AB161: Bill Text

AB161, s. 21 Section 21. 6.24 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,14,9 6.24 (4) (c) Upon receipt of a timely application from an individual who qualifies as an overseas elector and who has registered to vote in a municipality under sub. (3), the municipal clerk of the municipality shall send an absentee ballot to the individual for all subsequent elections for national office to be held during the year in which the ballot is requested, except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, unless the individual otherwise requests or until the individual no longer qualifies as an overseas elector. of the municipality. The clerk shall not send an absentee ballot for an election if the overseas 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 overseas 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.

AB161, s. 22 Section 22. 6.24 (4) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

AB161,14,16 6.24 (4) (e) An overseas elector may file an application for an absentee ballot by means of electronic mail or facsimile transmission in the manner prescribed in s. 6.86 (1) (ac). Upon receipt of a valid application, the municipal clerk shall send the elector an absentee ballot or, if the elector so requests, shall transmit an absentee ballot to the elector by means of electronic mail or facsimile transmission in the manner prescribed in s. 6.87 (3) (d).

AB161, s. 23 Section 23. 6.25 (1) of the statutes is is renumbered 6.25 (1) (a) and amended to read:

AB161,15,3 6.25 (1) (a) Any individual who qualifies as a military elector under s. 6.22 (1) (b) or an overseas elector under s. 6.24 (1) and who transmits an application for an official absentee ballot for a general election any election, including a primary election, no later than 30 days before election day the latest time specified for the elector in s. 6.86 (1) (b) may, in lieu of the official ballot, cast a federal write-in absentee ballot prescribed under 42 USC 1973ff-2 for any candidate for an office listed on the official ballot or for all of the candidates of any recognized political party for national office the offices listed on the official ballot at the general that election if the federal write-in absentee ballot is received by the appropriate municipal clerk no later than the applicable time prescribed in s. 6.221 (3) or 6.87 (6).

AB161, s. 24 Section 24. 6.25 (1) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB161,15,13 6.25 (1) (b) Any individual who qualifies as an overseas elector under s. 6.24 (1) and who transmits an application for an official absentee ballot for an election for national office, including a primary election, no later than the latest time specified for an elector in s. 6.86 (1) (b) may, in lieu of the official ballot, cast a federal write-in absentee ballot prescribed under 42 USC 1973ff-2 for any candidate or for all candidates of any recognized political party for national office listed on the official ballot at that election, if the federal write-in absentee ballot is received by the appropriate municipal clerk no later than the applicable time prescribed in s. 6.221 (3) or 6.87 (6).

AB161, s. 25 Section 25. 6.25 (4) (intro.), (a) and (b) of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 6.25 (4) and amended to read:

AB161,15,20 6.25 (4) A write-in absentee ballot issued under sub. (1), (2) or (3) is valid only if all of the following apply: (a) The ballot is submitted from a location outside the United States. (b) The the elector submitting the ballot does not submit an official ballot within the time prescribed in s. 6.87 (6) and, if the elector is an overseas elector, the elector resides outside the United States.

AB161, s. 26 Section 26. 6.36 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,16,12 6.36 (1) (a) The board 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, 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) s. 6.34 (1), 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 by the department of corrections under 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 to facilitate administration of elector registration requirements.

AB161, s. 27 Section 27. 6.50 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,17,6 6.50 (8) Any municipal governing body may direct the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners to arrange with the U.S. postal service pursuant to applicable federal regulations, to receive change of address information with respect to individuals residing within the municipality for revision of the elector registration list. If required by the U.S. postal service, the governing body may create a registration commission consisting of the municipal clerk or executive director of the board of election commissioners and 2 other electors of the municipality appointed by the clerk or executive director for the purpose of making application for address changes and processing the information received. The municipal clerk or executive director shall act as chairperson of the commission. Any authorization under this subsection shall be for a definite period or until the municipal governing body otherwise determines. The procedure shall apply uniformly to the entire municipality whenever used. The procedure shall provide for receipt of complete change of address information on an automatic basis, or not less often than once every 2 years during the 60 days preceding the close of registration for the September partisan primary. If a municipality adopts the procedure for obtaining address corrections under this subsection, it need not comply with the procedure for mailing address verification cards under subs. (1) and (2).

AB161, s. 28 Section 28. 6.86 (1) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,17,11 6.86 (1) (a) (intro.) Any elector of a municipality who is registered to vote whenever required and who qualifies under ss. 6.20 and 6.85 as an absent elector may make written application to the municipal clerk of that municipality for an official ballot by one of the following methods:

AB161, s. 29 Section 29. 6.86 (1) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,17,14 6.86 (1) (a) 3. By signing a statement and filing a request to receive absentee ballots under sub. (2) or (2m) (a) or s. 6.22 (4) or 6.24 (4).

AB161, s. 30 Section 30. 6.86 (1) (ac) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,17,21 6.86 (1) (ac) Any elector qualifying under par. (a) may make written application to the municipal clerk for an official ballot by means of facsimile transmission or electronic mail. Any application under this paragraph shall need not contain a copy of the applicant's original signature. An elector requesting a ballot under this paragraph shall return with the voted ballot a copy of the request bearing an original signature of the elector as provided in s. 6.87 (4).

AB161, s. 31 Section 31. 6.86 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,18,18 6.86 (1) (b) Except as provided in this section, if application is made by mail, the application, signed by the elector, shall be received no later than 5 p.m. on the 5th day immediately preceding the election. If application is made in person, the application shall be made no later than 5 p.m. on the day preceding the election. If Except as provided in par. (c), if the elector is making written application for an absentee ballot at the September partisan primary or, the general election, the presidential preference primary, or a special election for national office, and the application indicates that the elector is a military elector, as defined in s. 6.36 (2) (c), the application shall be received by the municipal clerk no later than 5 p.m. on election day. If the application indicates that the reason for requesting an absentee ballot is that the elector is a sequestered juror, the application shall be received no later than 5 p.m. on election day. If the application is received after 5 p.m. on the Friday immediately preceding the election, the municipal clerk or the clerk's agent shall immediately take the ballot to the court in which the elector is serving as a juror and deposit it with the judge. The judge shall recess court, as soon as convenient, and give the elector the ballot. The judge shall then witness the voting procedure as provided in s. 6.87 and shall deliver the ballot to the clerk or agent of the clerk who shall deliver it to the polling place or, in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, to the municipal clerk as required in s. 6.88. If application is made under sub. (2) or (2m), the application may be received no later than 5 p.m. on the Friday immediately preceding the election.

AB161, s. 32 Section 32 . 6.86 (1) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB161,19,16 6.86 (1) (b) Except as provided in this section, if application is made by mail, the application shall be received no later than 5 p.m. on the 5th day immediately preceding the election. If application is made in person, the application shall be made no later than 5 p.m. on the day preceding the election. Except as provided in par. (c), if the elector is making written application for an absentee ballot at the partisan primary, the general election, the presidential preference primary, or a special election for national office, and the application indicates that the elector is a military elector, as defined in s. 6.36 (2) (c) 6.34 (1), the application shall be received by the municipal clerk no later than 5 p.m. on election day. If the application indicates that the reason for requesting an absentee ballot is that the elector is a sequestered juror, the application shall be received no later than 5 p.m. on election day. If the application is received after 5 p.m. on the Friday immediately preceding the election, the municipal clerk or the clerk's agent shall immediately take the ballot to the court in which the elector is serving as a juror and deposit it with the judge. The judge shall recess court, as soon as convenient, and give the elector the ballot. The judge shall then witness the voting procedure as provided in s. 6.87 and shall deliver the ballot to the clerk or agent of the clerk who shall deliver it to the polling place or, in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, to the municipal clerk as required in s. 6.88. If application is made under sub. (2) or (2m), the application may be received no later than 5 p.m. on the Friday immediately preceding the election.

AB161, s. 33 Section 33. 6.86 (2m) of the statutes is renumbered 6.86 (2m) (a) and amended to read:

AB161,20,20 6.86 (2m) (a) An Except as provided in this subsection, any elector other than an elector who is eligible to receive absentee ballots under sub. (2) receives an absentee ballot under s. 6.22 (4) or 6.24 (4) (c) 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, 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 as an elector of the municipality. In addition, the municipal clerk shall discontinue mailing absentee ballots to an elector under this subsection if the elector fails to return any absentee ballot mailed to the elector. The municipal clerk shall notify the elector of any such action not taken at the elector's request within 5 days, if possible. An elector who fails to cast an absentee ballot but who remains qualified to receive absentee ballots under this subsection may then receive absentee ballots for subsequent elections by notifying the municipal clerk that the elector wishes to continue receiving absentee ballots for subsequent elections.

AB161,20,24 (b) 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.

AB161, s. 34 Section 34. 6.865 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,21,1 6.865 (title) Federal absentee ballot requests ballots.

AB161, s. 35 Section 35. 6.865 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

AB161, s. 36 Section 36. 6.865 (3m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,21,16 6.865 (3m) (a) Except as provided in par. (c), if any elector who certifies If an individual who will be a military elector on election day applies for an absentee ballot, the individual may certify that he or she will be a military elector on election day requests an absentee ballot, the municipal clerk shall send or transmit to the elector an absentee ballot for all elections that occur in the municipality or portion thereof where the elector resides beginning on the date that the clerk receives the request and ending on the day after the 3rd successive general election that follows receipt of the request, unless the elector otherwise requests. In addition, the municipal clerk shall continue to send or transmit to the elector an absentee ballot for all elections ending on the day after the 3rd successive general election that follows any election at which the elector returns an absentee ballot under this section or renews his or her request under par. (c) and the municipal clerk shall treat the ballot as provided under s. 6.221.

AB161, s. 37 Section 37. 6.865 (3m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,21,23 6.865 (3m) (b) A military elector may indicate an alternate address on his or her absentee ballot application. If the elector's ballot is returned as undeliverable prior to the deadline for receipt and return of absentee ballots under sub. (3) s. 6.87 (6) and the elector remains eligible to receive absentee ballots under this subsection, the municipal clerk shall immediately send or transmit an absentee ballot to the elector at the alternate address.

AB161, s. 38 Section 38. 6.865 (3m) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

AB161, s. 39 Section 39. 6.869 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,22,9 6.869 Uniform instructions. The board shall prescribe uniform instructions for municipalities to provide to absentee voters. electors. The instructions shall include the specific means of electronic communication that an absentee elector may use to file an application for an absentee ballot and, if the absentee elector is required to register, to request a registration form or change his or her registration. The instructions also 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.

AB161, s. 40 Section 40. 6.87 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,23,6 6.87 (3) (d) A municipal clerk may shall, 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 to an absent elector electronically, 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. 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 from an elector who receives the ballot electronically shall not be counted unless it is cast in the manner prescribed in this paragraph and sub. (4) and in accordance with the instructions provided by the board.

AB161, s. 41 Section 41. 6.87 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,23,14 6.87 (6) Except as provided in s. 6.221 (3), the ballot shall be returned so it is received by the municipal clerk no later than 8 p.m. on election day. Except in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, if the municipal clerk receives an absentee ballot on election day, the clerk shall secure the ballot and cause the ballot to be delivered to the polling place serving the elector's residence before the closing hour. Except as provided in s. 6.221 (3), the any ballot not mailed or delivered as provided in this subsection may not be counted.

AB161, s. 42 Section 42. 7.08 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,23,20 7.08 (2) (b) The certified list of candidates for president and vice president nominated at a national convention by a party entitled to a September partisan primary ballot or for whom electors have been nominated under s. 8.20 shall be sent as soon as possible after the closing date for filing nomination papers, but no later than the deadlines established in s. 10.06.

AB161, s. 43 Section 43. 7.08 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,24,4 7.08 (2) (c) As soon as possible after the canvass of the spring and September partisan primary votes, but no later than the first Tuesday in March and the 4th Tuesday in September August, transmit to the state treasurer a certified list of all eligible candidates for state office who have filed applications under s. 11.50 (2) and whom the board determines to be eligible to receive payments from the Wisconsin election campaign fund. The list shall contain each candidate's name, the mailing address indicated upon the candidate's registration form, the office for which the individual is a candidate and the party or principle which he or she represents, if any.

AB161, s. 44 Section 44. 7.10 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,24,13 7.10 (3) (a) The county clerk shall distribute the ballots to the municipal clerks no later than 31 days before each September partisan primary and general election and no later than 22 days before each other primary and election. Election forms prepared by the board shall be distributed at the same time. If the board transmits an amended certification under s. 7.08 (2) (a) or if the board or a court orders a ballot error to be corrected under s. 5.06 (6) or 5.72 (3) after ballots have been distributed, the county clerk shall distribute corrected ballots to the municipal clerks as soon as possible.

AB161, s. 45 Section 45. 7.15 (1) (cm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,24,20 7.15 (1) (cm) Prepare official absentee ballots for delivery to electors requesting them, and send an official absentee ballot to each elector who has requested one no later than the 30th day before each September partisan primary and general election and no later than the 21st day before each other primary and election if the request is made before that day; otherwise, the municipal clerk shall send an official absentee ballot within one day of the time the elector's request is received.

AB161, s. 46 Section 46. 7.15 (1) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,24,24 7.15 (1) (j) Send an absentee ballot automatically to each person making an authorized request therefor in accordance with s. 6.22 (4), 6.24 (4) (c), or 6.86 (2) or (2m).

AB161, s. 47 Section 47. 7.60 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,25,19 7.60 (5) (a) Immediately following the canvass, the county clerk shall deliver or send to the government accountability board, by 1st class mail, a certified copy of each statement of the county board of canvassers for president and vice president, state officials, senators and representatives in congress, state legislators, justice, court of appeals judge, circuit judge, district attorney, and metropolitan sewerage commissioners, if the commissioners are elected under s. 200.09 (11) (am). The statement shall record the returns for each office or referendum by ward, unless combined returns are authorized under s. 5.15 (6) (b) in which case the statement shall record the returns for each group of combined wards. Following primaries the county clerk shall enclose on forms prescribed by the government accountability board the names, party or principle designation, if any, and number of votes received by each candidate recorded in the same manner. The county clerk shall deliver or transmit the certified statement to the government accountability board no later than 7 days after each primary except the September partisan primary, no later than 10 days after the September partisan primary and any other election except the general election, and no later than 14 days after the general election. The board of canvassers shall deliver or transmit a certified copy of each statement for any technical college district referendum to the secretary of the technical college district board.

AB161, s. 48 Section 48. 7.70 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,26,2 7.70 (3) (a) The chairperson of the board or a designee of the chairperson appointed by the chairperson to canvass a specific election shall publicly canvass the returns and make his or her certifications and determinations on or before the 2nd Tuesday following a spring primary, the 15th day of May following a spring election, the 3rd Wednesday following a September partisan primary, the first day of December following a general election, the 2nd Thursday following a special primary, or within 18 days after any special election.

AB161, s. 49 Section 49. 7.70 (3) (e) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,26,9 7.70 (3) (e) 1. After each September partisan primary, the name of each candidate not defeated in the primary who receives at least 6% of the total vote cast for all candidates on all ballots at the primary for each separate state office except district attorney, and the percentage of the total vote received by that candidate. Such percentage shall be calculated within each district in the case of legislative candidates.

AB161, s. 50 Section 50. 8.10 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,26,15 8.10 (1) Candidates for office to be filled at the spring election shall be nominated by nomination papers, or by nomination papers and selection at the primary if a primary is held, except as provided for towns and villages under s. 8.05. Unless designated in this section or s. 8.05, the general provisions pertaining to nomination at the September partisan primary apply.

AB161, s. 51 Section 51. 8.15 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,26,17 8.15 (title) Nominations for September partisan primary.

AB161, s. 52 Section 52. 8.15 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,27,10 8.15 (1) Nomination papers may be circulated no sooner than June May 1 preceding the general election and may be filed no later than 5 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of July June preceding the September partisan primary, except as authorized in this subsection. If an incumbent fails to file nomination papers and a declaration of candidacy by 5 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of July June preceding the September partisan primary, all candidates for the office held by the incumbent, other than the incumbent, may file nomination papers no later than 72 hours after the latest time prescribed in this subsection. No extension of the time for filing nomination papers applies if the incumbent files written notification with the filing officer or agency with whom nomination papers are filed for the office which the incumbent holds, no later than 5 p.m. on the 2nd Friday preceding the latest time prescribed in this subsection for filing nomination papers, that the incumbent is not a candidate for reelection to his or her office, and the incumbent does not file nomination papers for that office within the time prescribed in this subsection. Only those candidates for whom nomination papers containing the necessary signatures acquired within the allotted time and filed before the deadline may have their names appear on the official September partisan primary ballot.

AB161, s. 53 Section 53. 8.16 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,27,18 8.16 (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), the person who receives the greatest number of votes for an office on a party ballot at any partisan primary, regardless of whether the person's name appears on the ballot, shall be the party's candidate for the office, and the person's name shall so appear on the official ballot at the next election. All independent candidates shall appear on the general election ballot regardless of the number of votes received by such candidates at the September partisan primary.

AB161, s. 54 Section 54. 8.16 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,28,2 8.16 (7) Nominees chosen at a national convention and under s. 8.18 (2) by each party entitled to a September partisan primary ballot shall be the party's candidates for president, vice president and presidential electors. The state or national chairperson of each such party shall certify the names of the party's nominees for president and vice president to the board no later than 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday in September partisan preceding a presidential election. Each name shall be in one of the formats authorized in s. 7.08 (2) (a).

AB161, s. 55 Section 55. 8.17 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,28,16 8.17 (1) (b) Each political party shall elect one committeeman or committeewoman from each election district. In this section, each village, each town and each city is an "election district"; except that in cities having a population of more than 7,500 which are divided into aldermanic districts, each aldermanic district is an "election district"; and in cities having a population of more than 7,500 which are not divided into aldermanic districts and villages or towns having a population of more than 7,500, each ward or group of combined wards under s. 5.15 (6) (b) constituting a polling place on June May 1 of the year in which committeemen or committeewomen are elected is an "election district". To be eligible to serve as its committeeman or committeewoman, an individual shall be, at the time of filing nomination papers or at the time of appointment under this section, a resident of the election district which he or she is chosen to represent and shall be at least 18 years of age.

AB161, s. 56 Section 56. 8.17 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,28,20 8.17 (4) The term of office of each committeeman or committeewoman shall end on the date of the meeting held under sub. (5) (b) following each September partisan primary.

AB161, s. 57 Section 57. 8.17 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,29,12 8.17 (5) (b) A combined meeting of the county committee and members in good standing of the party in the county shall be held no sooner than 15 days after the September partisan primary and no later than April 1 of the following year. At this meeting, the party committeemen or committeewomen and the county committee offices of chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary and treasurer shall be filled by election by the incumbent committeemen, committeewomen and other party members present and voting, each of whom is entitled to one vote. At this meeting, the county committee shall elect the members of the congressional district committee as provided in sub. (6) (b), (c) and (d). The secretary of the county committee shall give at least 7 days' written notice of the meeting to party and committee members. Individuals elected as county committee officers or as congressional district committee members may be, but are not required to be, committeemen or committeewomen. They are required to be party members in good standing. The terms of committeemen and committeewomen, county committee officers and congressional district committee members begin during the meeting immediately upon completion and verification of the voting for each office.

AB161, s. 58 Section 58. 8.19 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,29,20 8.19 (3) Every political party entitled, under s. 5.62, to have its candidates on the September partisan primary and general election ballots has exclusive right to the use of the name designating it at any election involving political parties. The board shall not certify nor the county clerk print the name of any person whose nomination papers indicate a party name comprising a combination of existing party names, qualifying words, phrases, prefixes or suffixes in connection with any existing party name.

AB161, s. 59 Section 59. 8.20 (8) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,30,12 8.20 (8) (a) Nomination papers for independent candidates for any office to be voted upon at a general election or September partisan primary and general election, except president, vice president and presidential elector, may be circulated no sooner than June May 1 preceding the election and may be filed no later than 5 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of July June preceding the September partisan primary, except as authorized in this paragraph. If an incumbent fails to file nomination papers and a declaration of candidacy by 5 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of July June preceding the September partisan primary, all candidates for the office held by the incumbent, other than the incumbent, may file nomination papers no later than 72 hours after the latest time prescribed in this paragraph. No extension of the time for filing nomination papers applies if the incumbent files written notification with the filing officer or agency with whom nomination papers are filed for the office which the incumbent holds, no later than 5 p.m. on the 2nd Friday preceding the latest time prescribed in this paragraph for filing nomination papers, that the incumbent is not a candidate for reelection to his or her office, and the incumbent does not file nomination papers for that office within the time prescribed in this paragraph.

AB161, s. 60 Section 60. 8.20 (8) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,30,17 8.20 (8) (am) Nomination papers for independent candidates for president and vice president, and the presidential electors designated to represent them, may be circulated no sooner than August July 1 and may be filed not later than 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday in September August preceding a presidential election.

AB161, s. 61 Section 61. 8.20 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,31,3 8.20 (9) Persons nominated by nomination papers without a recognized political party designation shall be placed on the official ballot at the general election and at any partisan election to the right or below the recognized political party candidates in their own column or row designated "Independent". At the September partisan primary, persons nominated for state office by nomination papers without a recognized political party designation shall be placed on a separate ballot or, if a consolidated paper ballot under s. 5.655 (2), an electronic voting system or voting machines are used, in a column or row designated "Independent". If the candidate's name already appears under a recognized political party it may not be listed on the independent ballot, column or row.

AB161, s. 62 Section 62. 8.50 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,31,19 8.50 Special elections. (intro.) Unless otherwise provided, this section applies to filling vacancies in the U.S. senate and house of representatives, executive state offices except the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, and district attorney, judicial and legislative state offices, county, city, village, and town offices, and the offices of municipal judge and member of the board of school directors in school districts organized under ch. 119. State legislative offices may be filled in anticipation of the occurrence of a vacancy whenever authorized in sub. (4) (e). No special election may be held after February 1 preceding the spring election unless it is held on the same day as the spring election, nor after September August 1 preceding the general election unless it is held on the same day as the general election, until the day after that election. If the special election is held on the day of the general election, the primary for the special election, if any, shall be held on the day of the September partisan primary. If the special election is held on the day of the spring election, the primary for the special election, if any, shall be held on the day of the spring primary.

AB161, s. 63 Section 63. 8.50 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,32,2 8.50 (2) Date of special election. (a) The date for the special election shall be not less than 62 nor more than 77 days from the date of the order except when the special election is held on the day of the general election or spring election. If a special election is held concurrently with the spring or general election, the special election may be ordered not earlier than 92 days prior to the spring primary or September partisan primary, respectively, and not later than 49 days prior to that primary.

AB161,32,10 (b) If a primary is required, the primary shall be on the day 4 weeks before the day of the special election except when the special election is held on the same day as the general election the special primary shall be held on the same day as the September partisan primary or if the special election is held concurrently with the spring election, the primary shall be held concurrently with the spring primary, and except when the special election is held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of an odd-numbered year, the primary shall be held on the 2nd Tuesday of September August in that year.

AB161, s. 64 Section 64. 8.50 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB161,33,2 8.50 (3) (a) Nomination papers may be circulated no sooner than the day the order for the special election is filed and shall be filed not later than 5 p.m. 28 days before the day that the special primary will or would be held, if required, except when a special election is held concurrently with the spring election or general election, the deadline for filing nomination papers shall be specified in the order and the date shall be no earlier than the date provided in s. 8.10 (2) (a) or 8.15 (1), respectively, and no later than 35 days prior to the date of the spring or September partisan primary. Nomination papers may be filed in the manner specified in s. 8.10, 8.15, or 8.20. Each candidate shall file a declaration of candidacy in the manner provided in s. 8.21 no later than the latest time provided in the order for filing nomination papers. If a candidate for state or local office has not filed a registration statement under s. 11.05 at the time he or she files nomination papers, the candidate shall file the statement with the papers. A candidate for state office shall also file a statement of economic interests with the board no later than the end of the 3rd day following the last day for filing nomination papers specified in the order.

AB161, s. 65 Section 65. 8.50 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read: