AB581: Bill Text

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2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE

2023 Assembly BILL 581

October 31, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives Haywood, Sinicki, Ratcliff, Considine, Bare, Emerson, Conley, Palmeri, Ohnstad, Moore Omokunde, Joers, J. Anderson, Stubbs, Drake, Subeck, Shankland, Clancy and Jacobson, cosponsored by Senators Pfaff, L. Johnson, Wirch, Smith, Hesselbein, Larson and Roys. Referred to Committee on Transportation.

AB581,1,3 An Act to create 343.14 (6m) of the statutes; relating to: facilitating voter registration for applicants for a driver's license or state identification card and granting rule-making authority.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires the Department of Transportation to do all of the following as a part of the application process for a driver's license or state identification card:

1. Determine whether the applicant is eligible and registered to vote.

2. If the applicant is eligible to vote, but not registered to vote, provide a voter registration form and information concerning eligibility to vote to the applicant, instructions for completing the form, and, unless the applicant declines in writing, assistance in completing the form.

3. Provide to the applicant a written explanation of how to register to vote in person, by mail, and by electronic means.

The bill also requires that DOT and the Elections Commission jointly promulgate rules providing, as a part of the application process, the opportunity for applicants for a license or identification card to be automatically registered to vote.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB581,1 Section 1. 343.14 (6m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB581,2,3 343.14 (6m) (a) The department shall do all of the following as part of the application process for a license or identification card under this section:

AB581,2,5 1. Determine whether the applicant is eligible to vote, but not registered to vote.

AB581,2,9 2. If the applicant is eligible to vote, but not registered to vote, provide to the applicant the voter registration form prescribed under s. 6.33 and information concerning eligibility to vote, instructions for completing the form, and, unless the applicant declines in writing, assistance in completing the form.

AB581,2,12 3. Provide to the applicant a written explanation of how to register to vote in person under s. 6.30 (1), by mail under s. 6.30 (4), and by electronic means under s. 6.30 (5).

AB581,2,16 (b) The department and the elections commission jointly shall promulgate rules providing, as a part of the application process, the opportunity for applicants for a license or identification card under this section to be automatically registered to vote.

AB581,2,17 (End)