SB295: Bill Text

SB295,23,11 6.79 (1m) Separate poll lists. Two An election officials official at each election ward shall be in charge of and shall maintain 2 separate poll lists a poll list containing information relating to all persons voting. The municipal clerk may elect to maintain the information on the lists list manually or electronically. If the clerk elects to maintain the information manually, 2 election officials at each election ward shall be in charge of and shall maintain 2 separate poll lists. If the lists are maintained electronically, the board shall prescribe may establish a supplemental list that contains the full name, address, and space for the entry of the signature of each elector, or if the elector is exempt from the signature requirement under s. 6.36 (2) (a), the word "exempt". If the lists are poll list is maintained electronically, the officials official in charge of maintaining the list shall enter the information into an electronic data recording system that enables retrieval of printed copies of the lists list at the polling place. The system employed is subject to the approval of the board.

SB295,40 Section 40. 6.79 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB295,23,23 6.79 (2) (d) If the poll list indicates that proof of residence under s. 6.34 is required and the proof of identification document provided by the elector under par. (a) does not constitute proof of residence under s. 6.34, the officials shall require the elector to provide proof of residence. If proof of residence is provided, the officials shall enter both the type of identifying document submitted as proof of residence and the name of the entity or institution that issued the identifying document in the space provided on the poll list and shall verify that the name and address on the identifying document is the same as the name and address shown on the registration list. If proof of residence is required and not provided, or if the elector does not present proof of identification under par. (a), whenever required, the officials shall offer the opportunity for the elector to vote under s. 6.97.

SB295,41 Section 41. 6.86 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB295,24,8 6.86 (3) (b) When each properly executed form and statement required under par. (a) is presented to the municipal clerk, if the elector who proposes to vote is qualified, an absentee ballot shall be issued and the name of such hospitalized elector shall be recorded by the clerk or special registration deputy. An agent who is issued an absentee ballot under this section shall present documentation of his or her identity, provide his or her name and address, and attest to a statement that the ballot is received solely for the benefit of a named elector who is hospitalized, and the agent will promptly transmit the ballot to such person.

SB295,42 Section 42. 6.86 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB295,25,4 6.86 (3) (c) An application under par. (a) 1. may be made and a registration form under par. (a) 2. may be filed in person at the office of the municipal clerk not earlier than 7 days before an election and not later than 5 p.m. on the day of the election. A list of hospitalized electors applying for ballots under par. (a) 1. shall be made by the municipal clerk and used to check that the electors vote only once, and by absentee ballot. If Except as provided in s. 6.34 (2m), if the elector is registering for the election after the close of registration or if the elector registered by mail or by electronic application and has not voted in an election in this state, the municipal clerk shall inform the agent that proof of residence under s. 6.34 is required and the elector shall enclose proof of residence under s. 6.34 in the envelope with the ballot. The clerk shall verify that the name on any required proof of identification presented by the agent conforms to the name on the elector's application. The clerk shall then enter his or her initials on the carrier envelope indicating that the agent presented proof of identification to the clerk. The agent is not required to enter a signature on the registration list. The ballot shall be sealed by the elector and returned to the municipal clerk either by mail or by personal delivery of the agent; but if the ballot is returned on the day of the election, the agent shall make personal delivery to the polling place serving the hospitalized elector's residence before the closing hour or, in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, to the municipal clerk no later than 8 p.m. on election day.

SB295,43 Section 43. 6.87 (4) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB295,26,7 6.87 (4) (b) 1. Except as otherwise provided in s. 6.875, the elector voting absentee shall make and subscribe to the certification before one witness who is an adult U.S. citizen. The absent elector, in the presence of the witness, shall mark the ballot in a manner that will not disclose how the elector's vote is cast. The elector shall then, still in the presence of the witness, fold the ballots so each is separate and so that the elector conceals the markings thereon and deposit them in the proper envelope. If a consolidated ballot under s. 5.655 is used, the elector shall fold the ballot so that the elector conceals the markings thereon and deposit the ballot in the proper envelope. If proof of residence under s. 6.34 is required and the document enclosed by the elector under this subdivision does not constitute proof of residence under s. 6.34, the elector shall also enclose proof of residence under s. 6.34 in the envelope. Proof Except as provided in s. 6.34 (2m), proof of residence is required if the elector is not a military elector or an overseas elector and the elector registered by mail or by electronic application and has not voted in an election in this state. If the elector requested a ballot by means of facsimile transmission or electronic mail under s. 6.86 (1) (ac), the elector shall enclose in the envelope a copy of the request which bears an original signature of the elector. The elector may receive assistance under sub. (5). The return envelope shall then be sealed. The witness may not be a candidate. The envelope shall be mailed by the elector, or delivered in person, to the municipal clerk issuing the ballot or ballots. If the envelope is mailed from a location outside the United States, the elector shall affix sufficient postage unless the ballot qualifies for delivery free of postage under federal law. Failure to return an unused ballot in a primary does not invalidate the ballot on which the elector's votes are cast. Return of more than one marked ballot in a primary or return of a ballot prepared under s. 5.655 or a ballot used with an electronic voting system in a primary which is marked for candidates of more than one party invalidates all votes cast by the elector for candidates in the primary.

SB295,44 Section 44. 6.87 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB295,26,15 6.87 (6) Except as provided in s. 7.515 (3), the 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. 7.515 (3), any Any ballot not mailed or delivered as provided in this subsection may not be counted.

SB295,45 Section 45. 6.87 (6d) of the statutes is created to read:

SB295,26,18 6.87 (6d) If a certificate is missing the address of a witness, the ballot may not be counted.

SB295,46 Section 46. 7.03 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB295,26,24 7.03 (1) (d) Except as otherwise provided in par. (a), special registration deputies appointed under s. 6.55 (6), special voting deputies appointed under s. 6.875 (4) and other officials and trainees who attend training sessions under s. 7.15 (1) (e) or 7.25 (5) may also be compensated by the municipality where they serve at the option of the municipality.

SB295,47 Section 47. 7.08 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB295,27,5 7.08 (1) (c) Prescribe forms required by ss. 6.24 (3) and (4), 6.30 (4) and (5), 6.33 (1), 6.40 (1) (a), 6.47 (1) (am) 2. and (3), 6.55 (2), and 6.86 (2) to (3). All such forms shall contain a statement of the penalty applicable to false or fraudulent registration or voting through use of the form. Forms are not required to be furnished by the board.

SB295,48 Section 48. 7.30 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB295,28,8 7.30 (2) (a) Only election officials appointed under this section or s. 6.875 may conduct an election. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph and in ss. 7.15 (1) (k) and 7.52 (1) (b), each election official shall be a qualified elector of a county in which the municipality where the official serves is located, and each chief inspector shall be a qualified elector of the municipality in which the chief inspector serves. If no qualified candidate for chief inspector is available or if the chief inspector is appointed to fill a vacancy under par. (b), the person so appointed need not be a qualified elector of the municipality. If a municipal clerk or deputy clerk serves as a registration deputy or is appointed to fill a vacancy under par. (b), the clerk or deputy clerk need not be a resident of the county, but shall be a resident of the state. No more than 2 individuals holding the office of clerk or deputy clerk may serve without regard to county residency in any municipality at any election. Special registration deputies who are appointed under s. 6.55 (6) may be appointed to serve more than one polling place. All officials appointed under this section shall be able to read and write the English language, be capable, and be of good understanding, and may not be a candidate for any office to be voted for at an election at which they serve. In 1st class cities, they may hold no public office other than notary public. Except as authorized under subs. (1) (b) and (4) (c), all inspectors shall be affiliated with one of the 2 recognized political parties which received the largest number of votes for president, or governor in nonpresidential general election years, in the ward or combination of wards served by the polling place at the last election. Excluding the inspector who may be appointed under sub. (1) (b), the party which received the largest number of votes is entitled to one more inspector than the party receiving the next largest number of votes at each polling place. Whenever 2 or more inspectors are required to perform a function within a polling place and both parties that are entitled to submit nominees have done so, the chief inspector shall assign, insofar as practicable, an equal number of inspectors from the nominees of each party.

SB295,49 Section 49. 7.31 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB295,28,13 7.31 (1) The board shall, by rule, prescribe establish requirements for certification of individuals to serve as chief inspectors. The requirements shall include a requirement to attend at least one training session held under sub. (5) before beginning service. The requirements shall not include taking an examination.

SB295,50 Section 50. 7.315 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB295,28,18 7.315 (1) (a) The board shall, by rule, prescribe the contents of the training that municipal clerks must provide to inspectors, other than chief inspectors, and to special voting deputies appointed under s. 6.875, and to special registration deputies appointed under ss. 6.26 and 6.55 (6).

SB295,51 Section 51. 7.315 (1) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB295,29,2 7.315 (1) (b) 1. Each inspector other than a chief inspector and each special voting deputy appointed under s. 6.875 and special registration deputy appointed under s. 6.26 or 6.55 (6) shall view or attend at least one training program every 2 years. Except as provided in subd. 2., no individual may serve as an inspector, other than a chief inspector, or as a special voting deputy under s. 6.875, or as a special registration deputy under s. 6.26 or 6.55 (6) at any election unless the individual has completed training for that election provided by the municipal clerk pursuant to rules promulgated under par. (a) within 2 years of the date of the election.

SB295,52 Section 52. 7.315 (1) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB295,29,10 7.315 (1) (b) 2. Only when an individual who has received training under subd. 1. is unavailable to perform his or her election duties due to sickness, injury, or other unforeseen occurrence may an individual who has not received training under subd. 1. be appointed to serve as an inspector, other than chief inspector, or a special voting deputy or special registration deputy. The appointment of an individual to serve under this subdivision shall be for a specific election and no individual may be appointed under this subdivision more than one time in a 2-year period.

SB295,53 Section 53. 7.315 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB295,29,16 7.315 (3) The board may produce and periodically reissue as necessary a video program for the purpose of training election officials, including special voting deputies and special registration deputies election registration officials. The board shall make any such program available for viewing electronically through an Internet-based system.

SB295,54 Section 54. 7.315 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

SB295,29,19 7.315 (4) Election registration officials shall receive the training as provided under this section for inspectors, other than chief inspectors.

SB295,55 Section 55. 7.315 (5) of the statutes is created to read:

SB295,29,23 7.315 (5) To ensure that election officials have an understanding of election laws, the board shall establish a knowledge-based test to administer to individuals who receive the training to become election officials.

SB295,56 Section 56. 7.37 (13) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB295,30,7 7.37 (13) Closing of polls. For each polling place, the municipal clerk shall designate an official of the municipality who shall position himself or herself at the end of the line of individuals waiting to vote, if any, at the time that the polls officially close. The official may be an appointed inspector or special registration deputy appointed under s. 6.55 (6) who serves at that polling place, an employee of the municipal clerk or a police officer. Only individuals in line ahead of the official shall be permitted to vote under s. 6.78 (4).

SB295,57 Section 57. 7.51 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB295,31,2 7.51 (5) (b) The municipal clerk shall deliver all ballots, statements, tally sheets, lists, and envelopes relating to a school district election to the school district clerk, excluding any absentee ballots that are received after the closing hour on election night and any provisional ballots, by 4 p.m. on the day following each such election and shall deliver to the school district clerk any amended statements, tally sheets, and lists for additional provisional and absentee ballots canvassed under s. 6.97 (4) or 7.515 (6) (b) no later than 4 p.m. on the Monday after the election. The municipal clerk shall deliver to the county clerk the ballots, statements, tally sheets, lists, and envelopes for his or her municipality relating to any county, technical college district, state, or national election no later than 4 p.m. on the day following each such election or, in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, by 4 p.m. on the 2nd day following each such election, and shall deliver to the county clerk any additional provisional and absentee ballots canvassed under s. 6.97 (4) or 7.515 (6) (b) together with amended statements, tally sheets, lists, and envelopes no later than 4 p.m. on the Monday after the election. The person delivering the returns shall be paid out of the municipal treasury. Each clerk shall retain ballots, statements, tally sheets, or envelopes received by the clerk until destruction is authorized under s. 7.23 (1).

SB295,58 Section 58. 7.515 of the statutes is repealed.

SB295,59 Section 59. 7.53 (1) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 37, is amended to read:

SB295,32,15 7.53 (1) (a) Where the municipality constitutes one ward or combines all wards to utilize a single polling place under s. 5.15 (6) (b), the canvass of the votes cast at the polling place shall be conducted publicly under s. 7.51 and the inspectors, other than any inspector appointed under s. 7.30 (1) (b), shall act as the municipal board of canvassers. The inspectors shall then complete the return statement for all votes cast at the polling place. If there are no provisional ballots that are eligible to be counted under s. 6.97 and the municipal clerk has not mailed or transmitted absentee ballots to any electors of the municipality that have not been returned by election night, and no absentee ballots are being canvassed under s. 7.52, the inspectors may complete and sign the canvass statement and determination on election night. In municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, after the canvass of the absentee ballots is completed under s. 7.52, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall reconcile the poll list of the electors who vote by absentee ballot with the corresponding poll list of the electors who vote in person to ensure that no elector is allowed to cast more than one ballot. If an elector who votes in person has submitted an absentee ballot, the absentee ballot is void. Except as authorized in par. (b), if one or more electors of the municipality have cast provisional ballots that are eligible to be counted under s. 6.97 or if the municipal clerk receives one or more absentee ballots by 4 p.m. on the Friday after the election that are eligible to be counted under s. 7.515 (6) (b), the inspectors, acting as the board of canvassers, shall reconvene no later than 9 a.m. on the Monday after the election to count the valid provisional and absentee ballots and shall adjust the returns accordingly. The inspectors, acting as the board of canvassers, need not reconvene if the municipal clerk certifies that he or she has received no provisional or absentee ballots from the time that the board of canvassers completed the initial canvass and 4 p.m. on the Friday after the election. Upon completion of the canvass under this paragraph and any canvass that is conducted under s. 7.52 and ascertainment of the results by the inspectors or, in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, by the inspectors and the board of absentee ballot canvassers, the municipal clerk shall publicly read to the inspectors or the board of absentee ballot canvassers the names of the persons voted for and the number of votes for each person for each municipal office, the names of the persons declared by the inspectors or board of absentee ballot canvassers to have won nomination or election to each municipal office, and the number of votes cast for and against each municipal referendum question.

SB295,60 Section 60. 7.53 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB295,33,18 7.53 (3) (a) In a common, union high or unified school district, the school district clerk shall appoint 2 qualified electors of the school district prior to the date of the election being canvassed who shall, with the school district clerk, constitute the school district board of canvassers. If the school district clerk is a candidate at the election being canvassed, the other 2 members of the board of canvassers shall designate a 3rd member to serve in lieu of the clerk for that election. The school district clerk shall appoint a member to fill any other temporary vacancy on the board of canvassers. The canvass shall begin no later than 9 a.m. on the Tuesday after the election, and shall continue, without adjournment, until completed. The board of canvassers may return defective returns to the municipal board of canvassers in the manner provided in s. 7.60 (3). If the board of canvassers meets before 4 p.m. on the Monday after the election and thereafter receives amended statements, tally sheets, and lists from a municipal clerk for provisional or absentee ballots that are eligible to be counted under s. 6.97 (4) or 7.515 (6) (b), the board of canvassers shall reconvene no later than 9 a.m. on the Tuesday after the election and shall adjust the returns accordingly. No later than 4 p.m. on the Tuesday after the election, the board of canvassers shall complete the canvass and shall prepare a written statement showing the numbers of votes cast for each person for each office and for and against each question and shall prepare a determination showing the names of the persons who are elected to the school board and the results of any school district referendum. Following each primary election, the board of canvassers shall prepare a statement certifying the names of the persons who have won nomination to the school board. Each statement and determination shall be attested by each of the canvassers. The board of canvassers shall file each statement and determination in the school district office. The school district clerk shall certify nominations after each primary and issue certificates of election to persons who are elected to the school board after each election in the manner provided in sub. (4).

SB295,61 Section 61. 9.01 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB295,34,14 9.01 (1) (a) 1. Any candidate voted for at any election or any elector who voted upon any referendum question at any election may petition for a recount. The petitioner shall file a verified petition or petitions with the proper clerk or body under par. (ar) not earlier than the time of completion of the canvass following canvassing of any valid provisional and absentee ballots under ss. 6.97 (4) and 7.515 (6) and, except as provided in this subdivision, not later than 5 p.m. on the 3rd business day following the last meeting day of the municipal or county board of canvassers determining the election for that office or on that referendum question following canvassing of all valid provisional and absentee ballots or, if more than one board of canvassers makes the determination, not later than 5 p.m. on the 3rd business day following the last meeting day of the last board of canvassers which makes a determination following canvassing of all valid provisional and absentee ballots. If the chairperson of the board or chairperson's designee makes the determination for the office or the referendum question, the petitioner shall file the petition not earlier than the last meeting day of the last county board of canvassers to make a statement in the election or referendum following canvassing of all valid provisional and absentee ballots and not later than 5 p.m. on the 3rd business day following the day on which the government accountability board receives the last statement from a county board of canvassers for the election or referendum following canvassing of all valid provisional and absentee ballots.

SB295,62 Section 62. 17.29 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB295,34,21 17.29 Effect of chapter. The provisions of this chapter supersede all contrary provisions in either the general law or in special acts, except ss. 6.26 (2) (b), 6.55 (6), 6.875, and 7.30 relating to appointed election officials and ch. 321 relating to the military staff of the governor and to officers of the Wisconsin national guard or state defense force; and shall govern all offices whether created by general law or special act, unless otherwise specially provided.

SB295,63 Section 63. 85.61 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB295,35,6 85.61 (1) The secretary of transportation and the administrator of the elections division of the government accountability board shall enter into an agreement to match personally identifiable information on the official registration list maintained by the government accountability board under s. 6.36 (1) and the information specified in s. 6.34 (2m) with personally identifiable information in the operating record file database under ch. 343 and vehicle registration records under ch. 341 to the extent required to enable the secretary of transportation and the administrator of the elections division of the government accountability board to verify the accuracy of the information provided for the purpose of voter registration.

SB295,64 Section 64. 343.027 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB295,35,15 343.027 Confidentiality of signatures. Any signature collected under this chapter may be maintained by the department and shall be kept confidential, except that the department shall release a signature or a facsimile of a signature to the department of revenue for the purposes of administering state taxes and collecting debt, to the government accountability board, in electronic or digital format, for the purposes specified in s. 6.30 (5), to the person to whom the signature relates, to a court, district attorney, county corporation counsel, city, village, or town attorney, law enforcement agency, or to the driver licensing agency of another jurisdiction.

SB295,65 Section 65. Nonstatutory provisions.

SB295,35,23 (1) No later than the 20th day following the end of each calendar quarter, the government accountability board and the department of transportation shall each report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature in the manner provided in section 13.172 (3) of the statutes concerning its progress in implementing an electronic voter registration system. The board and department shall continue to file reports under this subsection until the board determines that implementation is complete and the performance of the system is satisfactory.

SB295,66 Section 66. Fiscal changes.

SB295,36,9 (1) In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the government accountability board under section 20.511 (1) (a) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 2015, the dollar amount is increased by $-0- for the first fiscal year of the fiscal biennium in which this subsection takes effect to implement an electronic voter registration system. In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the government accountability board under section 20.511 (1) (a) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 2015, the dollar amount is increased by $-0- for the second fiscal year of the fiscal biennium in which this subsection takes effect to implement an electronic voter registration system.

SB295,36,18 (2) In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the department of transportation under section 20.395 (4) (aq) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 2015, the dollar amount is increased by $-0- for the first fiscal year of the fiscal biennium in which this subsection takes effect to implement an electronic voter registration system. In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the department of transportation under section 20.395 (4) (aq) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 2015, the dollar amount is increased by $-0- for the second fiscal year of the fiscal biennium in which this subsection takes effect to implement an electronic voter registration system.

SB295,67 Section 67. Initial applicability.

SB295,36,22 (1) The treatment of sections 6.22 (5), 6.25 (1) (a) and (b), 6.87 (6), 7.51 (5) (b), 7.53 (1) (a) and (3) (a), and 9.01 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes first applies to elections held no earlier than 6 months after the effective date of this subsection.

SB295,36,24 (2) The treatment of section 6.34 (3) (a) 12. of the statutes first applies to registration applications filed on the effective date of this subsection.

SB295,36,25 (End)