6.30(1)(1)
In person. An elector shall apply for registration in person, except as provided under
sub. (4) and
s. 6.86 (3) (a) 2.
6.30(4)
(4) By mail. Any eligible elector may register by mail on a form prescribed by the board and provided by each municipality. The form shall be designed to obtain the information required in
ss. 6.33 (1) and to provide for changes authorized under
s. 6.40 (1) (a). The form shall contain a certification by the elector that all statements are true and correct. The form shall be prepostpaid for return when mailed at any point within the United States. The form shall be available in the municipal clerk's office and may be distributed by any elector of the municipality. The clerk shall mail a registration form to any elector upon written or oral request.
6.30 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also s. ElBd 3.02, Wis. adm. code.
6.32
6.32
Verification of mail registrations. 6.32(1)
(1) Upon receipt of a registration form which is submitted by mail under
s. 6.30 (4), the municipal clerk shall examine the form for sufficiency.
6.32(2)
(2) If the form is insufficient to accomplish registration or the clerk knows or has reliable information that the proposed elector is not qualified, the clerk shall notify the proposed elector within 5 days, if possible, and request that the elector appear at the clerk's office or other registration center to complete a proper registration or substantiate the information presented.
6.32(3)
(3) If the form is submitted later than the close of registration, the clerk shall make a good faith effort to notify the elector that he or she may register at the clerk's office under
s. 6.29 or at the proper polling place or other location designated under
s. 6.55 (2).
6.32(4)
(4) If the form is sufficient to accomplish registration and the clerk has no reliable information to indicate that the proposed elector is not qualified, the clerk shall enter the elector's name on the registration list and transmit a 1st class letter or postcard to the registrant, specifying the elector's ward or aldermanic district, or both, if any, and polling place. If the letter or postcard is returned, or if the clerk is informed of a different address than the one specified by the elector, the clerk shall change the status of the elector on the list from eligible to ineligible. The letter or postcard shall be marked in accordance with postal regulations to ensure that it will be returned to the clerk if the elector does not reside at the address given on the letter or postcard.
6.325
6.325
Disqualification of electors. No person may be disqualified as an elector unless the municipal clerk, board of election commissioners or a challenging elector under
s. 6.48 demonstrates beyond a reasonable doubt that the person does not qualify as an elector or is not properly registered. If it appears that the challenged elector is registered at a residence in this state other than the one where the elector now resides, the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners shall, before permitting the elector to vote, require the elector to transfer his or her registration under
s. 6.40 (1) (a) and shall notify the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners at the former residence. The municipal clerk or board of election commissioners may require naturalized applicants to show their naturalization certificates.
6.33
6.33
Registration forms; manner of completing. 6.33(1)(1) The municipal clerk shall supply sufficient registration forms as prescribed by the board printed on loose-leaf sheets or cards to obtain from each applicant information as to name, date, residence location, citizenship, age, whether the applicant has resided within the ward or election district for at least 10 days, whether the applicant has lost his or her right to vote, and whether the applicant is currently registered to vote at any other location, and shall provide a space for the applicant's signature. The forms shall also include a space where the clerk may record an indication of whether the form is received by mail and a space for the identification serial number of any elector who is issued such a number under
s. 6.47 (3). Each register of deeds shall obtain sufficient registration forms at the expense of the unit of government by which he or she is employed for completion by any elector who desires to register to vote.
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (1) is amended eff. 1-1-06 by
2003 Wis. Act 265 to read:
Effective date text
(1) The municipal clerk shall supply sufficient registration forms as prescribed by the board printed on loose-leaf sheets or cards to obtain from each applicant information as to name; date; residence location; citizenship; date of birth; age; the number of a 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 10 days; whether the applicant has lost his or her right to vote; and whether the applicant is currently registered to vote at any other location. The forms shall also provide a space for the applicant's signature and 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 forms shall also include a space where the clerk may record an indication of whether the form is received by mail 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 register of deeds shall obtain sufficient registration forms at the expense of the unit of government by which he or she is employed for completion by any elector who desires to register to vote at the office of the register of deeds under s. 6.28 (3).
6.33(2)(a)(a) The information may be recorded by any person, except that the indication of whether the registration is received by mail 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. Ward and aldermanic district information shall be filled in by the clerk.
Effective date note
NOTE: Par. (a) is amended eff. 1-1-06 by
2003 Wis. Act 265 to read:
Effective date text
(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, 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.
6.33(2)(b)
(b) Except as provided in
s. 6.86 (3) (a) 2., the registration form shall be signed by the registering elector and any corroborating elector under
s. 6.29 (2) (a) or
6.55 (2) before the clerk, issuing officer or registration deputy. The form shall contain a certification by the registering elector that all statements are true and correct.
6.33(4)
(4) When an individual's registration is changed from eligible to ineligible status, the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners shall enter the date and reason for change on the registration list.
6.33(5)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), whenever a municipal clerk receives a valid registration or valid change of a name or address under an existing registration and whenever a municipal clerk changes a registration from eligible to ineligible status, the municipal clerk shall promptly enter electronically on the list maintained by the board under
s. 6.36 (1) the information required under that subsection, except that the municipal clerk may update any entries that change on the date of an election in the municipality within 30 days after that date, and the municipal clerk shall provide to the board information that is confidential under
s. 6.47 (2) in such manner as the board prescribes.
6.33(5)(b)
(b) The municipal clerk of any municipality may, by mutual consent, designate any other municipal clerk or any county clerk as the clerk's agent to carry out the functions of the municipal clerk under this section for that municipality. The municipal clerk shall notify the county clerk of each county in which the municipality is located and the board of any such designation in writing. The municipal clerk may, by similar notice to the clerk's agent at least 14 days prior to the effective date of any change, discontinue the designation. If the municipal clerk designates another municipal clerk or a county clerk as his or her agent, the municipal clerk shall immediately forward all registration changes filed with the clerk and voting record information obtained by the clerk to the clerk's agent for electronic entry on the registration list.
6.35
6.35
Filing registration forms. 6.35(1)
(1) Under the direction of the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners, the original registration forms shall be filed in one of the following ways, except as provided in
sub. (1m):
6.35(1)(a)
(a) In alphabetical order of the electors' names.
6.35(1)(b)
(b) In alphabetical order according to street names, in numerical order on each street and in alphabetical order of the electors' names at each address on the street.
6.35(1m)
(1m) Original registration forms of electors who have obtained a confidential listing under
s. 6.47 (2) shall be filed in alphabetical order after the forms of the other electors.
6.35(3)
(3) Original registration forms shall be maintained in the office of the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners at all times.
6.36
6.36
Official registration list. 6.36(1)(a)(a) The board shall compile and maintain electronically an official registration list. The list shall contain the name and address of each registered elector in the state, the date of birth of the elector, the ward and aldermanic district of the elector, if any, and, for each elector, a unique registration identification number assigned by the board, the number of a valid operator's license issued to the elector under
ch. 343, if any, or the last 4 digits of the elector's social security account number, if any, any identification serial number issued to the elector under
s. 6.47 (3), the date of any election in which the elector votes, an indication of whether the elector is an overseas elector, as defined in
s. 6.24 (1), an indication of any accommodation required under
s. 5.25 (4) (a) to permit voting by the elector, an indication of the method by which the elector's registration form was received, and such other information as may be determined by the board to facilitate administration of elector registration requirements.
6.36(1)(b)1.1. The list shall be open to public inspection under
s. 19.35 (1) and shall be electronically accessible by any person, except that:
6.36(1)(b)1.a.
a. No person other than an employee of the board, a municipal clerk, a deputy clerk, an executive director of a city board of election commissioners, or a deputy designated by the executive director may view the date of birth, registration identification number, operator's license number, or social security account number of an elector, the address of an elector to whom an identification serial number is issued under
s. 6.47 (3), or any indication of an accommodation required under
s. 5.25 (4) (a) to permit voting by an elector.
6.36(1)(b)1.b.
b. No person other than an employee of the board, a municipal clerk, or an election official who is authorized by a municipal clerk may make a change in the list.
6.36(1)(b)2.
2. The list shall be electronically accessible by name and shall also be accessible in alphabetical order of the electors' names for the entire state and for each county, municipality, ward, and combination of wards authorized under
s. 5.15 (6) (b).
6.36(1)(c)
(c) The list shall be designed in such a way that the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners of any municipality and any election official who is authorized by the clerk or executive director of the board of election commissioners may, by electronic transmission, add entries to or change entries on the list for any elector who resides in, or who the list identifies as residing in, that municipality and no other municipality.
6.36(1)(d)
(d) Upon receipt of official notification by the appropriate election administrative authority of another state, territory, or possession that an elector whose name appears on the list has registered to vote in that state, territory, or possession, the board or the municipal clerk of the municipality where the elector formerly resided shall change the elector's registration from eligible to ineligible status.
6.36(1)(e)
(e) If the board adds the name of any elector to the list, the board shall promptly notify the municipal clerk of the municipality where the elector resides. If the board changes the registration of any elector from eligible to ineligible status, the board shall promptly notify the municipal clerk of the municipality where the elector resides or, if the elector has changed his or her residence from one municipality to another municipality in this state, shall promptly notify the municipal clerk of the municipality where the elector resided prior to the change. Notification shall be made in writing or by electronic transmission. If the board changes the registration of any elector from eligible to ineligible status, the board shall make an entry on the list giving the date of and the reason for the change.
6.36(1)(f)
(f) The board shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure that the list is maintained in a manner that precludes unauthorized persons from making alterations to the list.
6.36(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in
pars. (b) and
(c), each registration list prepared for use as a poll list at a polling place shall contain the full name and address of each registered elector; a blank column for the entry of the serial number of the electors when they vote; if the list is prepared for use at an election for national office, an indication next to the name of each elector for whom identification is required under
par. (c) 2.; and a form of a certificate stating that the list is a true and complete registration list of the municipality or the ward or wards for which the list is prepared.
Effective date note
NOTE: Par. (a) is amended eff. 1-1-06 by
2003 Wis. Act 265 to read:
Effective date text
(a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), each registration list prepared for use as a poll list at a polling place shall contain the full name and address of each registered elector; a blank column for the entry of the serial number of the electors when they vote; if the list is prepared for use at an election for national office, an indication next to the name of each elector for whom identification is required under par. (c) 2.; and a form of certificate bearing the certification of the executive director of the board stating that the list is a true and complete registration list of the municipality or the ward or wards for which the list is prepared.
6.36(2)(b)
(b) If an elector obtains a confidential listing under
s. 6.47 (2), the registration list shall be prepared such that the address of the elector does not appear on copies of the list that are used at polling places.
6.36(2)(c)1.a.
a. "Military elector" means a member of a uniformed service on active duty who, by reason of that duty, is absent from the residence where the member is otherwise qualified to vote; a member of the merchant marine, as defined in
s. 6.22 (1) (a), who by reason of service in the merchant marine, is absent from the residence where the member is otherwise qualified to vote; or the spouse or dependent of any such member who, by reason of the duty or service of the member, is absent from the residence where the spouse or dependent is otherwise qualified to vote.
6.36(2)(c)1.b.
b. "Overseas elector" means an elector who resides outside the United States and who is qualified under federal law to vote in elections for national office in this state because the elector was last domiciled in this state immediately prior to the elector's departure from the United States.
6.36(2)(c)2.
2. If the registration list is prepared for use at an election for national office, the list shall contain, next to the name of each elector, an indication of whether identification is required for the elector to be permitted to vote. Identification is required if the elector is not a military elector or an overseas elector and the elector registers by mail and has not previously voted in an election for national office in the municipality where the elector is voting.
Effective date note
NOTE: Subd. 2. is amended eff. 1-1-06 by
2003 Wis. Act 265 to read:
Effective date text
2. If the registration list is prepared for use at an election for national office, the list shall contain, next to the name of each elector, an indication of whether identification is required for the elector to be permitted to vote. Identification is required if the elector is not a military elector or an overseas elector and the elector registers by mail and has not previously voted in an election for national office in this state.
6.36(3)
(3) The original registration forms shall be controlling whenever discrepancies occur in entering information from the forms under
s. 6.33 (5).
6.36(4)
(4) The names and identification serial numbers of electors who have obtained a confidential listing under
s. 6.47 (2) shall appear separately after the remainder of the list. These names and serial numbers shall be arranged alphabetically by last name.
6.40
6.40
Transferring registration. 6.40(1)(a)1.1. Any registered elector shall transfer registration after a change of residence within the state by filing in person with the municipal clerk or by mailing to the municipal clerk a signed request stating his or her present address, affirming that this will be his or her residence for 10 days prior to the election and providing the address where he or she was last registered. Alternatively, the elector may transfer his or her registration at the proper polling place or other registration location under
s. 6.02 (2) in accordance with
s. 6.55 (2) (a). If an elector is voting in the ward or election district where the elector formerly resided, the change shall be effective for the next election.
6.40(1)(a)2.
2. If a municipal clerk receives a request from an elector to transfer his or her registration to another municipality in this state, the clerk shall change the elector's registration and shall notify the municipal clerk of the municipality to which the elector is changing his or her residence.
6.40(1)(a)3.
3. If a municipal clerk receives a request from an elector who is registered in another municipality to transfer his or her registration to the municipality served by the clerk, the clerk shall change the elector's registration and shall notify the municipal clerk of the municipality where the elector formerly resided of the elector's change of residence.
6.40(1)(c)
(c)
Name change. Whenever an elector's name is legally changed, including a change by marriage or divorce, the elector shall transfer his or her registration to his or her legal name by appearing in person or mailing to the municipal clerk a signed request for a transfer of registration to such name. Alternatively, a registered elector may make notification of a name change at his or her polling place under
s. 6.55 (2) (d).
6.40(2)(a)(a) Municipal clerks may transfer any elector's registration upon receipt of reliable information that the elector has changed residence within the municipality. The clerk shall mail the elector a notice of the transfer.
6.40(2)(b)
(b) In addition to the revision which is required under
s. 6.50, municipal clerks may conduct door-to-door and mail registration canvasses at any time. The door-to-door canvass shall consist of both the identification of electors who no longer reside at the address for which they are registered and the addition to the registration list of the names of electors who reside at that address. The mail canvass shall consist of verification that eligible electors continue to reside at the addresses shown on the registration list after the mailing of notices in accordance with
s. 6.50 (1) and
(2). The mail canvass may also consist of adding to the registration list the names of eligible electors whose names do not appear on the list. Both door-to-door and mail canvasses whenever made shall be made throughout the municipality in a uniform manner. An elector who wishes to obtain a confidential listing under
s. 6.47 (2) shall register at the office of the municipal clerk of the municipality where the elector resides.
6.40(3)
(3) Recording changes. All changes of names and addresses under this section shall be filed with the municipal clerk and the clerk shall then correct the official registration list.
6.45
6.45
Access to registration list. 6.45(1)
(1) After the deadline for revision of the registration list, the municipal clerk shall make copies of the list for election use. The registration list and any supplemental lists which are prepared at polling places or other registration locations under
s. 6.55, shall be open to public inspection. Under the regulations prescribed by the municipal clerk, any person may copy the registration list at the office of the clerk. A registration list maintained at a polling place may be examined by any person who is observing the proceedings under
s. 7.41 when such use does not interfere with the conduct of the election.
6.45(1m)
(1m) The registration list and any supplemental lists which are prepared at polling places or other registration locations under
s. 6.55, shall be open to public inspection. Under the regulations prescribed by the municipal clerk, any person may copy the registration list at the office of the clerk. A registration list maintained at a polling place may be examined by any person who is observing the proceedings under
s. 7.41 when such use does not interfere with the conduct of the election. This subsection does not apply to information that is confidential under
s. 6.47.
6.45(2)
(2) The municipal clerk shall furnish upon request to each candidate who has filed nomination papers for an office which represents at least part of the residents of the municipality one copy of the current registration list for those areas for which he or she is a candidate for a fee not to exceed the cost of reproduction. The clerk shall exclude information that is confidential under
s. 6.47 (2) from copies of the list, except as authorized under
s. 6.47 (8).
6.46
6.46
Poll lists; copying. 6.46(1)(1) Poll lists shall be preserved by the municipal clerk until destruction or other disposition is authorized under
s. 7.23.
6.46(2)
(2) Poll lists shall be open to public inspection, except as provided in
s. 6.47. The municipal clerk shall furnish upon request to each candidate who has filed nomination papers for an office which represents at least part of the municipality one copy of the current poll list for those areas for which he or she is a candidate for a fee not to exceed the cost of reproduction. If a copying machine is not accessible, the clerk shall remove the lists from the office for the purposes of copying, and return them immediately thereafter. The clerk shall exclude information that is confidential under
s. 6.47 (2) from copies of the list, except as authorized under
s. 6.47 (8).
6.46 History
History: 1975 c. 85,
199;
1999 a. 49.
6.47
6.47
Confidentiality of information relating to victims of domestic abuse. 6.47(1)(a)1.
1. An individual who has been granted a protective order that is in effect.
6.47(1)(a)2.
2. An individual who files an affidavit with the municipal clerk of the municipality where the individual resides, on a form prescribed by the board, that is signed by a sheriff or the chief of a police department and directed to the municipal clerk, and that verifies that a person has been charged with or convicted of an offense relating to domestic abuse in which the individual was a victim and reasonably continues to be threatened by that person.
6.47(1)(b)
(b) "Offense relating to domestic abuse" means an offense specified in
s. 940.19,
940.20 (1m),
940.201,
940.22,
940.225,
940.32,
947.013,
948.02,
948.025,
948.06,
948.09 or
948.095.
6.47(1)(c)
(c) "Protected individual" means an individual whose name and address is confidential under
sub. (2).
