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AB981,178 10Section 178. 7.03 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,79,2311 7.03 (1) (a) Except as authorized under this paragraph, a reasonable daily
12compensation shall be paid to each inspector, voting machine custodian, automatic
13tabulating equipment technician, member of a board of canvassers, messenger, and
14tabulator who is employed and performing duties under chs. 5 to 12. Daily
15compensation shall also be provided to inspectors and inspector trainees for
16attendance at training programs conducted by the commission secretary of state and
17municipal clerks under ss. 7.31 and 7.315. Alternatively, such election officials and
18trainees may be paid by the hour at a proportionate rate for each hour actually
19worked. Any election official or trainee may choose to volunteer his or her services
20by filing with the municipal clerk of the municipality in which he or she serves a
21written declination to accept compensation. The volunteer status of the election
22official or trainee remains effective until the official or trainee files a written
23revocation with the municipal clerk.
AB981,179 24Section 179. 7.03 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,80,6
17.03 (1) (b) Except as provided in par. (bm), any compensation owed shall be
2paid by the municipality in which the election is held, except that any compensation
3payable to a technician, messenger, tabulator, or member of the board of canvassers
4who is employed to perform services for the county shall be paid by the county and
5compensation payable to any messenger or tabulator who is employed to perform
6services for the state shall be paid by the commission secretary of state.
AB981,180 7Section 180. 7.03 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,80,158 7.03 (2) The amount of compensation of election officials, when authorized or
9required, shall be fixed by the appropriate county board of supervisors, municipal
10governing body, or municipal board of election commissioners in cities over 500,000
11population. The commission secretary of state shall fix the amount to be paid any
12person employed to perform duties for the state. If the commission secretary of state
13employs an individual to perform duties which are the responsibility of a county or
14municipality, the commission secretary shall charge the expense to the county or
15municipality.
AB981,181 16Section 181. 7.08 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,80,19 177.08 Elections commission Secretary of state. (intro.) In addition to its
18the duties for ballot arrangement under ch. 5 and date and notice requirements
19under ch. 10, the commission secretary of state shall:
AB981,182 20Section 182. 7.08 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,81,621 7.08 (1) Election forms, voting apparatus. (a) Prescribe all official ballot
22forms necessary under chs. 5 to 10 and 12 and revise the official ballot forms to
23harmonize with legislation and the current official status of the political parties
24whenever necessary. The commission secretary of state shall include on each ballot
25form, in the space for official endorsement, markings or spaces for identifying a ballot

1as an overvoted ballot, a duplicate overvoted ballot, a damaged ballot, or a duplicate
2damaged ballot, and for writing an identifying serial number. The commission
3secretary shall provide one copy of each ballot form without charge to each county
4and municipal clerk and board of election commissioners. The commission secretary
5shall distribute or arrange for distribution of additional copies. The prescribed forms
6shall be substantially followed in all elections under chs. 5 to 10 and 12.
AB981,81,127 (b) Prescribe the necessary standard sample forms and ballot containers to
8make the canvass, returns, statements and tally sheet statements for all elections
9the results of which are reportable to the commission secretary of state under s. 7.60
10(4) (a), and all other materials as it deems necessary to conduct the elections. The
11sample forms shall contain the necessary certificates of the inspectors and
12canvassers with notes explaining their use and statutory basis.
AB981,81,1713 (c) Prescribe forms required by ss. 6.24 (3) and (4), 6.30 (4) and (5), 6.33 (1), 6.47
14(1) (am) 2. and (3), 6.55 (2), and 6.86 (2) to (3). All such forms shall contain a
15statement of the penalty applicable to false or fraudulent registration or voting
16through use of the form. Forms are not required to be furnished by the commission
17secretary of state.
AB981,81,2418 (d) Promulgate rules for the administration of the statutory requirements for
19voting machines and electronic voting systems and any other voting apparatus
20which may be introduced in this state for use at elections. Pursuant to such
21responsibility, the commission secretary of state may obtain assistance from
22competent persons to check the machines, systems and apparatus and approve for
23use those types meeting the statutory requirements and shall establish reasonable
24compensation for persons performing duties under this paragraph.
AB981,183 25Section 183. 7.08 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,82,17
17.08 (2) (a) As soon as possible after the closing date for filing nomination
2papers or after the canvass of the primary vote, but no later than the deadlines
3established in s. 10.06, transmit to each county clerk a certified list of all candidates
4on file in its office for which electors in that county may vote. The list shall designate
5the order of arrangement and contain each candidate's first name, middle initial or
6initials and last name, unless the candidate on his or her nomination papers or
7declaration of candidacy specifies that the middle initial be deleted, that a full middle
8name or former legal surname be substituted for the middle initial, that an initial
9be substituted for the candidate's first name or that a nickname be substituted for
10a first or middle name or for a first initial or middle initial or initials, but no other
11abbreviations or titles are permitted. The list shall also include each candidate's
12residence and post-office address; the office for which the person is a candidate; and,
13the party or principle the candidate represents, if any, in 5 words or less. Names of
14candidates nominated under s. 7.38 or 8.35 shall be certified by the commission
15secretary of state upon filing of the necessary papers with it. At any time prior to an
16election, the commission secretary may transmit an amended certification if a
17candidate dies or is determined not to qualify for ballot placement.
AB981,184 18Section 184. 7.08 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,82,2219 7.08 (2) (d) As soon as possible after the last Tuesday in January of each year
20in which there is a presidential election, the commission secretary of state shall
21transmit to each county clerk a certified list of candidates for president who have
22qualified to have their names appear on the presidential preference primary ballot.
AB981,185 23Section 185. 7.08 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,83,324 7.08 (3) Election manual. (intro.) Prepare and publish separate from the
25election laws an election manual written so as to be easily understood by the general

1public explaining the duties of the election officials, together with notes and
2references to the statutes as the commission secretary of state considers advisable.
3The election manual shall:
AB981,186 4Section 186. 7.08 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,83,55 7.08 (3) (a) Be compiled by the commission secretary of state.
AB981,187 6Section 187. 7.08 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,83,107 7.08 (4) Election laws. Publish the election laws. The commission secretary
8of state
shall sell or distribute or arrange for the sale or distribution of copies of the
9election laws to county and municipal clerks and boards of election commissioners
10and members of the public.
AB981,188 11Section 188. 7.08 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,83,1912 7.08 (6) Enforcement of federal voting system standards. Following each
13general election, audit the performance of each voting system used in this state to
14determine the error rate of the system in counting ballots that are validly cast by
15electors. If the error rate exceeds the rate permitted under standards of the federal
16election commission in effect on October 29, 2002, the commission secretary of state
17shall take remedial action and order remedial action to be taken by affected counties
18and municipalities to ensure compliance with the standards. Each county and
19municipality shall comply with any order received under this subsection.
AB981,189 20Section 189. 7.10 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,84,221 7.10 (1) (a) Each county clerk shall provide ballots for every election in the
22county for all national, state and county offices, including metropolitan sewerage
23commission elections under s. 200.09 (11) (am), for municipal judges elected under
24s. 755.01 (4) and for state and county referenda. The official and sample ballots shall

1be prepared in substantially the same form as those prescribed by the commission
2secretary of state under s. 7.08 (1) (a).
AB981,190 3Section 190. 7.10 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,84,114 7.10 (2) Preparing ballots. The county clerk shall prepare copy for the official
5ballots immediately upon receipt of the certified list of candidates' names from the
6commission secretary of state. Names certified by the commission secretary shall be
7arranged in the order certified. The county clerk shall place the names of all
8candidates filed in the clerk's office or certified to the clerk by the commission
9secretary on the proper ballot or ballots under the appropriate office and party titles.
10The county clerk shall prepare a special ballot under s. 5.60 (8) showing only the
11candidates in the presidential preference primary.
AB981,191 12Section 191. 7.10 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,84,2213 7.10 (3) (a) The county clerk shall distribute the ballots to the municipal clerks
14no later than 48 days before each partisan primary and general election and no later
15than 22 days before each other primary and election, except that the clerk shall
16distribute the ballots under sub. (2) for the presidential preference primary no later
1748 days before the presidential preference primary. Election forms prepared by the
18commission secretary of state shall be distributed at the same time. If the
19commission secretary transmits an amended certification under s. 7.08 (2) (a) or if
20the commission secretary or a court orders a ballot error to be corrected under s. 5.06
21(6) or 5.72 (3) after ballots have been distributed, the county clerk shall distribute
22corrected ballots to the municipal clerks as soon as possible.
AB981,192 23Section 192. 7.10 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,85,3
17.10 (4) Resolving notice doubts. When in doubt as to compliance with the
2statutory requirements for election notices or the correct fees to be paid for them, the
3county clerk may consult the commission secretary of state.
AB981,193 4Section 193. 7.10 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,85,75 7.10 (7) Voter education. Each county clerk shall assist the commission
6secretary of state in conducting educational programs under s. 5.05 (12) to inform
7electors about the voting process.
AB981,194 8Section 194. 7.10 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,85,129 7.10 (8) Free election information exchange. Each county clerk shall assist
10the commission secretary of state and municipal clerks in maintaining toll-free
11telephone lines and other free access systems under s. 5.05 (13) for exchange of voting
12information.
AB981,195 13Section 195. 7.10 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,85,1514 7.10 (9) Training of election officials. Each county clerk shall assist the
15commission secretary of state in the training of election officials under s. 5.05 (7).
AB981,196 16Section 196. 7.10 (10) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,85,1917 7.10 (10) Information to commission secretary of state . Each county clerk
18shall provide to the commission secretary of state any information requested under
19s. 5.05 (14).
AB981,197 20Section 197. 7.15 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,86,521 7.15 (1) (e) Train election officials in their duties, calling them together
22whenever advisable, advise them of changes in laws, rules and procedures affecting
23the performance of their duties, and administer examinations as authorized under
24s. 7.30 (2) (c). The training shall conform with the requirements prescribed in rules
25promulgated
by the commission secretary of state under ss. 7.31 and 7.315. The clerk

1shall assure that officials who serve at polling places where an electronic voting
2system is used are familiar with the system and competent to instruct electors in its
3proper use. The clerk shall inspect systematically and thoroughly the conduct of
4elections in the municipality so that elections are honestly, efficiently and uniformly
5conducted.
AB981,198 6Section 198. 7.15 (1) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,86,117 7.15 (1) (g) In the manner prescribed by the commission secretary of state,
8report suspected election frauds, irregularities, or violations of which the clerk has
9knowledge to the district attorney for the county where the suspected activity occurs
10and to the commission secretary. The commission secretary shall annually report the
11information obtained under this paragraph to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2).
AB981,199 12Section 199. 7.15 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,86,1613 7.15 (1m) Attend training. Each municipal clerk shall, at least once every 2
14years during the period beginning on January 1 of each even-numbered year and
15ending on December 31 of the following year, attend a training program sponsored
16by the commission secretary of state under ss. 7.31 and 7.315.
AB981,200 17Section 200. 7.15 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,86,2018 7.15 (8) Resolving notice doubts. When in doubt as to compliance with the
19statutory requirements for election notices or the correct fees to be paid for them, the
20municipal clerk may consult the commission secretary of state.
AB981,201 21Section 201. 7.15 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,86,2422 7.15 (9) Voter education. Each municipal clerk shall assist the commission
23secretary of state in conducting educational programs under s. 5.05 (12) to inform
24electors about the voting process.
AB981,202 25Section 202. 7.15 (10) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,87,3
17.15 (10) Free election information exchange. Each municipal clerk shall
2assist the commission secretary of state in maintaining toll-free telephone lines and
3any other free access systems under s. 5.05 (13) for exchange of voting information.
AB981,203 4Section 203. 7.15 (13) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,87,75 7.15 (13) Information to commission secretary of state . Each municipal clerk
6shall provide to the commission secretary of state any information requested under
7s. 5.05 (14).
AB981,204 8Section 204. 7.30 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,87,149 7.30 (2) (c) The governing body of any municipality may require all persons
10serving as election officials to prove their ability to read and write English and to
11have a general knowledge of the election laws. Examinations may be given to prove
12the qualifications can be met. The municipal clerk shall ensure that all training
13meets the training requirements prescribed in rules promulgated by the commission
14secretary of state under ss. 7.31 and 7.315.
AB981,205 15Section 205. 7.30 (4) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,87,2016 7.30 (4) (e) If an appointing authority believes that, for good cause, it should
17not appoint an individual whose name is submitted as a first choice nominee under
18par. (b), it may request the commission secretary of state to authorize
19nonappointment. The commission secretary may permit nonappointment of an
20individual for cause demonstrated by an appointing authority.
AB981,206 21Section 206. 7.30 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,88,822 7.30 (6) (b) Prior to the first election following the appointment of the
23inspectors, the municipal clerk shall appoint one of the inspectors at each polling
24place, other than an inspector who is appointed under sub. (1) (b), to serve as chief
25inspector. No person may serve as chief inspector at any election who is not certified

1by the commission secretary of state under s. 7.31 at the time of the election. The
2chief inspector shall hold the position for the remainder of the term unless the
3inspector is removed by the clerk or the inspector ceases to be certified under s. 7.31,
4except that whenever wards are combined or separated under s. 5.15 (6) (b), the
5municipal clerk shall appoint another inspector who is certified under s. 7.31 to serve
6as chief inspector at each polling place designated under s. 5.15 (6) (b). If a vacancy
7occurs in the position of chief inspector at any polling place, the municipal clerk shall
8appoint one of the other inspectors who is certified under s. 7.31 to fill the vacancy.
AB981,207 9Section 207. 7.31 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,88,13 107.31 Training and certification of chief inspectors. (1) The commission
11secretary of state shall establish requirements for certification of individuals to serve
12as chief inspectors. The requirements shall include a requirement to attend at least
13one training session held under sub. (5) before beginning service.
AB981,88,16 14(2) No individual may serve as a chief inspector at a polling place in an election
15unless the individual is certified by the commission secretary of state to hold that
16office on the date of the election at which the individual serves.
AB981,88,19 17(3) The commission secretary of state shall, upon application, issue certificates
18to qualified individuals who meet the requirements to be certified as chief inspectors.
19Each certificate shall carry an expiration date.
AB981,89,2 20(4) The commission secretary of state shall require each individual to whom
21a certificate is issued under this section to meet requirements to maintain that
22certification. The requirements shall include a requirement to attend at least one
23training session held under sub. (5) every 2 years during the period beginning on
24January 1 of each even-numbered year and ending on December 31 of the following

1year. The commission secretary shall renew the certificate of any individual who
2requests renewal and who meets the requirements prescribed under this subsection.
AB981,89,7 3(5) The commission secretary of state shall conduct regular training programs
4to ensure that individuals who are certified by the commission secretary under this
5section are knowledgeable concerning their authority and responsibilities. The
6commission secretary shall pay all costs required to conduct the training programs
7from the appropriation under s. 20.510 (1) 20.575 (2) (bm).
AB981,208 8Section 208. 7.315 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,89,119 7.315 (1) (a) The commission secretary of state shall, by rule, prescribe the
10contents of the training that municipal clerks must provide to inspectors, other than
11chief inspectors, and to special voting deputies appointed under s. 6.875.
AB981,209 12Section 209. 7.315 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,89,1813 7.315 (2) The commission secretary of state shall, by rule, prescribe
14requirements for, and the content of, training required of municipal clerks under s.
157.15 (1m). The commission secretary may provide such training directly or arrange
16for such training to be provided by other organizations. The rules secretary shall
17provide a method for notifying the relevant municipal governing body if a municipal
18clerk fails to attend required training.
AB981,210 19Section 210. 7.315 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,89,2420 7.315 (3) The commission secretary of state may produce and periodically
21reissue as necessary a video program for the purpose of training election officials,
22including special voting deputies and election registration officials. The commission
23secretary shall make any such program available for viewing electronically through
24an Internet-based system.
AB981,211 25Section 211. 7.38 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,90,3
17.38 (5) In the event of failure to file the name of a current state chairperson,
2as required under s. 8.17 (12), the commission secretary of state may not recognize
3the state committee for the purpose of filling vacancies under sub. (1).
AB981,212 4Section 212. 7.41 (5) of the statutes is repealed.
AB981,213 5Section 213. 7.52 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,90,236 7.52 (1) (a) The governing body of any municipality may provide by ordinance
7that, in lieu of canvassing absentee ballots at polling places under s. 6.88, the
8municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers designated under s. 7.53 (2m) shall,
9at each election held in the municipality, canvass all absentee ballots received by the
10municipal clerk by 8 p.m. on election day. Prior to enacting an ordinance under this
11subsection, the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners of the
12municipality shall notify the elections commission secretary of state in writing of the
13proposed enactment and shall consult with the elections commission secretary
14concerning administration of this section. At every election held in the municipality
15following enactment of an ordinance under this subsection, the board of absentee
16ballot canvassers shall, any time after the opening of the polls and before 10 p.m. on
17election day, publicly convene to count the absentee ballots for the municipality. The
18municipal clerk shall give at least 48 hours' notice of any meeting under this
19subsection. Any member of the public has the same right of access to a meeting of
20the municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers under this subsection that the
21individual would have under s. 7.41 to observe the proceedings at a polling place. The
22board of absentee ballot canvassers may order the removal of any individual
23exercising the right to observe the proceedings if the individual disrupts the meeting.
AB981,214 24Section 214. 7.60 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,91,20
17.60 (4) (a) The board of canvassers shall make separate duplicate statements
2showing the numbers of votes cast for the offices of president and vice president; state
3officials; U.S. senators and representatives in congress; state legislators; justice;
4court of appeals judge; circuit judges; district attorneys; and metropolitan sewerage
5commissioners, if the commissioners are elected under s. 200.09 (11) (am). If a
6municipal judge elected under s. 755.01 (4) serves a municipality that is located
7partially within the county and candidates for that judgeship file nomination papers
8in another county, the board of canvassers shall prepare a duplicate statement
9showing the numbers of votes cast for that judgeship in that county for transmittal
10to the other county. For partisan candidates, the statements shall include the
11political party or principle designation, if any, next to the name of each candidate.
12The board of canvassers shall also prepare a statement showing the results of any
13county, technical college district, or statewide referendum. Each statement shall
14state the total number of votes cast in the county for each office; the names of all
15persons for whom the votes were cast, as returned; the number of votes cast for each
16person; and the number of votes cast for and against any question submitted at a
17referendum. The board of canvassers shall use one copy of each duplicate statement
18to report to the elections commission secretary of state, technical college district
19board, or board of canvassers of any other county and shall file the other statement
20in the office of the county clerk or board of election commissioners.
AB981,215 21Section 215. 7.60 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,92,1422 7.60 (5) Reporting. (a) Immediately following the canvass, the county clerk
23shall deliver or transmit to the elections commission secretary of state a certified
24copy of each statement of the county board of canvassers for president and vice
25president, state officials, senators and representatives in congress, state legislators,

1justice, court of appeals judge, circuit judge, district attorney, and metropolitan
2sewerage commissioners, if the commissioners are elected under s. 200.09 (11) (am).
3The statement shall record the returns for each office or referendum by ward, unless
4combined returns are authorized under s. 5.15 (6) (b) in which case the statement
5shall record the returns for each group of combined wards. Following primaries the
6county clerk shall enclose on forms prescribed by the elections commission secretary
7of state
the names, party or principle designation, if any, and number of votes
8received by each candidate recorded in the same manner. The county clerk shall
9deliver or transmit the certified statement to the elections commission secretary of
10state
no later than 9 days after each primary except the partisan primary, no later
11than 10 days after the partisan primary and any other election except the general
12election, and no later than 14 days after the general election. The board of canvassers
13shall deliver or transmit a certified copy of each statement for any technical college
14district referendum to the secretary of the technical college district board.
AB981,93,215 (b) If the board of canvassers becomes aware of a material mistake in the
16canvass of an election for state or national office or a statewide or technical college
17district referendum prior to the close of business on the day the elections commission
18secretary of state receives returns from the last county board of canvassers with
19respect to that canvass, the board of canvassers may petition the elections
20commission
secretary of state to reopen and correct the canvass. The elections
21commission
secretary of state shall direct the canvass to be reopened and corrected
22if it the secretary determines that the public interest so requires. If the elections
23commission
secretary of state directs the canvass to be reopened, the board of
24canvassers shall reconvene and transmit a certified corrected copy of the canvass

1statement to the elections commission secretary of state or secretary of the technical
2college district board.
AB981,216 3Section 216. 7.70 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,93,64 7.70 (1) Recording and preserving returns. (a) Upon receipt of the certified
5statements from the county clerks, the commission secretary of state shall record the
6election results by counties and file and carefully preserve the statements.
AB981,93,137 (b) If any county clerk fails or neglects to forward any statements, the
8commission secretary of state may require the clerk to do so immediately and if not
9received by the 8th day after a primary, or by the 11th day after any other election,
10the commission secretary of state may dispatch a special messenger to obtain them.
11Whenever it appears upon the face of any statement that an error has been made in
12reporting or computing, the commission secretary of state may return it to the county
13clerk for correction.
AB981,217 14Section 217. 7.70 (3) (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (g), (h) and (i) of the statutes are
15amended to read:
AB981,93,2316 7.70 (3) (a) The chairperson of the commission secretary of state or a designee
17of the chairperson secretary of state appointed by the chairperson secretary to
18canvass a specific election shall publicly canvass the returns and make his or her
19certifications and determinations on or before the 2nd Tuesday following a spring
20primary, the 15th day of May following a spring election, the 3rd Wednesday
21following a partisan primary, the first day of December following a general election,
22the 2nd Thursday following a special primary, or within 18 days after any special
23election.
AB981,94,924 (b) The commission chairperson secretary of state or the chairperson's
25secretary's designee shall examine the certified statements of the county boards of

1canvassers. If it appears that any material mistake has been made in the
2computation of votes, or any county board of canvassers failed to canvass the votes
3or omitted votes from any ward or election district in the county, the commission
4chairperson
secretary of state or the chairperson's secretary's designee may dispatch
5a messenger to the county clerk with written instructions to certify the facts
6concerning the mistake or the reason why the votes were not canvassed. A clerk to
7whom such instructions are delivered shall immediately make a true and full
8answer, sign it, affix the county seal and deliver it to the messenger. The messenger
9shall deliver it with all possible dispatch to the commission secretary of state.
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