LRB-4947/1
TKK:ahe
2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE
December 7, 2017 - Introduced by Senators L. Taylor, Carpenter, Larson and
Vinehout, cosponsored by Representatives Shankland, Anderson, Berceau,
Considine, Crowley, Hebl, Pope, Sargent, Sinicki, Spreitzer, Subeck and C.
Taylor
. Referred to Committee on Elections and Utilities.
SB629,1,4 1An Act to amend 5.35 (6) (a) 2., 6.15 (2) (bm), 6.29 (2) (a), 6.33 (1), 6.33 (2) (b),
26.55 (2) (b), 6.55 (2) (c) 1., 6.55 (2) (c) 2., 6.79 (4) and 6.86 (3) (a) 2.; and to create
36.56 (5) and 12.13 (3) (v) of the statutes; relating to: use of corroborating
4witness to establish elector proof of residence.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, a U.S. citizen age 18 or older who has resided in a ward or
election district in this state for ten consecutive days may register to vote in an
election in this state only if the individual provides proof of residence. An individual
may establish his or her residence by presenting one of a variety of specified
documents, including a current and valid Wisconsin operator's license or
identification card, a real property tax bill or receipt for the current year or the year
preceding the date of the election, a paycheck or bank statement, or a utility bill for
the period commencing not earlier than 90 days before the day registration is made.
This bill permits an individual who cannot provide proof of residence through
one of the specified documents to register if another elector who lives with the
individual and who can provide proof of residence through one of the specified
documents corroborates the residence of the individual.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB629,1
1Section 1. 5.35 (6) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB629,2,42 5.35 (6) (a) 2. A copy of the election fraud laws provided in s. 12.13 (1) and (3)
3(intro), (d), (f), (g), (k), (L), (o), (q), (r), (u), (v), and (x), together with the applicable
4penalties provided in s. 12.60 (1).
SB629,2 5Section 2. 6.15 (2) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB629,2,226 6.15 (2) (bm) Except as authorized in s. 6.79 (7), when making application in
7person at the office of the municipal clerk, each applicant shall present proof of
8identification. If any document presented by the applicant is not proof of residence
9under s. 6.34, the applicant shall also present proof of residence under s. 6.34. If the
10elector cannot provide proof of residence, the elector may have his or her residence
11corroborated in a statement signed by another elector who resides at the same
12residence as the elector who is casting a ballot. If the residence is corroborated by
13another elector, that elector shall then present proof of residence under s. 6.34.
The
14clerk shall verify that the name on the proof of identification presented by the elector
15conforms to the name on the elector's application, shall verify that any photograph
16appearing on that document reasonably resembles the elector, and shall enter the
17type of identifying document submitted by the elector as proof of residence, the name
18of the entity or institution that issued the identifying document, and, if the
19identifying document includes a number that applies only to the individual holding
20that document, the last 4 digits of that number on the application form. If the
21number on the identifying document submitted by the elector has 6 or fewer digits,
22the clerk shall enter only the last 2 digits of that number.
SB629,3 23Section 3. 6.29 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB629,3,1424 6.29 (2) (a) Any qualified elector of a municipality who has not previously filed
25a registration form or whose name does not appear on the registration list of the

1municipality may register after the close of registration but not later than 5 p.m. or
2the close of business, whichever is later, on the Friday before an election at the office
3of the municipal clerk and at the office of the clerk's agent if the clerk delegates
4responsibility for electronic maintenance of the registration list to an agent under
5s. 6.33 (5) (b). The elector shall complete, in the manner provided under s. 6.33 (2),
6a registration form containing all information required under s. 6.33 (1). The
7registration form shall also contain the following certification: “I, ...., hereby certify
8that, to the best of my knowledge, I am a qualified elector, having resided at ... for
9at least 28 10 consecutive days immediately preceding this election, and I have not
10voted at this election". The elector shall also provide proof of residence under s. 6.34.
11Alternatively, if the elector is unable to provide proof of residence under s. 6.34, the
12elector may have his or her residence corroborated in a statement that is signed by
13another elector who resides at the same residence as the registering elector. The
14corroborating elector shall then provide proof of residence under s. 6.34.
SB629,4 15Section 4. 6.33 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB629,5,716 6.33 (1) The commission shall prescribe the format, size, and shape of
17registration forms. All nonelectronic forms shall be printed and each item of
18information shall be of uniform font size, as prescribed by the commission. Except
19as otherwise provided in this subsection, electronic forms shall contain the same
20information as nonelectronic forms. The municipal clerk shall supply sufficient
21forms to meet voter registration needs. The commission shall design the form to
22obtain from each elector information as to name; date; residence location; location of
23previous residence immediately before moving to current residence location;
24citizenship; date of birth; age; the number of a current and valid operator's license
25issued to the elector under ch. 343 or the last 4 digits of the elector's social security

1account number; whether the elector has resided within the ward or election district
2for the number of consecutive days specified in s. 6.02 (1); whether the elector has
3been convicted of a felony for which he or she has not been pardoned, and if so,
4whether the elector is incarcerated, or on parole, probation, or extended supervision;
5whether the elector is disqualified on any other ground from voting; and whether the
6elector is currently registered to vote at any other location. The commission shall
7include on the nonelectronic form a space for the elector's signature and the
8signature of any corroborating elector when required under s. 6.29 (2) (a), 6.55 (2),
96.86 (3) (a) 2. The commission shall include
on the electronic form the authorization
10specified under s. 6.30 (5). Below the space for the signature or authorization,
11respectively, the commission shall include the following statement: “Falsification of
12information on this form is punishable under Wisconsin law as a Class I felony." The
13commission shall include on the form a space to enter the name of any inspector,
14municipal clerk, or deputy clerk under s. 6.55 (2) who obtains the form and a space
15for the inspector, clerk, or deputy clerk to sign his or her name, affirming that the
16inspector, clerk, or deputy clerk has accepted the form. The commission shall include
17on the form a space for entry of the ward and aldermanic district, if any, where the
18elector resides and any other information required to determine the offices and
19referenda for which the elector is certified to vote. The commission shall also include
20on the form a space where the clerk may record an indication of whether the form is
21received by mail or by electronic application, a space where the clerk shall record an
22indication of the type of identifying document submitted by the elector as proof of
23residence under s. 6.34 or an indication that the elector's information in lieu of proof
24of residence was verified under s. 6.34 (2m), the name of the entity or institution that
25issued the identifying document, and, if the identifying document includes a number

1that applies only to the individual holding that document, that number. The
2commission shall also include on the form a space where the clerk, for any elector who
3possesses a valid voting identification card issued to the person under s. 6.47 (3), may
4record the identification serial number appearing on the voting identification card.
5Each county clerk shall obtain sufficient registration forms for completion by an
6elector who desires to register to vote at the office of the county clerk under s. 6.28
7(4).
SB629,5 8Section 5. 6.33 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB629,5,139 6.33 (2) (b) Except as provided in s. 6.86 (3) (a) 2., the registration form shall
10be signed by the registering elector and any corroborating elector under s. 6.29 (2)
11(a) or 6.55 (2)
before the clerk, issuing officer, or election registration official. The
12form shall contain a certification by the registering elector that all statements are
13true and correct.
SB629,6 14Section 6. 6.55 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB629,6,515 6.55 (2) (b) Upon executing the registration form under par. (a), the elector
16shall provide proof of residence under s. 6.34. If the elector cannot provide proof of
17residence, the elector may have his or her residence corroborated in a statement that
18is signed by another elector who resides at the same residence as the registering
19elector. The corroborator shall then provide proof of residence under s. 6.34.
The
20signing by the elector executing and any corroborating elector who signs the
21registration form shall be sign the form in the presence of the election registration
22official or inspector. Upon receipt of the registration form, the official or inspector
23shall enter both the type of identifying document submitted by the elector as proof
24of residence and the name of the entity or institution that issued the identifying
25document, and, if the identifying document includes a number that applies only to

1the individual holding that document, that number in the space provided on the
2form. The official or inspector shall then print his or her name on and sign the form,
3indicating that the official or inspector has accepted the form. Upon compliance with
4this procedure, the elector shall be permitted to cast his or her vote, if the elector
5complies with all other requirements for voting at the polling place.
SB629,7 6Section 7. 6.55 (2) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB629,7,97 6.55 (2) (c) 1. As an alternative to registration at the polling place under pars.
8(a) and (b), the board of election commissioners, or the governing body of any
9municipality, may by resolution require a person who qualifies as an elector and who
10is not registered and desires to register on the day of an election to do so at another
11readily accessible location in the same building as the polling place serving the
12elector's residence or at an alternate polling place assigned under s. 5.25 (5) (b),
13instead of at the polling place serving the elector's residence. In such case, the
14municipal clerk shall prominently post a notice of the registration location at the
15polling place. An eligible elector who desires to register shall execute a registration
16form as prescribed under par. (a) and provide proof of residence as provided under
17s. 6.34. If the elector cannot provide proof of residence, the elector may have his or
18her residence corroborated in the same manner as provided in par. (b).
The signing
19by the
person executing and any corroborating elector who signs the registration
20form shall be sign the form in the presence of the municipal clerk, deputy clerk, or
21election registration official. Upon receipt of the registration form, the municipal
22clerk, deputy clerk, or election registration official shall enter the type of identifying
23document submitted by the elector as proof of residence, the name of the entity or
24institution that issued the identifying document, and, if the identifying document
25includes a number that applies only to the individual holding that document, the last

14 digits of that number in the space provided on the form. If the number on the
2identifying document submitted by the elector has 6 or fewer digits, the clerk shall
3enter only the last 2 digits of that number. The municipal clerk, the deputy clerk,
4or the election registration official shall then print his or her name and sign the form,
5indicating that the clerk, deputy clerk, or official has accepted the form. Upon proper
6completion of registration, the municipal clerk, deputy clerk, or election registration
7official shall serially number the registration and give one copy to the person for
8presentation at the polling place serving the person's residence or an alternate
9polling place assigned under s. 5.25 (5) (b).
SB629,8 10Section 8. 6.55 (2) (c) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB629,7,2011 6.55 (2) (c) 2. Upon compliance with the procedures under subd. 1., the
12municipal clerk or deputy clerk shall issue a certificate addressed to the inspectors
13of the proper polling place directing that the elector be permitted to cast his or her
14vote if the elector complies with all requirements for voting at the polling place. The
15clerk shall enter the name and address of the elector on the face of the certificate.
16If the elector's registration is corroborated under this subsection or on election day
17under s. 6.86 (3) (a) 2., the clerk shall also enter the name and address of the
18corroborator on the face of the certificate.
The certificate shall be numbered serially
19and prepared in duplicate. The municipal clerk shall preserve one copy in his or her
20office.
SB629,9 21Section 9. 6.56 (5) of the statutes is created to read:
SB629,8,422 6.56 (5) Whenever any letter or postcard mailed under this section is returned
23undelivered, or whenever the U.S. postal service notifies the clerk of an incorrect
24address that was apparently incorrect on the day of the election, or whenever it
25otherwise appears that an individual who has voted is not qualified or has voted more

1than once in an election, and the individual was permitted to vote after corroboration
2was made under s. 6.55 (2) or 6.86 (3) (a) 2., the municipal clerk shall provide the
3name of the corroborating elector to the district attorney for the county where the
4individual resides and the commission.
SB629,10 5Section 10. 6.79 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB629,8,166 6.79 (4) Supplemental information. When any elector provides proof of
7residence under s. 6.15, 6.29 or 6.55 (2), the election officials shall enter both the type
8of identifying document provided and the name of the entity or institution that
9issued the identifying document on the poll list, or separate list maintained under
10sub. (2) (c). When any elector corroborates the residence of any person offering to vote
11under s. 6.55 (2) (b) or (c), or the residence of any person registering on election day
12under s. 6.86 (3) (a) 2., the election officials shall also enter the name and address of
13the corroborator next to the name of the elector whose residence is corroborated on
14the poll list or the separate list maintained under sub. (2) (c).
When any person
15offering to vote has been challenged and taken the oath, following the person's name
16on the poll list, the officials shall enter the word “Sworn".
SB629,11 17Section 11. 6.86 (3) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB629,9,918 6.86 (3) (a) 2. If a hospitalized elector is not registered, the elector may register
19by agent under this subdivision at the same time that the elector applies for an
20official ballot by agent under subd. 1. To register the elector under this subdivision,
21the agent shall present a completed registration form that contains the required
22information supplied by the elector and the elector's signature, unless the elector is
23unable to sign due to physical disability. In this case, the elector may authorize
24another elector to sign on his or her behalf. Any elector signing a form on another
25elector's behalf shall attest to a statement that the application is made on request

1and by authorization of the named elector, who is unable to sign the form due to
2physical disability. The agent shall present this statement along with all other
3information required under this subdivision. The agent shall provide proof of the
4elector's residence under s. 6.34. If the agent cannot present proof of residence, the
5agent shall ensure that the registration form is signed and substantiated by another
6elector who resides in the same residence as the hospitalized elector, corroborating
7the residence of the hospitalized elector. The form shall contain the full name of the
8corroborating elector. The agent shall then present proof of the corroborating
9elector's residence under s. 6.34.
SB629,12 10Section 12. 12.13 (3) (v) of the statutes is created to read:
SB629,9,1311 12.13 (3) (v) Corroborate any information offered by a proposed elector for the
12purpose of permitting the person the register to vote or to vote, knowing such
13information to be false.
SB629,9,1414 (End)
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