AB249: Bill Text

LRB-2567/1

JTK:bjk:rs

2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE

2009 Assembly BILL 249

April 30, 2009 - Introduced by Representatives Young, Grigsby, A. Williams, Richards, Black, Roys, Jorgensen, Pasch, Mason, Pope-Roberts and Toles, cosponsored by Senators Coggs, Risser, Taylor and Hansen. Referred to Committee on Elections and Campaign Reform.

AB249,1,6 An Act to renumber 5.07; to amend 5.05 (1) (f), 5.06 (2), 5.25 (4) (b), 12.09 (1) and (3), 12.60 (1) (a), 939.50 (3) (d) and 939.50 (3) (e); and to create 5.07 (2), 5.34, 5.35 (6) (a) 4c., 7.08 (3) (d) to (g), 7.08 (11), 12.17, 12.19, 12.60 (1) (am), 12.60 (1) (an), 12.60 (1) (ap) and 12.60 (1) (bn) of the statutes; relating to: deceptive election practices; voter intimidation, suppression, and protection; granting rule-making authority; and providing penalties.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill makes various changes in the laws relating to elections and voting.

Deceptive election practices

Currently, the statutes provide that no person may knowingly make or publish, or cause to be made or published, a false representation pertaining to a candidate or referendum that is intended to affect voting at an election. Violators may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

This bill prohibits any person, whether acting in an official capacity or otherwise, from intentionally deceiving any other person regarding the date, time, place, or manner of conducting an election; the qualifications for voting or restrictions on the eligibility of electors to vote in an election; or the endorsement of candidates by specified persons. Any person who violates the prohibition with intent to prevent any person from exercising the right to vote in an election may be fined not more than $100,000 or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both.

The bill permits any person who is aggrieved by an alleged violation to obtain a court order restraining the violation. The bill also permits any person to file a sworn complaint with the Government Accountability Board alleging that a violation has occurred or is occurring. If the board finds that the facts alleged in the complaint, if true, would constitute a violation, it must promptly investigate the complaint. If the board finds that a violation has occurred or is occurring, the board must take all measures necessary to provide correct information to electors who may have been deceived by the actions of the alleged violator and must refer the matter to the appropriate authority for prosecution.

The bill also directs the Government Accountability Board to promulgate rules concerning corrective measures that may be appropriate whenever violations occur. In addition, the bill directs the board to report biennially to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature with regard to violations and actions taken in response to violations.

Voter intimidation, suppression, and protection

Currently, no person may make use of or threaten to make use of force, violence, or restraint in order to compel any person to vote or refrain from voting at an election, and no person may, by any act compel, induce, or prevail upon an elector to either vote or refrain from voting at any election for or against a particular candidate or question. Violators may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than three years and six months, or both.

This bill provides that no person may make use of or threaten to make use of force, violence, restraint, or any tactic of coercion or intimidation in order to induce or compel any person to vote or refrain from voting or to refrain from registering to vote at an election, and no person may use or threaten to use force or violence or by use of any threat of any act of coercion or intimidation compel, induce, or prevail upon an elector either to vote or refrain from voting at any election for or against a candidate or question. Violators may be fined not more than $100,000 or imprisoned for not more than three years, or both.

The bill also provides that no person may knowingly attempt to prevent or deter another person from voting or registering to vote based upon fraudulent, deceptive, or spurious grounds or information. Violators may be fined not more than $50,000 or imprisoned for not more than two years, or both.

Currently, municipal clerks and boards of election commissioners are directed by law to post specified materials at each polling place. The Government Accountability Board is directed to publish a manual that may be easily understood by the general public explaining the duties of election officials. Currently, the board is also directed to ensure that in any jurisdiction in this state that is required under federal law to provide voting materials in a language other than English, the voting system used in that jurisdiction is in compliance with federal law. There is no specific penalty for violations, but the requirements are enforceable administratively and through the court system.

This bill creates a voter's bill of rights and directs municipal clerks and boards of election commissioners to post a copy of the bill of rights at each polling place. The bill also directs the Government Accountability Board to include a number of specific items in its manual. In addition, the bill requires that at each polling place located in a jurisdiction that is required under federal law to provide voting materials in a language other than English, at least one of the election officials who serves at that polling place must speak that language and all required postings must be made in that language as well as in English. Violators may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.

The bill also permits any elector of this state to sue for injunctive relief, a court order requiring or prohibiting certain action, or any other appropriate relief, to compel compliance with the bill's prohibitions and requirements relating to voter intimidation, suppression, and protection. Currently, an elector may be required to pursue administrative relief before filing suit, and in some cases must petition a district attorney or the attorney general to file suit on his or her behalf.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to result if the bill is enacted.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

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

AB249, s. 1 Section 1. 5.05 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB249,3,7 5.05 (1) (f) Promulgate rules under ch. 227 applicable to all jurisdictions for the purpose of interpreting or implementing the laws regulating the conduct of elections or election campaigns or ensuring their proper administration, and shall promulgate rules to enforce ss. 5.25 (4) (b), 5.34, 5.35 (6) (a) 4c., 12.09, and 12.19 and rules concerning the methods and means of providing corrective information to electors under s. 12.17 (5).

AB249, s. 2 Section 2. 5.06 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB249,4,5 5.06 (2) No Except as authorized in ss. 5.07 (2) and 12.17 (3), no person who is authorized to file a complaint under sub. (1), other than the attorney general or a district attorney, may commence an action or proceeding to test the validity of any decision, action or failure to act on the part of any election official with respect to any matter specified in sub. (1) without first filing a complaint under sub. (1), nor prior to disposition of the complaint by the board. A complaint is deemed disposed of if the board fails to transmit an acknowledgment of receipt of the complaint within 5 business days from the date of its receipt or if the board concludes its investigation without a formal decision.

AB249, s. 3 Section 3. 5.07 of the statutes is renumbered 5.07 (1).

AB249, s. 4 Section 4. 5.07 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

AB249,4,14 5.07 (2) Whenever a violation of s. 5.25 (4) (b), 5.34, 5.35 (6) (a) 4c., 7.08 (3), 12.09, or 12.19 occurs or is proposed to occur, any elector of this state may sue for injunctive relief, a writ of mandamus or prohibition, or such other legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate to compel compliance with the law. The action shall be filed in circuit court for the county where the violation occurs or is proposed to occur. In such actions, the court shall award costs and reasonable actual attorney fees to the plaintiff if the plaintiff prevails in the action.

AB249, s. 5 Section 5. 5.25 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB249,4,21 5.25 (4) (b) In any jurisdiction that is subject to the requirement under 42 USC 1973aa-1a to provide voting materials in any language other than English, the board shall ensure that at least one of the election officials who serves at each polling place in that jurisdiction speaks that language, the materials specified in s. 5.35 (6) are posted in that language, and the voting system used at each polling place in that jurisdiction is in compliance with 42 USC 1973aa-1a.

AB249, s. 6 Section 6. 5.34 of the statutes is created to read:

AB249,4,23 5.34 Voter's bill of rights. Every qualified elector has the right to:

AB249,4,24 (1) Inspect a sample ballot before voting.

AB249,4,25 (2) Cast a ballot if he or she is in line when his or her polling place closes.

AB249,5,3 (3) Ask for and receive assistance in voting, including assistance in a language other than English if the elector resides in a jurisdiction where voting materials must be provided in that language under 42 USC 1073aa-1a.

AB249,5,5 (4) Receive a replacement ballot, up to 3 ballots in all, if he or she spoils a ballot before casting that ballot.

AB249,5,6 (5) Cast a provisional ballot whenever permitted under s. 6.96 or 6.97.

AB249,5,8 (6) Vote free from coercion or intimidation by any election official or other person.

AB249,5,10 (7) Cast a ballot using voting materials or equipment that enables the elector's ballot to be counted accurately.

AB249, s. 7 Section 7. 5.35 (6) (a) 4c. of the statutes is created to read:

AB249,5,12 5.35 (6) (a) 4c. A copy of the voter's bill of rights under s. 5.34.

AB249, s. 8 Section 8. 7.08 (3) (d) to (g) of the statutes are created to read:

AB249,5,14 7.08 (3) (d) Be written in clear, unambiguous language.

AB249,5,15 (e) Be indexed by subject.

AB249,5,17 (f) Contain specific examples of common problems encountered at polling places on election day and detailed, specific procedures for resolving those problems.

AB249,5,18 (g) Include an explanation of all of the following: