6.29(1)
(1) No names may be added to a registration list for any election after the close of registration, except as authorized under this section or
s. 6.55 (2) or
6.86 (3) (a) 2. 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 this section, if the person complies with all other requirements for voting at the polling place.
6.29(2)(a)(a) Any qualified elector of a municipality who has not previously filed a registration form or whose name does not appear on the registration list of the municipality may register after the close of registration but not later than 5 p.m. or the close of business, whichever is later, on the Friday before an election at the office of the municipal clerk and at the office of the clerk's agent if the clerk delegates responsibility for electronic maintenance of the registration list to an agent under
s. 6.33 (5) (b). The elector shall complete, in the manner provided under
s. 6.33 (2), a registration form containing all information required under
s. 6.33 (1). The registration form shall also contain the following certification: "I, ...., hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, I am a qualified elector, having resided at ... for at least 28 consecutive days immediately preceding this election, and I have not voted at this election". The elector shall also provide proof of residence under
s. 6.34.
6.29(2)(am)
(am) The board shall provide to each municipal clerk a list prepared for use at each municipal clerk's office showing the name and address of each person whose name appears on the list provided by the department of corrections under
s. 301.03 (20m) as ineligible to vote on the date of the election, whose address is located in the municipality, and whose name does not appear on the registration list for that municipality. Prior to permitting an elector to register to vote under this subsection, the municipal clerk shall review the list. If the name of an elector who wishes to register to vote appears on the list, the municipal clerk shall inform the elector that the elector is ineligible to register to vote. If the elector maintains that he or she is eligible to vote in the election, the municipal clerk shall permit the elector to register to vote but shall mark the elector's registration form as "ineligible to vote per Department of Corrections." If the elector wishes to vote, the municipal clerk shall challenge the elector's ballot in the same manner as provided for inspectors who challenge ballots under
s. 6.79 (2) (dm).
6.29(2)(b)
(b) Upon the filing of the registration form required by this section, the municipal clerk or clerk's agent under
s. 6.33 (5) (b) shall enter the type of identifying document submitted by the elector as proof of residence, the name of the entity or institution that issued the identifying document, and, if the identifying document includes a number that applies only to the individual holding that document, the last 4 digits of that number on the registration form. If the number on the identifying document submitted by the elector has 6 or fewer digits, the clerk shall enter only the last 2 digits of that number. The municipal clerk or clerk's agent under
s. 6.33 (5) (b) shall issue a certificate containing the name and address of the elector addressed to the inspectors of the proper ward or election district 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 certificate shall be numbered serially, prepared in duplicate and one copy preserved in the office of the municipal clerk.
6.29(2)(c)
(c) At the time he or she appears at the correct polling place, the elector shall deliver any certificate issued under
par. (b) to the inspectors. If the elector applies for and obtains an absentee ballot, any certificate shall be annexed to and mailed with the absentee ballot to the office of the municipal clerk.
6.29(2)(d)
(d) The inspectors shall record the names of electors who present certificates in person or for whom certificates are presented with absentee ballots under this section on the list maintained under
s. 6.56 (1). These names shall then be added to the registration list if the electors are qualified.
6.30
6.30
How to register. 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 ch.
GAB 3, Wis. adm. code.
6.32
6.32
Verification of certain registrations. 6.32(1)
(1) Upon receipt of a registration form that is submitted by mail under
s. 6.30 (4) or that is submitted by a special registration deputy appointed under
s. 6.26, 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. The letter or postcard shall be sent within 10 days of receipt of the form. 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 board shall prescribe the format, size, and shape of registration forms. All forms shall be printed on cards and each item of information shall be of uniform font size, as prescribed by the board. The municipal clerk shall supply sufficient forms to meet voter registration needs. The forms shall be designed to obtain from each applicant information as to name; date; residence location; location of previous residence immediately before moving to current residence location; citizenship; date of birth; age; the number of a current and 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 28 consecutive days; whether the applicant has been convicted of a felony for which he or she has not been pardoned, and if so, whether the applicant is incarcerated, or on parole, probation, or extended supervision; whether the applicant is disqualified on any other ground from voting; and whether the applicant is currently registered to vote at any other location. The form shall include a space for the applicant's signature. Below the space for the signature, the form shall state "Falsification of information on this form is punishable under Wisconsin law as a Class I felony.". The form shall include a space to enter the name of any special registration deputy under
s. 6.26 or
6.55 (6) or inspector, municipal clerk, or deputy clerk under
s. 6.55 (2) who obtains the form and a space for the deputy, inspector, clerk, or deputy clerk to sign his or her name, affirming that the deputy, inspector, clerk, or deputy clerk has accepted the form. The form shall include a space for entry of 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 form shall also include a space where the clerk may record an indication of whether the form is received by mail, a space where the clerk shall record an indication of the type of identifying document submitted by the elector as proof of residence under
s. 6.34, the name of the entity or institution that issued the identifying document, and, if the identifying document includes a number that applies only to the individual holding that document, that number. The form shall also include 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 county clerk shall obtain sufficient registration forms for completion by an elector who desires to register to vote at the office of the county clerk under
s. 6.28 (4).
6.33(2)(a)(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, the type of identifying document submitted by the elector as proof of residence under
s. 6.34, 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 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) and this paragraph, 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 as provided in
par. (b) and this paragraph, the municipal clerk may update any entries that change on the date of an election other than a general election within 30 days after the date of that election, and may update any entries that change on the date of a general election within 45 days after the date of that election. The legal counsel of the board may, upon request of a municipal clerk, permit the clerk to update entries that change on the date of a general election within 60 days after that election. 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.
6.33 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also s.
GAB 3.02, Wis. adm. code.
6.34
6.34
Proof of residence required. 6.34(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.
6.34(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.
6.34(2)
(2) Upon completion of a registration form prescribed under
s. 6.33, each eligible elector who is required to register under
s. 6.27, who is not a military elector or an overseas elector, shall provide an identifying document that establishes proof of residence under
sub. (3). If the elector registered by mail, the identifying document may not be a residential lease.
6.34(3)(a)(a) An identifying document used to establish proof of an elector's residence under
sub. (2) shall contain the information required under
par. (b) and is limited to one of the following:
6.34(3)(a)1.
1. A current and valid operator's license issued under
ch. 343.
6.34(3)(a)3.
3. Any other official identification card or license issued by a Wisconsin governmental body or unit.
6.34(3)(a)4.
4. An official identification card or license issued by an employer in the normal course of business that contains a photograph of the cardholder or license holder, but not including a business card.
6.34(3)(a)5.
5. A real property tax bill or receipt for the current year or the year preceding the date of the election.
6.34(3)(a)7.
7. Any of the following documents without the address specified in
par. (b):
6.34(3)(a)7.a.
a. A university, college, or technical college identification card that contains a photograph of the cardholder together with a fee payment receipt issued to the cardholder by the university, college, or technical college dated no earlier than 9 months before the date of the election at which the receipt is presented.
6.34(3)(a)7.b.
b. An identification card issued by a university, college or technical college that contains a photograph of the cardholder if the university, college, or technical college that issued the card provides a certified and current list of students who reside in housing sponsored by the university, college, or technical college and who are U.S. citizens to the municipal clerk prior to the election showing the current address of the students and if the municipal clerk, special registration deputy, or inspector verifies that the student presenting the card is included on the list.
6.34(3)(a)8.
8. A utility bill for the period commencing not earlier than 90 days before the day registration is made.
6.34(3)(a)11.
11. A check or other document issued by a unit of government.
6.34(3)(b)
(b) Except as provided in
par. (a) 7., the identifying documents prescribed in
par. (a) shall contain all of the following in order to be considered proof of residence:
6.34(3)(b)1.
1. A current and complete name, including both the given and family name.
6.34(3)(b)2.
2. A current and complete residential address, including a numbered street address, if any, and the name of a municipality.
6.34(3)(c)
(c) Identifying documents specified in
par. (a) which are valid for use during a specified period must be valid on the day that an elector makes application for registration in order to constitute proof of residence.
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), any information relating to the elector that appears on the current list transmitted to the board by the department of corrections under
s. 301.03 (20m), 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 an indication of whether the elector was required under
s. 6.34 to provide proof of residence and, if so, the type of identifying document submitted as proof of residence, the name of the entity or institution that issued the identifying document, and, if the identifying document included a number that applies only to the individual holding that document, up to the last 4 digits of that number. If the number on the identifying document submitted by the elector had 6 or fewer digits, the list under this paragraph may not contain more than the last 2 digits of that number. The list under this paragraph may contain 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. Except as provided in
pars. (bm) and
(bn), no person other than an employee of the board, a county clerk, a deputy county clerk, an executive director of a county board of election commissioners, a deputy designated by the executive director, a municipal clerk, a deputy municipal 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, 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)(bm)
(bm) The board or any municipal clerk or board of election commissioners may transfer any information in the registration list to which access is restricted under
par. (b) 1. a. to a law enforcement agency, as defined in
s. 165.77 (1) (b), to be used for law enforcement purposes.
6.36(1)(bn)
(bn) The board may transfer any information in the registration list to which access is restricted under
par. (b) 1. a. to a subunit of the state government of another state to be used for official purposes.
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
par. (b), each registration list prepared for use as a poll list at a polling place or for purposes of canvassing absentee ballots at an election 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 or the poll list number used by the municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers in canvassing absentee ballots; an indication next to the name of each elector for whom proof of residence under
s. 6.34 is required; a space for entry of the type of and the name of the entity or institution that issued the identifying document submitted by the elector as proof of residence when proof of residence under
s. 6.34 is required; a space for entry of the elector's signature, or if another person signed the elector's registration form for the elector by reason of the elector's physical disability, the word "exempt"; and a form of certificate bearing the certification of the administrator of the elections division 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. The board shall, by rule, prescribe the space and location for entry of each elector's signature on the poll list which shall provide for entry of the signature without changing the orientation of the poll list from the orientation used by the election officials.
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)
(c) The list shall contain, next to the name of each elector, an indication of whether proof of residence under
s. 6.34 is required for the elector to be permitted to vote. If proof of residence is provided, the type of identifying document submitted by the elector and the name of the entity or institution that issued the identifying document shall be entered on the list in the space provided. Proof of residence 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 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.
6.36(6)
(6) The board shall establish by rule the fee for obtaining a copy of the official registration list, or a portion of the list. The amount of the fee shall be set, after consultation with county and municipal election officials, at an amount estimated to cover both the cost of reproduction and the cost of maintaining the list at the state and local level. The rules shall require that revenues from fees received be shared between the state and municipalities or their designees under
s. 6.33 (5) (b), and shall specify a method for such allocation.
6.36 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also s.
GAB 3.50, Wis. adm. code.
6.40
6.40
Transferring registration.
