Currently, with limited exceptions, every municipality with a population of
7,500 or more must use voting machines or an electronic voting system at all
primaries and other elections held in the municipality. Either mechanical or
electronic voting machines may be used. No electronic voting system, including an
electronic voting machine, may be used unless the system meets statutory standards
and is approved by the Government Accountability Board for use at elections held
in this state. All voting machines must be tested before each election to determine
if they are functioning properly. If voting machines are used, ballots need not be
printed and distributed to electors, but if electronic voting machines are used, the
machines must maintain a cumulative tally of votes cast that is retrievable in the
event of a power outage, evacuation, or malfunction so that the record of the votes
cast prior to the time that the problem occurs is preserved. This bill discontinues the
authorization for municipalities to use mechanical or electronic voting machines at
elections held in this state. Under the bill, if an electronic voting system is used, the
system must be of a type in which printed ballots are distributed to electors.
Recounts of machine-readable ballots
Currently, with a limited exception, a board of canvassers must use automatic
tabulating equipment to conduct a recount of ballots that are in machine-readable
form. However, a candidate, or an elector if the recount is for a referendum question,
may petition the circuit court for an order requiring ballots in machine-readable
form to be recounted by hand or by another method approved by the court. To obtain
such an order, the candidate or elector must show by clear and convincing evidence
that due to an irregularity or mistake committed during the voting or canvassing
process the results of a recount using automatic tabulating equipment will produce
incorrect results and there is a substantial probability that recounting the ballots by
hand or by another method will produce a more correct result and change the

outcome of the election. This bill provides instead that the elector who petitions for
a recount, a candidate at the election, or an elector who voted in a referendum that
is the subject of a recount may file a written demand for the board of canvassers to
recount the ballots in an election, or the ballots from a specified ward or polling place,
by hand, in which case the board of canvassers must recount those ballots by hand.
Petitions for recounts
Currently, any candidate voted for at an election may petition for a recount of
the votes cast at the election. If the difference between the votes cast for the leading
candidate and the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes is less than
ten if 1,000 or less votes are cast or not more than 0.5 percent if more than 1,000 votes
are cast, the cost of the recount is paid by the local government or governments where
the votes are cast. If the difference in the numbers of votes cast exceeds that level,
the petitioner must may a fee that depends upon the difference in the numbers of
votes cast. This bill permits any elector who voted in an election for an office to
petition for a recount of the votes cast at the election. Under the bill, the petitioner
must pay a fee equal to the actual cost of performing the recount.
Destruction of ballots after an election
Currently, ballots at an election may be destroyed no earlier than 30 days after
the election except that: 1) ballots at a federal election must be retained until 22
months after that election; 2) if a recount or appeal of a recount is pending or if the
time for petitioning for a recount or review of a recount determination has not
expired on the 30th day after an election, ballots must be retained until the recount
or appeal is finally adjudicated; and 3) a court may order the retention of ballots for
a longer period. This bill provides that ballots at an election must be retained until
14 days before the next regularly scheduled election but in no case earlier than 30
days after an election.
Inspection of areas where voted ballots are stored
This bill permits any individual, with reasonable prior notice to a municipal
clerk or board of election commissioners, to inspect an area in which ballots relating
to an election are stored after the election. The bill does not permit an individual to
inspect ballots or to require the breaking of seals on ballot bags or containers.
For further information see the local 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:
AB746, s. 1 1Section 1. 5.02 (1c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,4,3
15.02 (1c) "Automatic tabulating equipment" means apparatus which
2automatically examines and counts votes recorded on ballots or voting machines and
3tabulates the results.
AB746, s. 2 4Section 2. 5.02 (1e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,4,85 5.02 (1e) "Ballot" means a ballot label, sheet of paper or envelope on which
6votes are recorded. The term also includes a sheet or card, filmstrip or other device
7listing or containing information relative to offices, candidates and referenda which
8is placed, projected or composed on the board or screen inside a voting machine.
AB746, s. 3 9Section 3. 5.02 (4m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,4,1310 5.02 (4m) "Electronic voting system" means a system in which votes are
11recorded on ballots, and the votes are subsequently counted and tabulated by
12automatic tabulating equipment. The term also includes a voting machine on which
13votes are recorded and tabulated by electronic means.
AB746, s. 4 14Section 4. 5.02 (24g) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,4,1615 5.02 (24g) "Voting device" means an apparatus other than a voting machine
16which the elector uses to record his or her votes on a ballot.
AB746, s. 5 17Section 5. 5.02 (24r) of the statutes is repealed.
AB746, s. 6 18Section 6. 5.05 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,5,219 5.05 (1) (e) Delegate to its legal counsel the authority to intervene in a civil
20action or proceeding under sub. (9), issue an order under s. 5.06, exempt a polling
21place from accessibility requirements under s. 5.25 (4) (a), exempt a municipality
22from the requirement to use voting machines or an electronic voting system under
23s. 5.40 (5m), approve an electronic data recording system for maintaining poll lists
24under s. 6.79, or authorize nonappointment of an individual who is nominated to

1serve as an election official under s. 7.30 (4) (e), subject to such limitations as the
2board deems appropriate.
AB746, s. 7 3Section 7. 5.05 (14) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,5,74 5.05 (14) Information from county and municipal clerks. The board may
5request information from county and municipal clerks relating to election
6administration, performance of electronic voting systems and voting machines, and
7use of paper ballots in elections.
AB746, s. 8 8Section 8. 5.15 (6) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 75, is
9amended to read:
AB746,5,2510 5.15 (6) (b) No later than 30 days before each election, the governing body of
11any municipality may by resolution combine 2 or more wards for voting purposes to
12facilitate using a common polling place. Whenever wards are so combined, the
13original ward numbers shall continue to be utilized for all official purposes. Except
14as otherwise authorized under this paragraph, every municipality having a
15population of 35,000 or more shall maintain separate returns for each ward so
16combined. In municipalities having a population of less than 35,000, the governing
17body may provide in the resolution that returns shall be maintained only for each
18group of combined wards at any election. Whenever a governing body provides for
19common ballot boxes and ballots or voting machines, separate returns shall be
20maintained for each separate ballot required under ss. 5.62 and 5.64 at the partisan
21primary and general election. The municipal clerk shall transmit a copy of the
22resolution to the county clerk of each county in which the municipality is contained.
23In municipalities having a population of less than 35,000, the resolution shall remain
24in effect for each election until modified or rescinded, or until a new division is made
25under this section.
AB746, s. 9
1Section 9. 5.35 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,6,82 5.35 (4) Layout; organization. All voting booths and machines shall be placed
3apart from other activities in the polling place, with their exteriors in full view of the
4election officials. Only the proper election officials, persons observing the
5proceedings under s. 7.41, persons assisting voters under s. 6.82 (2) and electors
6receiving, preparing or depositing their ballots or casting their votes on the machines
7are permitted in the voting area. Except where assistance is authorized, only one
8elector at a time is permitted in a voting booth or machine.
AB746, s. 10 9Section 10. 5.37 of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Acts 23 and 32,
10is repealed.
AB746, s. 11 11Section 11. 5.40 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,6,12 125.40 (title) Use of voting machines or systems.
AB746, s. 12 13Section 12. 5.40 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,6,2014 5.40 (1) Except as permitted in sub. (3) or as required in subs. (4) to (5m) and
15(6), the governing body or board of election commissioners of every municipality with
16a population of 10,000 or more before July 1, 1995, or of 7,500 or more thereafter shall
17require the use of voting machines or electronic voting systems in every ward in the
18municipality at every election. Any other governing body or board of election
19commissioners may adopt and purchase voting machines or electronic voting
20systems for use in any ward in the municipality at any election.
AB746, s. 13 21Section 13. 5.40 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,6,2322 5.40 (2) Only voting machines complying with s. 5.37 or electronic voting
23systems approved under s. 5.91 may be used in an election in this state.
AB746, s. 14 24Section 14. 5.40 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,7,3
15.40 (3) (intro.) Notwithstanding sub. (1), any municipality may elect to utilize
2paper ballots and voting booths instead of voting machines or an electronic voting
3system:
AB746, s. 15 4Section 15. 5.40 (3) (b) of the statutes is repealed.
AB746, s. 16 5Section 16. 5.40 (4) of the statutes is repealed.
AB746, s. 17 6Section 17. 5.40 (5) of the statutes is repealed.
AB746, s. 18 7Section 18. 5.40 (5m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,7,118 5.40 (5m) Notwithstanding sub. (1), the governing body of a municipality
9which uses voting machines or an electronic voting system may petition the board
10for permission to use paper ballots and voting booths for a specific election, and the
11board may grant such a request.
AB746, s. 19 12Section 19. 5.40 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,7,1513 5.40 (6) A municipality which utilizes voting machines or an electronic voting
14system at a polling place may permit use of the machines or system by electors voting
15under s. 6.15 only as authorized under s. 6.15 (3).
AB746, s. 20 16Section 20. 5.40 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,7,2217 5.40 (7) Whenever a municipality adopts and purchases voting machines or an
18electronic voting system, or adopts and purchases a different type of voting machine
19or
electronic voting system from the type it was previously using, the municipal clerk
20or executive director of the municipal board of election commissioners shall promptly
21notify the county clerk or executive director of the county board of election
22commissioners and the administrator of the elections division of the board in writing.
AB746, s. 21 23Section 21. 5.51 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,8,224 5.51 (6) All candidates' names for the same office shall be placed, projected or
25composed
on the ballot in the same size, style and color of type. The style and size

1of type shall conform substantially to the official ballot forms prescribed by the board
2under s. 7.08 (1) (a).
AB746, s. 22 3Section 22. 5.53 of the statutes is repealed.
AB746, s. 23 4Section 23. 5.54 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,8,8 55.54 Notice to electors. Every ballot , except a voting machine ballot, shall
6bear substantially the following information on the face: "Notice to electors: This
7ballot may be invalid unless initialed by 2 election inspectors. If cast as an absentee
8ballot, the ballot must bear the initials of the municipal clerk or deputy clerk."
AB746, s. 24 9Section 24. 5.55 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,8,17 105.55 Information. On every ballot, except a voting machine ballot, shall be
11printed "Official .... Ballot" or "Official .... Ballot for ...." followed by the designation
12of the polling place for which the ballot has been prepared, the date of the election,
13and the official endorsement and blank certificates. The number of the ward or
14wards or aldermanic district, if any, and the name of the municipality may be omitted
15in printing and stamped or written on the ballots at any location which is clearly
16visible at the option of the county clerk. Printed information and initials shall appear
17on the back and outside of the ballot.
AB746, s. 25 18Section 25. 5.56 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,9,6 195.56 Multiple columns and rows. Whenever the number of candidates for
20any office requires the use of more than one row or column on a voting machine or
21whenever
the official or agency having the responsibility to determine ballot
22positions determines that the number of candidates for an office requires the use of
23more than one column on a ballot, the official or agency having such responsibility
24shall require that the rows or columns be rotated in such a manner that all rows are
25positioned on top, or all columns are positioned to the left, in an equal number of

1wards or election districts. If the number of wards and election districts in which
2voting for an office is conducted is not equally divisible, the position of the rows or
3columns in the remaining wards or election districts shall be determined by the
4official or agency by the drawing of lots. The number of columns or rows shall be
5determined at the same time that the positions of the candidates' names are
6determined for each primary and election.
AB746, s. 26 7Section 26. 5.62 (1) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Acts 32
8and 75, is amended to read:
AB746,9,259 5.62 (1) (a) At the partisan primary, the following ballot shall be provided for
10the nomination of candidates of recognized political parties for national, state and
11county offices and independent candidates for state office in each ward, in the same
12form as prescribed by the board under s. 7.08 (1) (a), except as authorized in s. 5.655.
13The ballots shall be made up of the several party tickets with each party entitled to
14participate in the primary under par. (b) or sub. (2) having its own ballot, except as
15authorized in s. 5.655. The ballots shall be secured together at the bottom. The party
16ballot of the party receiving the most votes for president or governor at the last
17general election shall be on top with the other parties arranged in descending order
18based on their vote for president or governor at the last general election. The ballots
19of parties qualifying under sub. (2) shall be placed after the parties qualifying under
20par. (b), in the same order in which the parties filed petitions with the board. Any
21ballot required under par. (b) 2. shall be placed next in order. At polling places where
22voting machines are used, each party shall be represented in one or more separate
23columns or rows on the ballot.
At polling places where an electronic voting system
24is used other than an electronic voting machine, each party may be represented in
25separate columns or rows on the ballot.
AB746, s. 27
1Section 27. 5.655 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,10,92 5.655 (1) Whenever a separate ballot is required to be used, a municipality may
3use a single ballot to facilitate the use of voting machines or an electronic voting
4system or, if the municipality employs paper ballots, may use a consolidated paper
5ballot that is authorized under sub. (2). If a municipality uses a single ballot in lieu
6of separate ballots, the ballot shall include a separate column or row for any office,
7referendum or party for which a separate ballot is required by law and the ballot shall
8be distributed only to electors who are eligible to vote for all of the offices and
9referenda appearing on the ballot.
AB746, s. 28 10Section 28. 5.66 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,10,18 115.66 Number of ballots. (1) For local elections, where necessary, municipal
12clerks shall have sufficient ballots printed or otherwise prepared whenever a voting
13system does not utilize printed ballots
to assure a ballot for all electors or voting
14machines
. For all other elections the municipal clerks shall certify to their county
15clerk, on the first day of the 2nd month preceding the month in which the primary
16is held, the approximate number of electors in the municipality. The county clerk
17shall total these estimates and order a sufficient supply to assure ballots for all
18electors and voting machines.
AB746,11,9 19(2) The county clerk or board of election commissioners shall print a sufficient
20number of sample ballots. The municipal clerk or board of election commissioners
21shall print sample ballots whenever the municipality prepares ballots under s. 7.15
22(2) (b) or (c). Sample ballots shall be printed on nonwhite colored paper and shall be
23overprinted "SAMPLE". Voting machine sample ballots shall be a reduced size
24diagram of the face of the board or screen inside the voting machine with all
25candidates, issues and voting instructions as they will appear on the official ballot.


1Sample ballots to be used with an electronic voting system in which ballots that are
2distributed to electors
are used shall be an actual size copy of the ballot. The clerk
3or board of election commissioners printing the ballots shall distribute the samples
4approximately as follows: 45% shall be kept in the clerk's or board's office and
5distributed to electors requesting them; 45% shall be sent to the municipalities, or,
6if the municipality prints ballots, 45% shall be sent to the county for distribution to
7the electors; and 10% shall be reserved to be sent to the polling places by
8municipalities in proportion to the number certified in sub. (1) and made available
9to electors at the polls on election day.
AB746, s. 29 10Section 29. 5.68 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,11,1411 5.68 (1) The cost of acquisition of ballot boxes and voting booths, voting
12machines
or electronic voting systems and regular maintenance thereof shall be
13borne by the municipalities in which the boxes, booths, machines or systems are
14used.
AB746, s. 30 15Section 30. 5.68 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,11,2316 5.68 (3) If voting machines are used or if an electronic voting system is used
17in which all candidates and referenda appear on the same ballot, the ballots for all
18national, state and county offices and for county and state referenda shall be
19prepared and paid for by the county wherein they are used. If the voting machine
20or
electronic voting system ballot includes a municipal or school, technical college,
21sewerage or sanitary district ballot, the cost of that portion of the ballot shall be
22reimbursed to the county or paid for by the municipality or district, except as
23provided in a 1st class city school district under sub. (2).
AB746, s. 31 24Section 31. 5.72 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,12,12
15.72 (1) As soon as possible after ballots are delivered to the county clerk or to
2the municipal clerk if the municipality is preparing ballots under s. 7.15 (2), but not
3later than 3 weeks before any election relating to a state or national office or
4statewide referendum, the county or municipal clerk preparing the ballots shall
5submit one copy of each ballot to the board for review of possible errors. If the
6contractor preparing the ballots supplies proofs in advance of ballot preparation, the
7clerk shall submit one copy of the proofs in lieu of actual ballots. If a voting machine
8ballot or other
ballot combining local candidates or referenda with state or national
9candidates or referenda is used, the entire ballot shall be submitted, but if ballots
10intended for distribution to electors are used,
otherwise only those ballots relating
11to state or national offices and statewide referenda need be submitted. This
12subsection does not require delay of ballot distribution or mailing of absentee ballots.
AB746, s. 32 13Section 32. 5.76 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,12,21 145.76 Adoption, experimentation or discontinuance of systems. The
15governing body or board of election commissioners of any municipality may by
16ordinance or resolution adopt, experiment with, or discontinue any electronic voting
17system authorized by this subchapter and approved under s. 5.91 for use in this state,
18and may purchase or lease materials or equipment for such system to be used in all
19or some of the wards within its jurisdiction, either exclusively or in combination with
20mechanical voting machines, or in combination with paper ballots where such ballots
21are authorized to be used.
AB746, s. 33 22Section 33. 5.77 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 5.77 and amended to read:
AB746,12,25 235.77 Applicable procedures. So far as applicable, the procedure provided
24for voting paper ballots applies when an electronic voting system employing the use
25of ballots distributed to electors
is used.
AB746, s. 34
1Section 34. 5.77 (2) of the statutes is repealed.
AB746, s. 35 2Section 35. 5.78 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,13,6 35.78 Voting booths. At polling places where an electronic voting system
4employing the use of ballots distributed to electors is used, the municipality shall
5supply a sufficient number of voting booths for the use of electors as provided in s.
65.35 (2).
AB746, s. 36 7Section 36. 5.81 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,13,148 5.81 (1) Whenever the statutes provide for the use of separate ballots or
9columns or rows for offices, parties or referenda, and an electronic voting system in
10which ballots are distributed to electors
is used at a polling place, a single ballot may
11be used for all offices, referenda and parties. The ballot information, whether placed
12on the ballot or on the voting device, shall, as far as practicable, be grouped and
13ordered in the same manner as provided for other ballots under this chapter, except
14that the information on the ballot need not be in separate columns or rows.
AB746, s. 37 15Section 37. 5.81 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,13,1916 5.81 (3) If a municipality utilizes an electronic voting system in which ballots
17distributed to electors are employed
, absentee ballots may consist of ballots utilized
18with the system or paper ballots and envelopes voted in person in the office of the
19municipal clerk or voted by mail.
AB746, s. 38 20Section 38. 5.85 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,14,1121 5.85 (2) (a) The election officials shall examine the ballots or record of votes cast
22for write-in votes and shall count and tabulate the write-in votes. When an
23electronic voting system is used in which ballots are distributed to electors, before
24separating the remaining ballots from their respective covering envelopes, the
25election officials shall examine the ballots for write-in votes. When an elector has

1cast a write-in vote, the election officials shall compare the write-in vote with the
2votes on the ballot to determine whether the write-in vote results in an overvote for
3any office. In case of an overvote for any office, the election officials shall make a true
4duplicate ballot of all votes on the ballot except for the office that is overvoted, by
5using an official ballot of that kind used by the elector who voted the original ballot,
6and one of the marking devices so as to transfer all votes of the elector except for the
7office overvoted, to an official ballot of that kind used in the ward at that election.
8Unless election officials are selected under s. 7.30 (4) (c) without regard to party
9affiliation, the election officials shall consist in each case of at least one election
10official of each of the 2 major political parties, whenever officials of both parties are
11present.
AB746, s. 39 12Section 39. 5.85 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB746,15,613 5.85 (5) If the municipality has designated a central counting location to be
14used to count ballots under s. 7.51 (1), the inspectors shall count and deposit the
15paper ballots in the container. The inspectors shall then place the slip made out
16under sub. (4) in the container. The inspectors shall also place the tally sheet
17recording the write-in votes and other votes cast on paper ballots, and all other
18ballots, or the record of the votes cast on an electronic voting system where no ballots
19are distributed to electors
, in the container and shall thereupon immediately seal the
20container with an adhesive seal provided by the municipal clerk for the purpose in
21such manner that the seal completely covers the opening in the container, and each
22of the inspectors shall sign the seal. The "Defective Ballots" envelope, and "Original
23Ballots" envelope each shall be securely sealed and the flap or end thereof of each
24signed by the inspectors and returned to the central counting location with the box
25for return of the ballots, enclosed ballots and returns. Thereupon, the municipal

1clerk or 2 of the election officials shall forthwith and by the most direct route
2transport the container and envelopes to the central counting location designated by
3the municipal clerk. Unless election officials are selected under s. 7.30 (4) (c) without
4regard to party affiliation, the election officials shall consist in each case of at least
5one election official of each of the 2 major political parties, whenever officials of both
6parties are present.
AB746, s. 40 7Section 40. 5.90 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 5.90 and amended to read:
AB746,16,2 85.90 Recounts. Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, recounts of
9votes cast on at an election in which an electronic voting system is used shall be
10conducted in the manner prescribed in s. 9.01. Except as provided in sub. (2) and s.
119.01 (1) (b) 8s., if the ballots are distributed to the electors, the board of canvassers
12shall recount the ballots with using automatic tabulating equipment. The unless the
13petitioner, a candidate at the election, or an elector who voted in a referendum that
14is the subject of a recount files a written demand for the board of canvassers to
15recount the ballots, or the ballots from a specified ward or polling place, by hand, in
16which case the board of canvassers shall recount those ballots by hand. If automatic
17tabulating equipment is used, the
board of canvassers shall test the automatic
18tabulating equipment to be used prior to the recount as provided in s. 5.84, and then
19the official ballots or the record of the votes cast shall be recounted on the automatic
20tabulating equipment. In addition, the board of canvassers shall check the ballots
21for the presence or absence of the initials and other distinguishing marks, shall
22examine the ballots marked "Rejected", "Defective" and "Objected to" to determine
23the propriety of such labels, and shall compare the "Duplicate Overvoted Ballots"
24and "Duplicate Damaged Ballots" with their respective originals to determine the
25correctness of the duplicates. If electronic voting machines are used, the board of

1canvassers shall perform the recount using the permanent paper record of the votes
2cast by each elector, as generated by the machines.
AB746, s. 41 3Section 41. 5.90 (2) and (3) of the statutes are repealed.
AB746, s. 42 4Section 42. 5.91 (6) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 32, is
5amended to read:
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