cause. The municipal clerk, board of election commissioners, or elections board division may revoke an appointment made by the clerk, board of election commissioners, or elections board division for cause at any time.

AB126, s. 48 Section 48. 6.26 (2) (c) and (cm) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB126,31,5 6.26 (2) (c) No individual may serve as a special registration deputy in a municipality unless the individual is appointed by the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners of the municipality or the individual is appointed by the elections board division to serve all municipalities and the individual completes training required under s. 7.315.

AB126,31,10 (cm) The board division and each municipal clerk shall maintain a record of the names and addresses of each individual who is appointed by the board division or the clerk to serve as a special registration deputy under this section and who has complied with the training requirements for service as a special registration deputy under s. 7.315 (1) (b) 1.

AB126, s. 49 Section 49. 6.26 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,31,19 6.26 (3) The board division shall, by rule, prescribe procedures for appointment of special registration deputies, for revocation of appointments of special registration deputies, and for training of special registration deputies by municipal clerks and boards of election commissioners. The procedures shall be coordinated with training programs for special registration deputies conducted by municipal clerks under s. 7.315 and shall be formulated to promote increased registration of electors consistent with the needs of municipal clerks and boards of election commissioners to efficiently administer the registration process.

AB126, s. 50 Section 50. 6.275 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,31,23 6.275 (2) Upon receipt of each report filed under this section, the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall forward one copy to the board division within 7 days.

AB126, s. 51 Section 51. 6.276 (2) and (3) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB126,32,4 6.276 (2) Within 30 days after each general election, each municipal clerk shall transmit to the board division a report of the number of absentee ballots transmitted by the clerk to absent military electors and overseas electors for that election and the combined number of those ballots that were cast by those electors in that election.

AB126,32,7 (3) Within 90 days after each general election, the board division shall compile the information contained in the reports received from municipal clerks under sub. (2) and transmit the information to the federal Election Assistance Commission.

AB126, s. 52 Section 52. 6.29 (2) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,32,22 6.29 (2) (am) The board division shall provide to each municipal clerk a list prepared for use at each municipal clerk's office showing the name and address of each person whose name appears on the list provided by the department of corrections under s. 301.03 (20) s. 301.03 (20m) as ineligible to vote on the date of the election, whose address is located in the municipality, and whose name does not appear on the registration list for that municipality. Prior to permitting an elector to register to vote under this subsection, the municipal clerk shall review the list. If the name of an elector who wishes to register to vote appears on the list, the municipal clerk shall inform the elector that the elector is ineligible to register to vote. If the elector maintains that he or she is eligible to vote in the election, the municipal clerk shall permit the elector to register to vote but shall mark the elector's registration form as "ineligible to vote per Department of Corrections." If the elector wishes to vote, the municipal clerk shall challenge the elector's ballot in the same manner as provided for inspectors who challenge ballots under s. 6.79 (2) (dm).

AB126, s. 53 Section 53. 6.30 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,33,6 6.30 (4) By mail. Any eligible elector may register by mail on a form prescribed by the board division and provided by each municipality. The form shall be designed to obtain the information required in ss. 6.33 (1) and to provide for changes authorized under s. 6.40 (1) (a). 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. 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.

AB126, s. 54 Section 54. 6.33 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,34,12 6.33 (1) The board division shall prescribe the format, size, and shape of registration forms. All forms shall be printed on cards and each item of information shall be of uniform font size, as prescribed by the board division. The municipal clerk shall supply sufficient form to meet voter registration needs. The forms shall be designed to obtain from each applicant information as to name; date; residence location; citizenship; date of birth; age; the number of a valid operator's license issued to the elector under ch. 343 or the last 4 digits of the elector's social security account number; whether the applicant has resided within the ward or election district for at least 10 days; whether the applicant has been convicted of a felony for which he or she has not been pardoned, and if so, whether the applicant is incarcerated, or on parole, probation, or extended supervision; whether the applicant is disqualified on any other ground from voting; and whether the applicant is currently registered to vote at any other location. The form shall include a space for the applicant's signature and the signature of any corroborating elector. The form shall include a space to enter the name of any special registration deputy under s. 6.26 or 6.55 (6) or inspector, municipal clerk, or deputy clerk under s. 6.55 (2) who obtains the form and a space for the deputy, inspector, clerk, or deputy clerk to sign his or her name, affirming that the deputy, inspector, clerk, or deputy clerk has accepted the form. The form shall include a space for entry of the ward and aldermanic district, if any, where the elector resides and any other information required to determine the offices and referenda for which the elector is certified to vote. The form shall also include a space where the clerk may record an indication of whether the form is received by mail, a space where the clerk may record an indication of the type of identifying document submitted by the elector as proof of residence under s. 6.34, whenever required, and a space where the clerk, for any applicant who possesses a valid voting identification card issued to the person under s. 6.47 (3), may record the identification serial number appearing on the voting identification card. Each county clerk shall obtain sufficient registration forms for completion by an elector who desires to register to vote at the office of the county clerk under s. 6.28 (4).

AB126, s. 55 Section 55. 6.33 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,34,22 6.33 (5) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), whenever a municipal clerk receives a valid registration or valid change of a name or address under an existing registration and whenever a municipal clerk changes a registration from eligible to ineligible status, the municipal clerk shall promptly enter electronically on the list maintained by the board division under s. 6.36 (1) the information required under that subsection, except that the municipal clerk may update any entries that change on the date of an election in the municipality within 30 days after that date, and the municipal clerk shall provide to the board division information that is confidential under s. 6.47 (2) in such manner as the board division prescribes.

AB126, s. 56 Section 56. 6.33 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,35,9 6.33 (5) (b) The municipal clerk of any municipality may, by mutual consent, designate any other municipal clerk or any county clerk as the clerk's agent to carry out the functions of the municipal clerk under this section for that municipality. The municipal clerk shall notify the county clerk of each county in which the municipality is located and the board division of any such designation in writing. The municipal clerk may, by similar notice to the clerk's agent at least 14 days prior to the effective date of any change, discontinue the designation. If the municipal clerk designates another municipal clerk or a county clerk as his or her agent, the municipal clerk shall immediately forward all registration changes filed with the clerk and voting record information obtained by the clerk to the clerk's agent for electronic entry on the registration list.

AB126, s. 57 Section 57. 6.36 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,36,2 6.36 (1) (a) The board division shall compile and maintain electronically an official registration list. The list shall contain the name and address of each registered elector in the state, the date of birth of the elector, the ward and aldermanic district of the elector, if any, and, for each elector, a unique registration identification number assigned by the board division, the number of a valid operator's license issued to the elector under ch. 343, if any, or the last 4 digits of the elector's social security account number, if any, any identification serial number issued to the elector under s. 6.47 (3), the date of any election in which the elector votes, an indication of whether the elector is a military elector, as defined in sub. (2) (c), who has so certified under s. 6.865 (3m), an indication of whether the elector is an overseas elector, as defined in s. 6.24 (1), any information relating to the elector that appears on the current list transmitted to the board division by the department of corrections under s. 301.03 (20) s. 301.03 (20m), an indication of any accommodation required under s. 5.25 (4) (a) to permit voting by the elector, an indication of the method by which the elector's registration form was received, and such other information as may be determined by the board division to facilitate administration of elector registration requirements.

AB126, s. 58 Section 58. 6.36 (1) (b) 1. a. and b. of the statutes are amended to read:

AB126,36,10 6.36 (1) (b) 1. a. No person other than an employee of the board division, a municipal clerk, a deputy clerk, an executive director of a city board of election commissioners, or a deputy designated by the executive director may view the date of birth, registration identification number, operator's license number, or social security account number of an elector, the address of an elector to whom an identification serial number is issued under s. 6.47 (3), or any indication of an accommodation required under s. 5.25 (4) (a) to permit voting by an elector.

AB126,36,13 b. No person other than an employee of the board division, a municipal clerk, or an election official who is authorized by a municipal clerk may make a change in the list.

AB126, s. 59 Section 59. 6.36 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,36,20 6.36 (1) (d) Upon receipt of official notification by the appropriate election administrative authority of another state, territory, or possession that an elector whose name appears on the list has registered to vote in that state, territory, or possession, the board division or the municipal clerk of the municipality where the elector formerly resided shall change the elector's registration from eligible to ineligible status.

AB126, s. 60 Section 60. 6.36 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,37,7 6.36 (1) (e) If the board division adds the name of any elector to the list, the board division shall promptly notify the municipal clerk of the municipality where the elector resides. If the board division changes the registration of any elector from eligible to ineligible status, the board division shall promptly notify the municipal clerk of the municipality where the elector resides or, if the elector has changed his or her residence from one municipality to another municipality in this state, shall promptly notify the municipal clerk of the municipality where the elector resided prior to the change. Notification shall be made in writing or by electronic transmission. If the board division changes the registration of any elector from eligible to ineligible status, the board division shall make an entry on the list giving the date of and the reason for the change.

AB126, s. 61 Section 61. 6.36 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,37,11 6.36 (1) (f) The board division shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure that the list is maintained in a manner that precludes unauthorized persons from making alterations to the list.

AB126, s. 62 Section 62. 6.36 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,37,22 6.36 (2) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), each registration list prepared for use as a poll list at a polling place or for purposes of canvassing absentee ballots at an election shall contain the full name and address of each registered elector; a blank column for the entry of the serial number of the electors when they vote or the poll list number used by the municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers in canvassing absentee ballots; an indication next to the name of each elector for whom proof of residence under s. 6.34 is required; and a form of certificate bearing the certification of the executive director of the board administrator stating that the list is a true and complete registration list of the municipality or the ward or wards for which the list is prepared.

AB126, s. 63 Section 63. 6.36 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,38,3 6.36 (5) After each general election, the board division shall contact the chief election official of each state from which an elector who voted in that election presented a valid driver's license under s. 6.29 (2) (a), 6.55 (2) (b) or (c) 1., or 6.86 (3) (a) 2. for so long as the license remains valid. The board division shall inquire whether the holder of the driver's license voted in that election in that state.

AB126, s. 64 Section 64. 6.36 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,38,11 6.36 (6) The board division shall establish by rule the fee for obtaining a copy of the official registration list, or a portion of the list. The amount of the fee shall be set, after consultation with county and municipal election officials, at an amount estimated to cover both the cost of reproduction and the cost of maintaining the list at the state and local level. The rules shall require that revenues from fees received be shared between the state and municipalities or their designees under s. 6.33 (5) (b), and shall specify a method for such allocation.

AB126, s. 65 Section 65. 6.47 (1) (ag) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,38,16 6.47 (1) (ag) "Domestic abuse victim service provider" means an organization that is certified by the department of health and family services as eligible to receive grants under s. 46.95 (2) and whose name is included on the list provided by the board division under s. 7.08 (10).

AB126, s. 66 Section 66. 6.47 (1) (am) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,38,25 6.47 (1) (am) 2. An individual who files an affidavit with the municipal clerk of the municipality where the individual resides, on a form prescribed by the board division, that is signed by a sheriff, the chief of a police department, or a district attorney or the authorized representative of a sheriff, chief, or district attorney and directed to the municipal clerk, and that verifies that a person has been charged with or convicted of an offense relating to domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking in which the individual was a victim and reasonably continues to be threatened by that person.

AB126, s. 67 Section 67. 6.47 (1) (dm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,39,5 6.47 (1) (dm) "Sexual assault victim service provider" means an organization that is certified by the department of justice as eligible to receive grants under s. 165.93 (2) and whose name is included on the list provided by the board division under s. 7.08 (10).

AB126, s. 68 Section 68. 6.47 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,39,23 6.47 (2) Except as authorized in sub. (8), the board division, each municipal clerk, each agent designated under s. 6.33 (5) (b), and each election official shall withhold from public inspection under s. 19.35 (1) the name and address of any eligible individual whose name appears on a poll list or registration list if the individual provides the municipal clerk with a valid written request to protect the individual's confidentiality. To be valid, a request under this subsection must be accompanied by a copy of a protective order that is in effect, an affidavit under sub. (1) (am) 2. that is dated within 30 days of the date of the request, a statement signed by the operator or an authorized agent of the operator of a shelter that is dated within 30 days of the date of the request and that indicates that the operator operates the shelter and that the individual making the request resides in the shelter, or a statement signed by an authorized representative of a domestic abuse victim service provider or a sexual assault victim service provider under sub. (1) (am) 4. that is dated within 30 days of the date of the request. A physically disabled individual who appears personally at the office of the municipal clerk accompanied by another elector of this state may designate that elector to make a request under this subsection on his or her behalf.

AB126, s. 69 Section 69. 6.47 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,40,8 6.47 (3) Upon receiving a valid written request from an elector under sub. (2), the municipal clerk shall issue to the elector a voting identification card on a form prescribed by the board division that shall contain the name of the elector's municipality of residence and, in the case of a town, the county in which the town is located, the elector's name, the ward in which the elector resides, if any, and a unique identification serial number issued by the board division. The number issued to an elector under this subsection shall not be changed for so long as the elector continues to qualify for a listing under sub. (2).

AB126, s. 70 Section 70. 6.55 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,40,18 6.55 (2) (a) 1. Except where the procedure under par. (c) or (cm) is employed, any person who qualifies as an elector in the ward or election district where he or she desires to vote, but has not previously filed a registration form, or was registered at another location, may request permission to vote at the polling place for that ward or election district, or at an alternate polling place assigned under s. 5.25 (5) (b). When a proper request is made, the inspector shall require the person to execute a registration form prescribed by the board division. The registration form shall be completed in the manner provided under s. 6.33 (2) and shall contain all information required under s. 6.33 (1), together with the following certification:

AB126,40,21 "I, ...., hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, I am a qualified elector, having resided at .... for at least 10 days immediately preceding this election, and I have not voted at this election."

AB126, s. 71 Section 71. 6.55 (2) (cs) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,41,13 6.55 (2) (cs) The board division shall provide to each municipal clerk a list prepared for use at each polling place showing the name and address of each person whose name appears on the list provided by the department of corrections under s. 301.03 (20) s. 301.03 (20m) as ineligible to vote on the date of the election, whose address is located in the area served by that polling place, and whose name does not appear on the poll list for that polling place. Prior to permitting an elector to register to vote under this subsection or s. 6.86 (3) (a) 2., the inspectors or special registration deputies shall review the list. If the name of an elector who wishes to register to vote appears on the list, the inspectors or special registration deputies shall inform the elector or the elector's agent that the elector is ineligible to register to vote. If the elector or the elector's agent maintains that the elector is eligible to vote in the election, the inspectors or special registration deputies shall permit the elector to register but shall mark the elector's registration form as "ineligible to vote per Department of Corrections." If the elector wishes to vote, the inspectors shall require the elector to vote by ballot and shall challenge the ballot as provided in s. 6.79 (2) (dm).

AB126, s. 72 Section 72. 6.55 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,41,21 6.55 (3) (b) Prior to permitting an elector to vote under this subsection, the inspectors shall review the list provided by the board division under sub. (2) (cs). If the name of the elector appears on the list, the inspectors shall inform the elector that he or she is ineligible to vote at the election. If the elector maintains that he or she is eligible to vote in the election, the inspectors shall permit the elector to vote, but shall require the elector to vote by ballot, and shall challenge the ballot as provided in s. 6.79 (2) (dm).

AB126, s. 73 Section 73. 6.56 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,42,13 6.56 (3) Upon receipt of the list under sub. (1), the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners shall make an audit of all electors registering to vote at the polling place or other registration location under s. 6.55 (2) and all electors registering by agent on election day under s. 6.86 (3) (a) 2. unless the clerk or board of election commissioners receives notice from the board division under sub. (7) that the board division will perform the audit. The audit shall be made by 1st class postcard. The postcard shall be marked in accordance with postal regulations to ensure that it will be returned to the clerk, board of election commissioners, or elections board division if the elector does not reside at the address given on the postcard. If any postcard is returned undelivered, or if the clerk, board of election commissioners, or elections board division is informed of a different address than the one specified by the elector which was apparently improper on the day of the election, the clerk, board of election commissioners, or elections board division shall change the status of the elector from eligible to ineligible on the registration list, mail the elector a notice of the change in status, and provide the name of the elector to the district attorney for the county where the polling place is located.

AB126, s. 74 Section 74. 6.56 (3m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,43,2 6.56 (3m) As soon as possible after all information relating to registrations after the close of registration for an election is entered on the registration list following the election under s. 6.33 (5) (a), the board division shall compare the list of new registrants whose names do not appear on the poll lists for the election because the names were added after the board division certified the poll lists for use at the election with the list containing the names transmitted to the board division by the department of corrections under s. 301.03 (20) s. 301.03 (20m) as of election day. If the board division finds that the name of any person whose name appears on the list transmitted under s. 301.03 (20) s. 301.03 (20m) has been added to the registration list, the board division shall enter on the list the information transmitted to the board division under s. 301.03 (20) s. 301.03 (20m) and shall notify the district attorney that the person appears to have voted illegally at the election.

AB126, s. 75 Section 75. 6.56 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,43,9 6.56 (7) The board division may elect to perform the duties of municipal clerks to conduct the audits required under subs. (3) and (4) for any election on behalf of all municipalities in the state. If the board division so elects, the board division shall, no later than the date of the election for which the audits will be performed, notify the municipal clerk of each municipality that the board division will perform the audits.

AB126, s. 76 Section 76. 6.57 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,43,14 6.57 Registration list for special elections. The municipal clerk of each municipality where a special election is held nonconcurrently with a regularly scheduled election shall obtain a copies of the current registration list from the board division for use in the special election.

AB126, s. 77 Section 77. 6.79 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,43,22 6.79 (1m) Separate poll lists. Two election officials at each election ward shall be in charge of and shall maintain 2 separate poll lists containing information relating to all persons voting. The municipal clerk may elect to maintain the information on the lists manually or electronically. If the lists are maintained electronically, the officials shall enter the information into an electronic data recording system that enables retrieval of printed copies of the lists at the polling place. The system employed is subject to the approval of the board division.

AB126, s. 78 Section 78. 6.86 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,44,6 6.86 (2) (a) An elector who is indefinitely confined because of age, physical illness or infirmity or is disabled for an indefinite period may by signing a statement to that effect require that an absentee ballot be sent to the elector automatically for every election. The application form and instructions shall be prescribed by the board division, and furnished upon request to any elector by each municipality. The envelope containing the absentee ballot shall be clearly marked as not forwardable. If any elector is no longer indefinitely confined, the elector shall so notify the municipal clerk.

AB126, s. 79 Section 79. 6.86 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,45,5 6.86 (2m) An elector other than an elector who is eligible to receive absentee ballots under sub. (2) may by written application filed with the municipal clerk of the municipality where the elector resides require that an absentee ballot be sent to the elector automatically for every election that is held within the same calendar year in which the application is filed. The application form and instructions shall be prescribed by the board division, and furnished upon request to any elector by each municipal clerk. The municipal clerk shall thereupon mail an absentee ballot to the elector for all elections that are held in the municipality during the same calendar year that the application is filed, except that the clerk shall not send an absentee ballot for an election if the elector's name appeared on the registration list in eligible status for a previous election following the date of the application but no longer appears on the list in eligible status. The municipal clerk shall ensure that the envelope containing the absentee ballot is clearly marked as not forwardable. If an elector who files an application under this subsection no longer resides at the same address that is indicated on the application form, the elector shall so notify the municipal clerk. The municipal clerk shall discontinue mailing absentee ballots to an elector under this subsection upon receipt of reliable information that the elector no longer qualifies for the service. The clerk shall notify the elector of any such action not taken at the elector's request within 5 days, if possible. If a municipal clerk is notified by an elector that the elector's residence is changed to another municipality within this state, the municipal clerk shall forward the request to the municipal clerk of that municipality and that municipal clerk shall honor the request, except as provided in this subsection.

AB126, s. 80 Section 80. 6.86 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,45,13 6.86 (3) (a) 1. Any elector who is registered and who 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 division 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.

AB126, s. 81 Section 81. 6.869 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,45,19 6.869 Uniform instructions. The board division shall prescribe uniform instructions for absentee voters. The instructions shall include information concerning the procedure for correcting errors in marking a ballot and obtaining a replacement for a spoiled ballot. The procedure shall, to the extent possible, respect the privacy of each elector and preserve the confidentiality of each elector's vote.

AB126, s. 82 Section 82. 6.87 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,46,15 6.87 (3) (d) A municipal clerk may, if the clerk is reliably informed by an absent elector of a facsimile transmission number or electronic mail address where the elector can receive an absentee ballot, transmit a facsimile or electronic copy of the absent elector's ballot to that elector in lieu of mailing under this subsection if, in the judgment of the clerk, the time required to send the ballot through the mail may not be sufficient to enable return of the ballot by the time provided under sub. (6). An elector may receive an absentee ballot under this subsection only if the elector has filed a valid application for the ballot under s. 6.86 (1). If the clerk transmits an absentee ballot under this paragraph, the clerk shall also transmit a facsimile or electronic copy of the text of the material that appears on the certificate envelope prescribed in sub. (2), together with instructions prescribed by the board division. The instructions shall require the absent elector to make and subscribe to the certification as required under sub. (4) and to enclose the absentee ballot in a separate envelope contained within a larger envelope, that shall include the completed certificate. The elector shall then affix sufficient postage unless the absentee ballot qualifies for mailing free of postage under federal free postage laws and shall mail the absentee ballot to the municipal clerk. Except as authorized in s. 6.97 (2), an absentee ballot received under this paragraph shall not be counted unless it is cast in the manner prescribed in this paragraph and in accordance with the instructions provided by the board division.

AB126, s. 83 Section 83. 6.875 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,47,3 6.875 (5) Prior to entering upon his or her duties, each individual appointed to serve as a deputy under this section shall file the oath required by s. 7.30 (5). In the oath, the individual shall swear that he or she is qualified to act as a deputy under this section, that he or she has read the statutes governing absentee voting, that he or she understands the proper absentee voting procedure, that he or she understands the penalties for noncompliance with the procedure under s. 12.13, that his or her sacred obligation will be to fully and fairly implement the absentee voting law and seek to have the intent of the electors ascertained. In addition, the oath shall state that the individual realizes that any error in conducting the voting procedure may result in invalidation of an elector's vote under s. 7.51 (2) (e) and that the individual realizes that absentee voting is a privilege and not a constitutional right. The form of the oath shall be prescribed by the board division.