SB548,1,3
1An Act to amend 6.50 (1), 6.50 (2) and 6.50 (7); and
to create 6.50 (2g) and 6.50
2(2r) of the statutes;
relating to: transferring responsibility over biennial
3updating of voter registration list to the Government Accountability Board.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law requires the municipal clerk or the board of election commissioners
of each municipality (municipal clerk) to examine the voter registration records for
that municipality within 90 days of each general election to identify any elector who
was qualified to vote over the preceding four years but who has not voted within that
four-year period (nonvoting elector). The municipal clerk must mail a "Notice of
Suspension of Registration" to each nonvoting elector informing the elector that the
elector's registration will be suspended if the elector does not apply for continuation
of registration within 30 days. If the nonvoting elector fails to apply for continuation
of registration as directed, the municipal clerk must change the elector's registration
status from eligible to ineligible.
This bill transfers responsibility for reviewing each municipality's voter
registration records and mailing the Notice of Suspension of Registration forms from
the municipal clerk to the Government Accountability Board (GAB). The bill
authorizes GAB to delegate back to the municipal clerk the responsibility to change
the registration status of electors who have not timely applied for continuation of
registration. The bill also changes the date by which this notification must occur
from within 90 days following each general election to no later than June 15 following
each general election. Under the bill, the nonvoting elector must return the
application for continuation of registration to the elector's municipal clerk.
The bill also requires GAB to compile and post on its Internet site certain
information about the notices of suspension of registration sent by and returned to
GAB, including the total number of notices mailed, the number of notices returned
as undeliverable, and the number of electors whose status changed from eligible to
ineligible.
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:
SB548,1
1Section
1. 6.50 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB548,2,62
6.50
(1) Within 90 days No later than June 15 following each general election,
3the
municipal clerk or board
of election commissioners of each municipality shall
4examine the registration records
for each municipality and identify each elector who
5has not voted within the previous 4 years if qualified to do so during that entire period
6and shall mail a notice to the elector in substantially the following form:
SB548,2,8
7"NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF
8
REGISTRATION
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You are hereby notified that your voter registration will be suspended,
10according to state law, for failure to vote within the previous 4-year period, unless
11you apply for continuation of your registration within 30 days. You may continue
12your registration by signing the statement below and returning it to
this the office
13of the municipal clerk .... (mailing address and telephone number of office of
14municipal clerk or board of election commissioners) by mail or in person.
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APPLICATION FOR CONTINUATION
16
OF REGISTRATION
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I hereby certify that I still reside at the address at which I am registered and
18apply for continuation of registration.
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Present Address ....
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If you have changed your residence within this municipality or changed your
4name, please contact
this the office
of the municipal clerk .... (mailing address and
5telephone number of office of municipal clerk or board of election commissioners) to
6complete a change of name or address form.
SB548,3,77
[Office of clerk or board of election commissioners
SB548,2
10Section
2. 6.50 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB548,3,1711
6.50
(2) The municipal clerk or If an elector to whom a notice of suspension was
12mailed under sub. (1) has not applied for continuation of registration within 30 days
13of the date of mailing, the board
of election commissioners shall change the
14registration
status of
all notified electors under sub. (1) who have not applied for
15continuation of registration within 30 days of the date of mailing of the notice of
16suspension that elector from eligible to ineligible
status on the day that falls 30 days
17after the date of mailing.
SB548,3
18Section
3. 6.50 (2g) of the statutes is created to read:
SB548,3,2119
6.50
(2g) The board may delegate to a municipal clerk or board of election
20commissioners of a municipality the responsibility to change the registration status
21of electors when required under sub. (2).
SB548,4
22Section
4. 6.50 (2r) of the statutes is created to read:
SB548,3,2523
6.50
(2r) As soon as practicable, but no later than August 1 following the
24completion of the process under subs. (1) and (2), the board shall publish on its
25Internet site the following information obtained through that process:
SB548,4,1
1(a) The number of notices mailed under sub. (1).
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(b) The number of notices described under par. (a) that were returned to the
3board as undeliverable.
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(c) The number of notices described under par. (a) that were returned to the
5board requesting continuation of registration.
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(d) The number of notices described under par. (a) that were returned
7requesting cancellation of registration.
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(e) The number of notices described under par. (a) that were returned with an
9indication that the named elector is deceased.
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(f) The number of notices described under par. (a) that were not returned to the
11board.
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(g) The number of electors who received notices under sub. (1) and whose status
13changed from eligible to ineligible.
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(h) Any other information requested by the legislature or that the board
15considers relevant.
SB548,5
16Section
5. 6.50 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB548,4,1917
6.50
(7) When an elector's registration is changed from eligible to ineligible
18status, the
board, municipal clerk
, or board of election commissioners shall make an
19entry on the registration list, giving the date of and reason for the change.
SB548,6
20Section
6.
Initial applicability.
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(1) This act first applies with respect to elections held at least 60 days after the
22effective date of this subsection.
