LRB-4464/1
MPG:emw
2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
October 18, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives Rozar, Snodgrass, Baldeh,
Bare, C. Anderson, Conley, Joers, Krug, Michalski, Murphy, Mursau,
Ortiz-Velez, Ratcliff, Shelton and Subeck, cosponsored by Senators Knodl,
Spreitzer, Jacque and Wirch. Referred to Committee on Campaigns and
Elections.
AB495,1,2
1An Act to amend 7.52 (3) (a) of the statutes;
relating to: poll list numbers
2marked on certain absentee ballots.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, in a municipality using a municipal board of absentee ballot
canvassers to canvass absentee ballots in an election, the board of absentee ballot
canvassers must assign a poll list number to each absent elector and mark the
number on the back of the absentee ballot. This bill eliminates the requirement that
the poll list number be marked on the back of absentee ballots.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB495,1
3Section
1. 7.52 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB495,2,164
7.52
(3) (a) The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall first open the carrier
5envelope only, and, in such a manner that a member of the public, if he or she desired,
6could hear, announce the name of the absent elector or the identification serial
7number of the absent elector if the elector has a confidential listing under s. 6.47 (2).
8When the board of absentee ballot canvassers finds that the certification has been
1properly executed and the applicant is a qualified elector of the ward or election
2district, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall enter an indication on the poll
3list next to the applicant's name indicating an absentee ballot is cast by the elector.
4The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall then open the envelope containing the
5ballot in a manner so as not to deface or destroy the certification thereon. The board
6of absentee ballot canvassers shall take out the ballot without unfolding it or
7permitting it to be unfolded or examined. Unless the ballot is cast under s. 6.95, the
8board of absentee ballot canvassers shall verify that the ballot has been endorsed by
9the issuing clerk. If the poll list indicates that proof of residence is required and no
10proof of residence is enclosed or the name or address on the document that is provided
11is not the same as the name and address shown on the poll list, the board of absentee
12ballot canvassers shall proceed as provided under s. 6.97 (2).
The board of absentee
13ballot canvassers shall mark the poll list number of each elector who casts an
14absentee ballot on the back of the elector's ballot. The board of absentee ballot
15canvassers shall then deposit the ballot into the proper ballot box and enter the
16absent elector's name or poll list number after his or her name on the poll list.
