SB459: Bill Text

LRB-3344/1

JK:eev:rs

2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE

2013 Senate BILL 459

December 20, 2013 - Introduced by Senators Grothman and Lazich, cosponsored by Representatives Born, Schraa, Bernier, Bies, Czaja, Kleefisch, Knodl, Kulp, LeMahieu, Nass, Pridemore, Sanfelippo, Strachota, Stroebel and Thiesfeldt. Referred to Elections and Urban Affairs.

SB459,1,2 An Act to amend 6.33 (1), 6.33 (2) (a), 6.34 (2) and 6.82 (1) (a) of the statutes; relating to: providing proof of residence when registering to vote.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, except for a military elector or an overseas elector, an elector who registers to vote by mail and has not voted previously in an election in this state or an elector who registers after the close of registration must provide proof of residence. Under this bill, except for military and overseas electors, all electors must provide proof of residence to register to vote.

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

SB459,1 Section 1. 6.33 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB459,3,2 6.33 (1) The board 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. The municipal clerk shall supply sufficient forms to meet voter registration needs. The forms shall be designed to obtain from each applicant information as to name; date; residence location; location of previous residence immediately before moving to current residence location; citizenship; date of birth; age; the number of a current and 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 28 consecutive 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. Below the space for the signature, the form shall state "Falsification of information on this form is punishable under Wisconsin law as a Class I felony.". 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).

SB459,2 Section 2. 6.33 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB459,3,14 6.33 (2) (a) All information may be recorded by any person, except that the ward and aldermanic district, if any, other geographic information under sub. (1), the indication of whether the registration is received by mail, the type of identifying document submitted by the elector as proof of residence under s. 6.34, whenever required, and any information relating to an applicant's voting identification card shall be recorded by the clerk. Each applicant shall sign his or her own name unless the applicant is unable to sign his or her name due to physical disability. In such case, the applicant may authorize another elector to sign the form on his or her behalf. If the applicant so authorizes, the elector signing the form shall attest to a statement that the application is made upon request and by authorization of a named elector who is unable to sign the form due to physical disability.

SB459,3 Section 3. 6.34 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB459,4,2 6.34 (2) Upon completion of a registration form prescribed under s. 6.33, each eligible elector who is required to register under s. 6.27, who is not a military elector or an overseas elector, and who registers after the close of registration under s. 6.29 or 6.86 (3) (a) 2., shall provide an identifying document that establishes proof of residence under sub. (3). Each eligible elector who is required to register under s. 6.27, who is not a military elector or an overseas elector, who registers by mail, and who has not voted in an election in this state shall, if voting in person, provide an identifying document that establishes proof of residence under sub. (3) or, if voting by absentee ballot, provide a copy of an identifying document that establishes proof of residence under sub. (3). If the elector registered by mail, the identifying document may not be a residential lease.

SB459,4 Section 4. 6.82 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB459,5,3 6.82 (1) (a) When any inspectors are informed that an eligible elector is at the entrance to the polling place who as a result of disability is unable to enter the polling place, they shall permit the elector to be assisted in marking a ballot by any individual selected by the elector, except the elector's employer or an agent of that employer or an officer or agent of a labor organization which represents the elector. Except as authorized in s. 6.79 (6) and (7), the individual selected by the elector shall present to the inspectors proof of identification and, if the proof of identification does not constitute proof of residence under s. 6.34, shall also provide proof of residence under s. 6.34 for the assisted elector, whenever required, and all other information necessary for the elector to obtain a ballot under s. 6.79 (2). The inspectors shall verify that the name on the proof of identification presented by the person assisting the elector conforms to the elector's name on the poll list or separate list and shall verify that any photograph appearing on that document reasonably resembles the elector. The inspectors shall then issue a ballot to the individual selected by the elector and shall accompany the individual to the polling place entrance where the assistance is to be given. If the ballot is a paper ballot, the assisting individual shall fold the ballot after the ballot is marked by the assisting individual. The assisting individual shall then immediately take the ballot into the polling place and give the ballot to an inspector. The inspector shall distinctly announce that he or she has "a ballot offered by .... (stating person's name), an elector who, as a result of disability, is unable to enter the polling place without assistance". The inspector shall then ask, "Does anyone object to the reception of this ballot?" If no objection is made, the inspectors shall record the elector's name under s. 6.79 and deposit the ballot in the ballot box, and shall make a notation on the poll list: "Ballot received at poll entrance".

SB459,5 Section 5. Initial applicability.

SB459,5,6 (1) This act first applies to registrations received on the effective date of this subsection.

SB459,5,7 (End)