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SB214-SSA1,7 17Section 7. 6.88 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB214-SSA1,8,818 6.88 (1) When an absentee ballot arrives at the office of the municipal clerk,
19or at an alternate site under s. 6.855, if applicable, the clerk shall enclose it,
20unopened, in a carrier envelope which shall be securely sealed and endorsed with the
21name and official title of the clerk, and the words “This envelope contains the ballot
22of an absent elector and must be opened in the same room where votes are being cast
23at the polls during polling hours on election day or, in municipalities where absentee
24ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, stats., at a meeting of the municipal board of
25absentee ballot canvassers under s. 7.52, stats
only as provided by law." If the elector

1is a military elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1), or an overseas elector, regardless of
2whether the elector qualifies as a resident of this state under s. 6.10, and the ballot
3was received by the elector by facsimile transmission or electronic mail and is
4accompanied by a separate certificate, the clerk shall enclose the ballot in a
5certificate envelope and securely append the completed certificate to the outside of
6the envelope before enclosing the ballot in the carrier envelope. The clerk shall keep
7the ballot in the clerk's office or at the alternate site, if applicable until delivered, as
8required in sub. (2).
SB214-SSA1,8 9Section 8. 6.88 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB214-SSA1,8,2210 6.88 (2) When an absentee ballot is received by the municipal clerk prior to the
11delivery of the official ballots to the election officials of the ward in which the elector
12resides or, where absentee ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, to the municipal board
13of absentee ballot canvassers, the municipal clerk shall seal the ballot envelope in
14the carrier envelope as provided under sub. (1), and shall enclose the envelope in a
15package and deliver the package to the election inspectors of the proper ward or
16election district or, in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed under s.
177.52, to the municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers when it convenes at a
18meeting convened
under s. 7.52 (1). When the official ballots for the ward or election
19district have been delivered to the election inspectors before the receipt of an
20absentee ballot, the clerk shall immediately enclose the envelope containing the
21absentee ballot in a carrier envelope as provided under sub. (1) and deliver it in
22person to the proper election officials.
SB214-SSA1,9 23Section 9. 6.88 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
SB214-SSA1,9,3
16.88 (4) (a) At the municipal clerk's discretion, and subject to pars. (b) to (f), the
2election inspectors may convene a meeting to begin processing absentee ballots
3beginning at 7 a.m. on the day before the election.
SB214-SSA1,9,84 (b) The municipal clerk shall give at least 48 hours' notice of a meeting under
5this subsection. Any member of the public has the same right of access to observe
6the proceedings at a meeting under this subsection that the individual would have
7under s. 7.41. The election inspectors may order the removal of any individual
8exercising the right to observe the proceedings if the individual disrupts the meeting.
SB214-SSA1,9,179 (c) Upon recess of a meeting convened under this subsection on the day before
10the election, at least once every 4 hours on election day until the polls close, and at
11least once every hour after the polls close until the canvass is complete, the municipal
12clerk or his or her designee shall post, at the municipal clerk's office and on the
13Internet at a site announced by the clerk before canvassing begins, and shall make
14available to any person upon request, a statement that shows the number of absentee
15ballots that the election inspectors have canvassed and the number of absentee
16ballots returned that remain to be canvassed. The posting may not include the
17names or addresses of any electors.
SB214-SSA1,9,2518 (d) If the meeting of the election inspectors recesses on the day before the
19election, the election inspectors shall place the absentee ballots in secure ballot bags
20and shall secure the automatic tabulating equipment, and the areas where the
21programmed media, memory devices, and absentee ballots are housed, with
22tamper-evident security seals in a double-lock location such as a locked cabinet
23inside a locked office. Before resuming the canvassing of absentee ballots on election
24day, the election inspectors shall check and record the status of each tamper-evident
25seal. The election inspectors shall immediately notify the commission of any

1evidence of tampering. If the election inspectors discover evidence of tampering with
2respect to automatic tabulating equipment, the canvass may not resume until the
3equipment is replaced and the replacement equipment is tested as provided in s.
45.84. If the election inspectors discover evidence of tampering under this paragraph,
5the municipality shall conduct a recount after the election of all absentee ballots cast
6in the municipality in the election in the manner provided under s. 9.01 and shall
7audit the election equipment to verify the accuracy of the absentee ballot count in the
8municipality in the election.
SB214-SSA1,10,129 (e) Only those tasks specified in sub. (3) may be performed on the day before
10the election. Automatic tabulating equipment may not be used until election day,
11and absentee ballots canvassed under this section may not be tallied until after the
12canvass is complete or after the polls close on election day, whichever is later.
SB214-SSA1,10,1713 (f) No person may intentionally act in a manner that would give him or her the
14ability to know or to provide information on the accumulating or final results from
15the ballots canvassed under this section before the canvass is complete or before the
16polls close on election day, whichever is later. Whoever intentionally violates this
17paragraph is guilty of a Class I felony.
SB214-SSA1,10 18Section 10. 7.15 (1) (cm) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB214-SSA1,11,1019 7.15 (1) (cm) Prepare official absentee ballots for delivery to electors requesting
20them, and except as provided in this paragraph, send an official absentee ballot to
21each elector who has requested a ballot by mail, and
to each military elector, as
22defined in s. 6.34 (1), and overseas elector who has requested a ballot by mail,
23electronic mail, or facsimile transmission, no later than the 47th 45th day before
24each partisan primary, presidential preference primary, special primary or election,
25and general election and no later than the 21st day before each other primary and

1election if the request is made before that day
; otherwise, the municipal clerk shall
2send or transmit an official absentee ballot within one business day of the time the
3military or overseas elector's request for such a ballot is received. The clerk shall
4send or transmit an absentee ballot for the presidential preference primary to each
5elector who has requested that
to all other electors requesting a ballot no later than
6the 47th 21st day before the presidential preference primary or election if the request
7is made before that day, or, if the request is not made before that day, within one
8business day of the time the request is received. For purposes of this paragraph,
9“business day" means any day from Monday to Friday, not including a legal holiday
10under s. 995.20.
SB214-SSA1,11 11Section 11. 7.52 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 7.52 (1) (a) 1. and
12amended to read:
SB214-SSA1,12,413 7.52 (1) (a) 1. The governing body of any municipality may provide by ordinance
14that, in lieu of canvassing absentee ballots at polling places under s. 6.88, the
15municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers designated under s. 7.53 (2m) shall,
16at each election held in the municipality, canvass all absentee ballots received by the
17municipal clerk by 8 p.m. on election day. Prior to enacting an ordinance under this
18subsection subdivision, the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners of the
19municipality shall notify the elections commission in writing of the proposed
20enactment and shall consult with the elections commission concerning
21administration of this section. At every election held in the municipality following
22enactment of an ordinance under this subsection subdivision, the board of absentee
23ballot canvassers shall, any time after the opening of the polls and before 10 p.m. on
24election day,
publicly convene at 7 a.m. on the day before the election to count the
25begin the canvass of absentee ballots for the municipality and may not recess until

110 p.m. on that day, or at such time when there are no further absentee ballots to be
2processed on that day, whichever is earlier, at which time the meeting shall recess;
3the meeting shall reconvene at 7 a.m. on election day and continue until all absentee
4ballots received by the municipal clerk by 8 p.m. on election day have been canvassed
.
SB214-SSA1,12,11 53. The municipal clerk shall give at least 48 hours' notice of any the meeting
6under this subsection. Any member of the public has the same right of access to a
7meeting of the municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers under this subsection
8that the individual would have under s. 7.41 to observe the proceedings at a polling
9place. The board of absentee ballot canvassers may order the removal of any
10individual exercising the right to observe the proceedings if the individual disrupts
11the meeting.
SB214-SSA1,12 12Section 12. 7.52 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
SB214-SSA1,12,1513 7.52 (1) (a) 2. No municipality may utilize a central counting location under s.
147.51 (1) unless the governing body of the municipality has adopted an ordinance
15under subd. 1.
SB214-SSA1,13 16Section 13. 7.52 (1) (d) to (g) of the statutes are created to read:
SB214-SSA1,12,2517 7.52 (1) (d) Upon recess of the board of absentee ballot canvassers on the day
18before the election, at least once every 4 hours on election day until the polls close,
19and at least once every hour after the polls close until the canvass is complete, the
20municipal clerk or his or her designee shall post, at the municipal clerk's office and
21on the Internet at a site announced by the clerk before canvassing begins, and shall
22make available to any person upon request, a statement that shows the number of
23absentee ballots that the board of absentee ballot canvassers has canvassed and the
24number of absentee ballots returned that remain to be canvassed. The posting may
25not include the names or addresses of any electors.
SB214-SSA1,13,17
1(e) If the meeting of the board of absentee ballot canvassers recesses on the day
2before the election, as provided under par. (a), the board of absentee ballot canvassers
3shall place the absentee ballots in secure ballot bags and shall secure the automatic
4tabulating equipment, and the areas where the programmed media, memory
5devices, and absentee ballots are housed, with tamper-evident security seals in a
6double-lock location such as a locked cabinet inside a locked office. Before resuming
7the canvassing of ballots on election day, the board of absentee ballot canvassers
8shall check and record the status of each tamper-evident seal. The board of absentee
9ballot canvassers shall immediately notify the commission of any evidence of
10tampering. If the board of absentee ballot canvassers discovers evidence of
11tampering with respect to automatic tabulating equipment, the canvass may not
12resume until the equipment is replaced and the replacement equipment is tested as
13provided in s. 5.84. If the board of absentee ballot canvassers discovers evidence of
14tampering under this paragraph, the municipality shall conduct a recount after the
15election of all absentee ballots cast in the municipality in the election in the manner
16provided under s. 9.01 and shall audit the election equipment to verify the accuracy
17of the absentee ballot count in the municipality in the election.
SB214-SSA1,13,2118 (f) Only those tasks specified in subs. (2) to (6) may be performed on the day
19before the election. Automatic tabulating equipment may not be used until election
20day, and absentee ballots canvassed under this section may not be tallied until after
21the canvass is complete or after the polls close on election day, whichever is later.
SB214-SSA1,14,222 (g) No person may intentionally act in a manner that would give him or her the
23ability to know or to provide information on the accumulating or final results from
24the ballots canvassed under this section before the canvass is complete or before the

1polls close on election day, whichever is later. Whoever intentionally violates this
2paragraph is guilty of a Class I felony.
SB214-SSA1,14 3Section 14. 7.52 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB214-SSA1,14,144 7.52 (2) In counting the absentee ballots, the board of absentee ballot
5canvassers shall use 2 duplicate copies of a single absentee poll list for the entire
6municipality prepared in accordance with s. 6.36 (2). Upon accepting reviewing each
7absentee ballot certificate envelope to ensure that it satisfies all applicable legal
8requirements
, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall enter a poll list
9sequential count number on the absentee poll list next to the name of the elector who
10voted the ballot, beginning with the number one. If the elector's name does not
11appear on the absentee poll list, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall enter
12the number on a separate list maintained under this subsection. The board of
13absentee ballot canvassers shall record each elector's sequential count number on
14the face of the elector's certificate envelope.
SB214-SSA1,15 15Section 15. 7.52 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB214-SSA1,15,1416 7.52 (3) (a) The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall first open the carrier
17envelope only, and, in such a manner that a member of the public, if he or she desired,
18could hear, announce the name of the absent elector or the identification serial
19number of the absent elector if the elector has a confidential listing under s. 6.47 (2).
20When the board of absentee ballot canvassers finds that the certification has been
21properly executed and the applicant is a qualified elector of the ward or election
22district, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall enter an indication, including
23the elector's sequential count number as provided under sub. (2),
on the absentee poll
24list next to the applicant's name indicating an absentee ballot is cast by the elector.
25The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall then open the envelope containing the

1ballot in a manner so as not to deface or destroy the certification thereon. The board
2of absentee ballot canvassers shall take out the ballot without unfolding it or
3permitting it to be unfolded or examined
and shall remove the ballot from the
4certificate envelope
. Unless the ballot is cast under s. 6.95, the board of absentee
5ballot canvassers shall verify that the ballot has been endorsed by the issuing clerk.
6If the absentee poll list indicates that proof of residence is required and no proof of
7residence is enclosed or the name or address on the document that is provided is not
8the same as the name and address shown on the absentee poll list, the board of
9absentee ballot canvassers shall proceed as provided under s. 6.97 (2). The board of
10absentee ballot canvassers shall mark the poll list number of each elector who casts
11an absentee ballot on the back of the elector's ballot.
The board of absentee ballot
12canvassers shall then deposit the ballot into the proper ballot box and enter the
13absent elector's name or poll list number after his or her name on the poll list
or
14automatic tabulating equipment
.
SB214-SSA1,16 15Section 16. 7.52 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB214-SSA1,15,2516 7.52 (4) (a) The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall then open the ballot
17box and remove and
count the number of ballots therein without examination except
18as is necessary to ascertain that each is a single ballot. If 2 or more ballots are folded
19together so as to appear as a single ballot, the board of absentee ballot canvassers
20shall lay them aside until the count is completed; and if, after a comparison of the
21count and the appearance of the ballots it appears to the board of absentee ballot
22canvassers that the ballots folded together were voted by the same person they shall
23not be counted but the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall mark them as to the
24reason for removal, set them aside, and carefully preserve them. The board of
25absentee ballot canvassers shall then proceed under par. (b).
SB214-SSA1,17
1Section 17. 7.52 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB214-SSA1,16,62 7.52 (9) The governing body of any municipality that has provided by ordinance
3enacted under sub. (1) (a) 1. for the canvassing of absentee ballots at all elections held
4in the municipality under this section may by similar action rescind that decision.
5Thereafter, the absentee ballots at all elections held in the municipality shall be
6canvassed as provided in s. 6.88.
SB214-SSA1,18 7Section 18. 7.52 (10) of the statutes is created to read:
SB214-SSA1,16,108 7.52 (10) A member of the board of absentee ballot canvassers or other election
9official who willfully neglects or refuses to perform any of the duties prescribed under
10this section is guilty of a Class I felony.
SB214-SSA1,19 11Section 19. 8.20 (8) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB214-SSA1,17,212 8.20 (8) (a) Nomination papers for independent candidates for any office to be
13voted upon at a general election, except president, vice president and presidential
14elector,
may be circulated no sooner than April 15 preceding the election and may be
15filed no later than 5 p.m. on the June 1 preceding the partisan primary, except as
16authorized in this paragraph. If an incumbent fails to file nomination papers and
17a declaration of candidacy by 5 p.m. on June 1 preceding the partisan primary, all
18candidates for the office held by the incumbent, other than the incumbent, may file
19nomination papers no later than 72 hours after the latest time prescribed in this
20paragraph. No extension of the time for filing nomination papers applies if the
21incumbent files written notification with the filing officer or agency with whom
22nomination papers are filed for the office which the incumbent holds, no later than
235 p.m. on the 2nd Friday preceding the latest time prescribed in this paragraph for
24filing nomination papers, that the incumbent is not a candidate for reelection to his

1or her office, and the incumbent does not file nomination papers for that office within
2the time prescribed in this paragraph.
SB214-SSA1,20 3Section 20. 8.20 (8) (am) of the statutes is repealed.
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