6.50(1)
(1) Within 90 days following each general election, the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners of each municipality shall examine the registration records and identify each elector who has not voted within the previous 4 years if qualified to do so during that entire period and shall mail a notice to the elector in substantially the following form:
"NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF
REGISTRATION
You are hereby notified that your voter registration will be suspended, according to state law, for failure to vote within the previous 4-year period, unless you apply for continuation of your registration within 30 days. You may continue your registration by signing the statement below and returning it to this office by mail or in person.
APPLICATION FOR CONTINUATION
OF REGISTRATION
I hereby certify that I still reside at the address at which I am registered and apply for continuation of registration.
Signed ....
Present Address ....
If you have changed your residence within this municipality or changed your name, please contact this office to complete a change of name or address form.
[Office of clerk or board of election commissioners
Address
Telephone]".
6.50(2)
(2) The municipal clerk or board of election commissioners shall change the registration of all notified electors under
sub. (1) who have not applied for continuation of registration within 30 days of the date of mailing of the notice of suspension from eligible to ineligible status.
6.50(3)
(3) Upon receipt of reliable information that a registered elector has changed his or her residence to a location outside of the municipality, the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners shall notify the elector by mailing a notice by 1st class mail to the elector's registration address stating the source of the information. All municipal departments and agencies receiving information that a registered elector has changed his or her residence shall notify the clerk or board of election commissioners. If the elector no longer resides in the municipality or fails to apply for continuation of registration within 30 days of the date the notice is mailed, the clerk or board of election commissioners shall change the elector's registration from eligible to ineligible status. Upon receipt of reliable information that a registered elector has changed his or her residence within the municipality, the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners shall transfer the elector's registration and mail the elector a notice of the transfer under
s. 6.40 (2). This subsection does not restrict the right of an elector to challenge any registration under
s. 6.325,
6.48,
6.925 or
6.93.
6.50(4)
(4) The municipal clerk or board of election commissioners shall change the registration of deceased electors from eligible to ineligible status by means of checking vital statistics reports. No notice need be sent of registration changes made under this subsection.
6.50(5)
(5) The registration of any elector whose address is listed at a building which has been condemned for human habitation by the municipality under
s. 66.0413 (1) (j) shall be investigated by the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners. If the clerk or board of election commissioners can find no reason why the registration of such an elector should not be changed from eligible to ineligible status, the clerk or board of election commissioners shall change the elector's registration status. If the elector has left a forwarding address with the U.S. postal service, a notice of change in status shall be mailed by the clerk or board of election commissioners to the forwarding address.
6.50(6)
(6) The municipal clerk, upon authorization by an elector, shall change the elector's registration from eligible to ineligible status.
6.50(7)
(7) When an elector's registration is changed from eligible to ineligible status, the municipal clerk shall make an entry on the registration list, giving the date of and reason for the change.
6.50(8)
(8) Any municipal governing body may direct the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners to arrange with the U.S. postal service pursuant to applicable federal regulations, to receive change of address information with respect to individuals residing within the municipality for revision of the elector registration list. If required by the U.S. postal service, the governing body may create a registration commission consisting of the municipal clerk or executive director of the board of election commissioners and 2 other electors of the municipality appointed by the clerk or executive director for the purpose of making application for address changes and processing the information received. The municipal clerk or executive director shall act as chairperson of the commission. Any authorization under this subsection shall be for a definite period or until the municipal governing body otherwise determines. The procedure shall apply uniformly to the entire municipality whenever used. The procedure shall provide for receipt of complete change of address information on an automatic basis, or not less often than once every 2 years during the 60 days preceding the close of registration for the September primary. If a municipality adopts the procedure for obtaining address corrections under this subsection, it need not comply with the procedure for mailing address verification cards under
subs. (1) and
(2).
6.50(10)
(10) Any qualified elector whose registration is changed from eligible to ineligible status under this section may reregister as provided under
s. 6.28 (1),
6.29 (2), or
6.55 (2).
6.54
6.54
Failure to register; rights. No name may be added to the registration list after the close of registration, but any person whose name is not on the registration list but who is otherwise a qualified elector is entitled to vote at the election upon compliance with
s. 6.29 or
6.55.
6.54 History
History: 1985 a. 304 s.
60.
6.55
6.55
Polling place registration; voting by certification. 6.55(2)(a)1.1. Except where the procedure under
par. (c) or
(cm) is employed, any person who qualifies as an elector in the ward or election district where he or she desires to vote, but has not previously filed a registration form, or was registered at another location, may request permission to vote at the polling place for that ward or election district, or at an alternate polling place assigned under
s. 5.25 (5) (b). When a proper request is made, the inspector shall require the person to execute a registration form prescribed by the board. The registration form shall be completed in the manner provided under
s. 6.33 (2) and shall contain all information required under
s. 6.33 (1), together with the following certification:
"I, ...., hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge, I am a qualified elector, having resided at .... for at least 10 days immediately preceding this election, and that I am not disqualified on any ground from voting, and I have not voted, at this election."
6.55(2)(a)2.
2. If a change of address is made from outside the municipality, the municipal clerk shall file the notice required under
s. 6.40 (1) (a) 3.
6.55(2)(b)
(b) Upon executing the registration form under
par. (a), the elector shall provide acceptable proof of residence under
sub. (7). If the elector cannot provide acceptable proof of residence, the information contained in the registration form shall be corroborated in a statement that is signed by any elector who resides in the same municipality as the registering elector and that contains the current street address of the corroborating elector. The corroborator shall then provide acceptable proof of residence as provided in
sub. (7). The signing by the elector executing the registration form and by any corroborator shall be in the presence of the special registration deputy or inspector. Upon compliance with this procedure, the elector shall be permitted to cast his or her vote, if the elector complies with all other requirements for voting at the polling place.
6.55(2)(c)1.1. As an alternative to registration at the polling place under
pars. (a) and
(b), the board of election commissioners, or the governing body of any municipality may by resolution require a person who qualifies as an elector and who is not registered and desires to register on the day of an election to do so at another readily accessible location in the same building as the polling place serving the elector's residence or at an alternate polling place assigned under
s. 5.25 (5) (b), instead of at the polling place serving the elector's residence. In such case, the municipal clerk shall prominently post a notice of the registration location at the polling place. The municipal clerk, deputy clerk or special registration deputy at the registration location shall require such person to execute a registration form as prescribed under
par. (a) and to provide acceptable proof of residence as provided under
sub. (7). If the elector cannot provide acceptable proof of residence, the information contained in the registration form shall be corroborated in the manner provided in
par. (b). The signing by the elector executing the registration form and by any corroborator shall be in the presence of the municipal clerk, deputy clerk or special registration deputy. Upon proper completion of registration, the municipal clerk, deputy clerk or special registration deputy shall serially number the registration and give one copy to the elector for presentation at the polling place serving the elector's residence or an alternate polling place assigned under
s. 5.25 (5) (b).
6.55(2)(c)2.
2. Upon compliance with the procedures under
subd. 1., the municipal clerk or deputy clerk shall issue a certificate addressed to the inspectors of the proper polling place directing that the elector be permitted to cast his or her vote if the elector complies with all requirements for voting at the polling place. The clerk shall enter the name and address of the elector on the face of the certificate. If the elector's registration is corroborated, the clerk shall also enter the name and address of the corroborator on the face of the certificate. The certificate shall be numbered serially and prepared in duplicate. The municipal clerk shall preserve one copy in his or her office.
6.55(2)(c)3.
3. The elector, at the time he or she appears to vote at the polling place, shall deliver the certificate issued under
subd. 2. to the inspectors.
6.55(2)(cm)
(cm) If an elector who is not registered wishes to obtain a confidential listing under
s. 6.47 (2), the elector shall register at the office of the municipal clerk of the municipality where the elector resides. Upon completion of registration, the municipal clerk or a deputy clerk shall serially number the registration form and issue a voting identification card to the elector under
s. 6.47 (3). The elector may vote at the polling place serving his or her residence by presenting the identification card or by providing his or her name and identification serial number to the inspectors.
6.55(2)(d)
(d) A registered elector who has changed his or her name but resides at the same address, and has not notified the municipal clerk under
s. 6.40 (1) (c), shall notify the inspector of the change before voting. The inspector shall then notify the municipal clerk at the time when materials are returned under
s. 6.56 (1). If an elector has changed both a name and address, the elector shall register at the polling place or other registration location under
pars. (a) and
(b).
6.55(3)
(3) Any qualified elector in the ward or election district where the elector desires to vote whose name does not appear on the registration list but who claims to be registered to vote in the election may request permission to vote at the polling place for that ward or election district. When the request is made, the inspector shall require the person to give his or her name and address. If the elector is not at the polling place which serves the ward or election district where the elector resides, the inspector shall provide the elector with directions to the correct polling place. If the elector is at the correct polling place, the elector shall then execute the following written statement: "I, ...., hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge, I am a qualified elector, having resided at .... for at least 10 days immediately preceding this election, and that I am not disqualified on any ground from voting, and I have not voted at this election and am properly registered to vote in this election." The person shall be required to provide acceptable proof of residence as provided under
sub. (7) and shall then be given the right to vote. If the elector cannot provide acceptable proof of residence, the statement shall be certified by the elector and shall be corroborated in a statement that is signed by any other elector who resides in the municipality and that contains the current street address of the corroborating elector. The corroborator shall then provide acceptable proof of residence as provided in
sub. (7). Whenever the question of identity or residence cannot be satisfactorily resolved and the elector cannot be permitted to vote, an inspector shall telephone the office of the municipal clerk to reconcile the records at the polling place with those at the office.
6.55(6)
(6) The governing body or board of election commissioners of any municipality may provide by resolution that any of the registration duties of inspectors under
sub. (2) shall be carried out in the municipality by special registration deputies appointed by the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners at any polling place or other registration location whenever the clerk or board of election commissioners determines that the registration process provided for in that subsection will be facilitated thereby. The deputies shall be specially appointed by the clerk or board of election commissioners for one election only to conduct elector registration only.
6.55(7)(a)(a) For purposes of this section, an identifying document constitutes acceptable proof of residence if it includes:
6.55(7)(a)1.
1. A current and complete name, including both the given and family name; and
6.55(7)(a)2.
2. A current and complete residential address, including a numbered street address, if any, and the name of a municipality.
6.55(7)(b)
(b) If an elector's address has changed since an identifying document was issued, the new information may be typed or printed on the document by hand, in ink.
6.55(7)(c)
(c) Identifying documents which constitute acceptable proof of residence under this section, when they contain the information specified in
par. (a), include the following:
6.55(7)(c)3.
3. Any other official identification card or license issued by a Wisconsin governmental body or unit or by an employer in the normal course of business, but not including a business card.
6.55(7)(c)6.
6. A check-cashing or courtesy card issued by a merchant in the normal course of business.
6.55(7)(c)7.
7. A real estate tax bill or receipt for the current year or the year preceding the date of the election.
6.55(7)(c)8.
8. A residential lease which is effective for a period that includes election day.
6.55(7)(c)9.
9. A university, college or technical institute fee card.
6.55(7)(c)10.
10. A university, college or technical institute identification card.
6.55(7)(c)12.
12. A gas, electric or telephone service statement for the period commencing not earlier than 90 days before election day.
6.55(7)(d)
(d) Identifying documents specified in
par. (c) which are valid for use during a specified period shall be valid on the day of an election in order to constitute acceptable proof of residence at that election.
6.56
6.56
Verification of voters not appearing on list. 6.56(1)(1) The list containing the names of persons voting under
ss. 6.29 and
6.55 (2) and
(3) shall be returned together with all forms and certificates to the municipal clerk.
6.56(2)
(2) Upon receipt of the list, the municipal clerk shall make a check to determine whether each person who has been allowed to vote under
s. 6.55 (3) is properly registered. If so, the clerk shall correct the registration list. If the address on the registration list is not correct, the clerk shall correct the address. The clerk shall then notify the elector by postcard when he or she is properly registered. If such person is found not to be properly registered, the clerk shall send the person a 1st class letter with that information, containing a mail registration form under
s. 6.30 (4). The letter 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 postcard. If such letter is returned undelivered, or if the U.S. postal service notifies the clerk of an improper address which was apparently improper on the day of the election, the clerk shall notify the district attorney.
6.56(3)
(3) Upon receipt of the list under
sub. (1), the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners shall make an audit of all electors registering to vote at the polling place or other registration location under
s. 6.55 (2) and all electors registering by agent on election day under
s. 6.86 (3) (a) 2. The audit shall be made by 1st class postcard. The postcard shall be marked in accordance with postal regulations to ensure that it will be returned to the clerk or board of election commissioners if the elector does not reside at the address given on the postcard. If any postcard is returned undelivered, or if the clerk or board of election commissioners is informed of a different address than the one specified by the elector which was apparently improper on the day of the election, the clerk or board shall change the status of the elector from eligible to ineligible on the registration list and mail the elector a notice of the change in status and provide the name to the district attorney for the county where the polling place is located.
6.56(4)
(4) After each election, the municipal clerk shall carefully check to assure that no person has been allowed to vote more than once. Whenever the municipal clerk has good reason to believe that a person has voted more than once in an election, the clerk shall send the person a 1st class letter 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. The letter shall inform the person that all registrations relating to that person may be changed from eligible to ineligible status within 7 days unless the person contacts the office of the clerk to clarify the matter. A copy of the letter and of any subsequent information received from or about the addressee shall be sent to the district attorney.
6.56(5)
(5) Whenever any letter or postcard mailed under this section is returned undelivered, or whenever the U.S. postal service notifies the clerk of an improper address which was apparently improper on the day of the election or whenever it otherwise appears that a person has voted who is not qualified or has voted more than once in an election, and the person has been permitted to vote after corroboration was made under
s. 6.55 (2) or
(3) or
6.86 (3) (a) 2., the name of the corroborator shall also be provided to the district attorney.
6.56(6)
(6) The municipal clerk may not disqualify an elector under this section except upon the grounds and in accordance with the procedures specified in
s. 6.325.
6.57
6.57
Registration list for special elections. The municipal clerk of each municipality where a special election is held nonconcurrently with a regularly scheduled election shall obtain a copies of the current registration list from the board for use in the special election.
6.57 History
History: 1975 c. 85 s.
30; Stats. 1975 s. 6.57;
1977 c. 394;
2003 a. 265.
VOTING
6.76
6.76
Time off for voting. 6.76(1)(1) Any person entitled to vote at an election is entitled to be absent from work while the polls are open for a period not to exceed 3 successive hours to vote. The elector shall notify the affected employer before election day of the intended absence. The employer may designate the time of day for the absence.
6.76(2)
(2) No penalty, other than a deduction for time lost, may be imposed upon an elector by his or her employer by reason of the absence authorized by this section.
6.76(3)
(3) This section applies to all employers including the state and all political subdivisions of the state and their employees, but does not affect the employees' right to holidays existing on June 28, 1945, or established after that date.
6.76 History
History: 1977 c. 394;
1991 a. 316.
6.77
6.77
Place for voting. 6.77(1)(1) An elector may vote only at the polling place for his or her residence designated by the governing body or board of election commissioners.
6.77(2)
(2) Whenever territory which was formerly a part of one municipality becomes a part of another municipality, an elector of the territory shall vote in the municipality in which the territory is included on the day of the election.
6.77 History
History: 1975 c. 85;
1985 a. 304.
6.78
6.78
Poll hours. The polls at any election shall be open:
6.78(1)
(1) In 1st, 2nd and 3rd class cities, from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.
6.78(2)
(2) In 4th class cities, villages and towns, from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m.; extendable by the governing body to not earlier than 7 a.m. Notice of the change of hours shall be given by publication in a newspaper, under
ch. 985, once each week for 2 successive weeks, with the first insertion not less than 8 days before the election. The new hours shall take effect only after the notice provisions have been complied with. When the ordinance applies to all future elections, notice need be given only for the first election affected by the change.
6.78(3)
(3) The polls at school elections shall be open the same hours as provided under
subs. (1) and
(2) in the municipality or municipalities in which the school district is located, except as authorized in
s. 120.06 (9) (a).
6.78(4)
(4) Any elector waiting to vote, whether within the polling booth or in the line outside the booth at the time the polls officially close, shall be permitted to vote.
6.78 History
History: 1985 a. 304;
1991 a. 316.
6.79
6.79
Recording electors. 6.79(1m)(1m)
Separate poll lists. Two election officials at each election ward shall be in charge of and shall maintain 2 separate poll lists containing information relating to all persons voting. The municipal clerk may elect to maintain the information on the lists manually or electronically. If the lists are maintained electronically, the officials shall enter the information into an electronic data recording system that enables retrieval of printed copies of the lists at the polling place. The system employed is subject to the approval of the board.
6.79(2)
(2) Municipalities with registration. 6.79(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in
sub. (6), where there is registration, each person, before receiving a voting number, shall state his or her full name and address. Upon the prepared registration list, after the name of each elector, the officials shall enter the serial number of the vote as it is polled, beginning with number one. Each elector shall receive a slip bearing the same serial number. A separate list shall be maintained for electors who are voting under
s. 6.15,
6.29 or
6.55 (2) or
(3) and electors who are reassigned from another polling place under
s. 5.25 (5) (b). Each such elector shall have his or her full name, address and serial number likewise entered and shall be given a slip bearing such number.
