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SB946-ASA1,8,2510 6.88 (1) When an absentee ballot arrives at the office of the municipal clerk,
11or at an alternate site under s. 6.855, if applicable, the clerk shall enclose it,
12unopened, in a carrier envelope which shall be securely sealed and endorsed with the
13name and official title of the clerk, and the words “This envelope contains the ballot
14of an absent elector and must be opened in the same room where votes are being cast
15at the polls during polling hours on election day or, in municipalities where absentee
16ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, stats., at a meeting of the municipal board of
17absentee ballot canvassers under s. 7.52, stats
only as provided by law." If the elector
18is a military elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1), or an overseas elector, regardless of
19whether the elector qualifies as a resident of this state under s. 6.10, and the ballot
20was received by the elector by facsimile transmission or electronic mail and is
21accompanied by a separate certificate, the clerk shall enclose the ballot in a
22certificate envelope and securely append the completed certificate to the outside of
23the envelope before enclosing the ballot in the carrier envelope. The clerk shall keep
24the ballot in the clerk's office or at the alternate site, if applicable until delivered, as
25required in sub. (2).
SB946-ASA1,8
1Section 8. 6.88 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB946-ASA1,9,142 6.88 (2) When an absentee ballot is received by the municipal clerk prior to the
3delivery of the official ballots to the election officials of the ward in which the elector
4resides or, where absentee ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, to the municipal board
5of absentee ballot canvassers, the municipal clerk shall seal the ballot envelope in
6the carrier envelope as provided under sub. (1), and shall enclose the envelope in a
7package and deliver the package to the election inspectors of the proper ward or
8election district or, in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed under s.
97.52, to the municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers when it convenes at a
10meeting convened
under s. 7.52 (1). When the official ballots for the ward or election
11district have been delivered to the election inspectors before the receipt of an
12absentee ballot, the clerk shall immediately enclose the envelope containing the
13absentee ballot in a carrier envelope as provided under sub. (1) and deliver it in
14person to the proper election officials.
SB946-ASA1,9 15Section 9. 6.88 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
SB946-ASA1,9,1816 6.88 (4) (a) 1. The governing body of any municipality not specified in s. 7.52
17(1) (a) may provide by ordinance that absentee ballots received by the municipal clerk
18may be canvassed on the day before the election.
SB946-ASA1,9,2119 2. Prior to enacting an ordinance under subd. 1., the municipal clerk shall
20notify the commission in writing of the proposed enactment and shall consult with
21the commission concerning administration of this subsection.
SB946-ASA1,9,2422 (am) In any municipality having an ordinance under par. (a), subject to pars.
23(b) to (f), the election inspectors may convene a meeting to begin canvassing absentee
24ballots beginning at 7 a.m. on the day before the election.
SB946-ASA1,10,5
1(b) The municipal clerk shall give at least 60 days' notice of a meeting under
2this subsection. Any member of the public has the same right of access to observe
3the proceedings at a meeting under this subsection that the individual would have
4under s. 7.41. The election inspectors may order the removal of any individual
5exercising the right to observe the proceedings if the individual disrupts the meeting.
SB946-ASA1,10,166 (c) 1. At 7 a.m., noon, and 8 p.m. on the day before the election, and at 7 a.m.,
7noon, and 8 p.m. on election day, the municipal clerk or his or her designee shall
8provide to the county clerk of the county in which the municipality is located a
9statement that shows the total number of absentee ballots returned to the
10municipality, the total number of absentee ballots the election inspectors have
11canvassed under this subsection, and the total number of absentee ballots that
12remain to be canvassed. The county clerk shall promptly post each statement on the
13Internet site on which the county posts returns on election night under s. 7.60. In
14a 1st class city, the city clerk or his or her designee may post the statement required
15under this paragraph on the city clerk's Internet site. The statement may not include
16the names or addresses of any electors.
SB946-ASA1,10,1917 2. An absentee ballot may be considered canvassed for purposes of subd. 1. only
18after all tasks have been completed in the canvassing process except for the tallying
19of votes.
SB946-ASA1,11,920 (d) When the meeting of the election inspectors recesses on the day before the
21election, the election inspectors shall secure the automatic tabulating equipment,
22and the areas where the programmed media, memory devices, and absentee ballots
23are housed, with tamper-evident security seals in a double-lock location such as a
24locked cabinet inside a locked office. Before resuming the canvassing of absentee
25ballots on election day, the election inspectors shall check and record the status of

1each tamper-evident seal. The election inspectors shall immediately notify the
2commission of any evidence of tampering. If the election inspectors discover evidence
3of tampering with respect to automatic tabulating equipment, the canvass may not
4resume until the equipment is replaced and the replacement equipment is tested as
5provided in s. 5.84. If the election inspectors discover evidence of tampering under
6this paragraph, the municipality shall conduct a recount after the election of all
7absentee ballots cast in the municipality in the election in the manner provided
8under s. 9.01 and shall audit the election equipment to verify the accuracy of the
9absentee ballot count in the municipality in the election.
SB946-ASA1,11,1210 (e) Votes on absentee ballots canvassed under this subsection may not be tallied
11until after the canvass is complete or after the polls close on election day, whichever
12is later.
SB946-ASA1,11,1713 (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 subsection before the canvass is complete or before
16the polls close on election day, whichever is later. Whoever intentionally violates this
17paragraph is guilty of a Class I felony.
SB946-ASA1,10 18Section 10. 7.15 (1) (cm) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB946-ASA1,12,1019 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.
SB946-ASA1,11 11Section 11. 7.15 (16) of the statutes is created to read:
SB946-ASA1,12,2212 7.15 (16) Election night reporting. (a) At 9 p.m. on election night, and every
13hour thereafter until the canvass is complete, the municipal clerk or his or her
14designee shall provide to the county clerk of the county in which the municipality is
15located a statement that shows the total number of ballots, including absentee
16ballots, cast at the municipality in the election, the total number of ballots, including
17absentee ballots, that have been canvassed, and the total number of ballots,
18including absentee ballots, that remain to be canvassed. The county clerk shall
19promptly post each statement on the Internet site on which the county posts returns
20on election night under s. 7.60. In a 1st class city, the city clerk or his or her designee
21may post the statement required under this subsection on the city clerk's Internet
22site. The statement may not include the names or addresses of any electors.
SB946-ASA1,12,2523 (b) An absentee ballot may be considered canvassed for purposes of par. (a) only
24after all tasks have been completed in the canvassing process except for the tallying
25of votes.
SB946-ASA1,12
1Section 12. 7.52 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 7.52 (1) (a) 1. and
2amended to read:
SB946-ASA1,13,203 7.52 (1) (a) 1. The governing body of any municipality may provide by ordinance
4that, in lieu of canvassing absentee ballots at polling places under s. 6.88, the
5municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers designated under s. 7.53 (2m) shall,
6at each election held in the municipality, canvass all absentee ballots received by the
7municipal clerk by 8 p.m. on election day. Prior to enacting an ordinance under this
8subsection subdivision, the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners of the
9municipality shall notify the elections commission in writing of the proposed
10enactment and shall consult with the elections commission concerning
11administration of this section. At Except as provided under par. (h), at every election
12held in the municipality following enactment of an ordinance under this subsection
13subdivision, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall, any time after the opening
14of the polls and before 10 p.m. on election day,
publicly convene at 7 a.m. on the day
15before the election
to count the begin the canvass of absentee ballots for the
16municipality and may not recess until 8 p.m. on that day, or at such time when there
17are no further absentee ballots to be processed on that day, whichever is earlier, at
18which time the meeting shall recess; the meeting shall reconvene at 7 a.m. on election
19day and continue until all absentee ballots received by the municipal clerk by 8 p.m.
20on election day have been canvassed
.
SB946-ASA1,14,2 213. The municipal clerk shall give at least 48 hours' 60 days' notice of any the
22meeting under this subsection. Any member of the public has the same right of
23access to a meeting of the municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers under this
24subsection that the individual would have under s. 7.41 to observe the proceedings
25at a polling place. The board of absentee ballot canvassers may order the removal

1of any individual exercising the right to observe the proceedings if the individual
2disrupts the meeting.
SB946-ASA1,13 3Section 13. 7.52 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
SB946-ASA1,14,64 7.52 (1) (a) 2. No municipality may utilize a central counting location under s.
57.51 (1) unless the governing body of the municipality has adopted an ordinance
6under subd. 1.
SB946-ASA1,14 7Section 14. 7.52 (1) (d) to (h) of the statutes are created to read:
SB946-ASA1,14,188 7.52 (1) (d) 1. At 7 a.m., noon, and 8 p.m. on the day before the election, and
9at 7 a.m., noon, and 8 p.m. on election day, the municipal clerk or his or her designee
10shall provide to the county clerk of the county in which the municipality is located
11a statement that shows the total number of absentee ballots returned to the
12municipality, the total number of absentee ballots the municipal board of absentee
13ballot canvassers has canvassed under this subsection, and the total number of
14absentee ballots that remain to be canvassed. The county clerk shall promptly post
15each statement on the Internet site on which the county clerk posts returns on
16election night under s. 7.60. In a 1st class city, the city clerk or his or her designee
17may post the statement required under this paragraph on the city clerk's Internet
18site. The statement may not include the names or addresses of any electors.
SB946-ASA1,14,2119 2. An absentee ballot may be considered canvassed for purposes of subd. 1. only
20after all tasks have been completed in the canvassing process except for the tallying
21of votes.
SB946-ASA1,15,1222 (e) When the meeting of the board of absentee ballot canvassers recesses on the
23day before the election, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall secure the
24automatic tabulating equipment, and the areas where the programmed media,
25memory devices, and absentee ballots are housed, with tamper-evident security

1seals in a double-lock location such as a locked cabinet inside a locked office. Before
2resuming the canvassing of ballots on election day, the board of absentee ballot
3canvassers shall check and record the status of each tamper-evident seal. The board
4of absentee ballot canvassers shall immediately notify the commission of any
5evidence of tampering. If the board of absentee ballot canvassers discovers evidence
6of tampering with respect to automatic tabulating equipment, the canvass may not
7resume until the equipment is replaced and the replacement equipment is tested as
8provided in s. 5.84. If the board of absentee ballot canvassers discovers evidence of
9tampering under this paragraph, the municipality shall conduct a recount after the
10election of all absentee ballots cast in the municipality in the election in the manner
11provided under s. 9.01 and shall audit the election equipment to verify the accuracy
12of the absentee ballot count in the municipality in the election.
SB946-ASA1,15,1513 (f) Votes on absentee ballots canvassed under this section may not be tallied
14until after the canvass is complete or after the polls close on election day, whichever
15is later.
SB946-ASA1,15,2016 (g) No person may intentionally act in a manner that would give him or her the
17ability to know or to provide information on the accumulating or final results from
18the ballots canvassed under this section before the canvass is complete or before the
19polls close on election day, whichever is later. Whoever intentionally violates this
20paragraph is guilty of a Class I felony.
SB946-ASA1,15,2321 (h) Canvassing absentee ballots on the day before the election under this
22section is optional except for each spring and general election and each special
23election or recall election if the special or recall election is for a state or national office.
SB946-ASA1,15 24Section 15. 7.52 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB946-ASA1,16,11
17.52 (2) In counting the absentee ballots, the board of absentee ballot
2canvassers shall use 2 duplicate copies of a single absentee poll list for the entire
3municipality prepared in accordance with s. 6.36 (2). Upon accepting reviewing each
4absentee ballot certificate envelope to ensure that it satisfies all applicable legal
5requirements
, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall enter a poll list
6sequential count number on the absentee poll list next to the name of the elector who
7voted the ballot, beginning with the number one. If the elector's name does not
8appear on the absentee poll list, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall enter
9the number on a separate list maintained under this subsection. The board of
10absentee ballot canvassers shall record each elector's sequential count number on
11the face of the elector's certificate envelope.
SB946-ASA1,16 12Section 16. 7.52 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB946-ASA1,17,1113 7.52 (3) (a) The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall first open the carrier
14envelope only, and, in such a manner that a member of the public, if he or she desired,
15could hear, announce the name of the absent elector or the identification serial
16number of the absent elector if the elector has a confidential listing under s. 6.47 (2).
17When the board of absentee ballot canvassers finds that the certification has been
18properly executed and the applicant is a qualified elector of the ward or election
19district, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall enter an indication, including
20the elector's sequential count number as provided under sub. (2),
on the absentee poll
21list next to the applicant's name indicating an absentee ballot is cast by the elector.
22The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall then open the envelope containing the
23ballot in a manner so as not to deface or destroy the certification thereon. The board
24of absentee ballot canvassers shall take out the ballot without unfolding it or
25permitting it to be unfolded or examined
and shall remove the ballot from the

1certificate envelope
. Unless the ballot is cast under s. 6.95, the board of absentee
2ballot canvassers shall verify that the ballot has been endorsed by the issuing clerk.
3If the absentee poll list indicates that proof of residence is required and no proof of
4residence is enclosed or the name or address on the document that is provided is not
5the same as the name and address shown on the absentee poll list, the board of
6absentee ballot canvassers shall proceed as provided under s. 6.97 (2). The board of
7absentee ballot canvassers shall mark the poll list number of each elector who casts
8an absentee ballot on the back of the elector's ballot.
The board of absentee ballot
9canvassers shall then deposit the ballot into the proper ballot box and enter the
10absent elector's name or poll list number after his or her name on the poll list
or
11automatic tabulating equipment
.
SB946-ASA1,17 12Section 17. 7.52 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB946-ASA1,17,2213 7.52 (4) (a) The board of absentee ballot canvassers shall then open the ballot
14box and remove and
count the number of ballots therein without examination except
15as is necessary to ascertain that each is a single ballot. If 2 or more ballots are folded
16together so as to appear as a single ballot, the board of absentee ballot canvassers
17shall lay them aside until the count is completed; and if, after a comparison of the
18count and the appearance of the ballots it appears to the board of absentee ballot
19canvassers that the ballots folded together were voted by the same person they shall
20not be counted but the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall mark them as to the
21reason for removal, set them aside, and carefully preserve them. The board of
22absentee ballot canvassers shall then proceed under par. (b).
SB946-ASA1,18 23Section 18. 7.52 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB946-ASA1,18,324 7.52 (9) The governing body of any municipality that has provided by ordinance
25enacted under sub. (1) (a) 1. for the canvassing of absentee ballots at all elections held

1in the municipality under this section may by similar action rescind that decision.
2Thereafter, the absentee ballots at all elections held in the municipality shall be
3canvassed as provided in s. 6.88.
SB946-ASA1,19 4Section 19. 7.52 (10) of the statutes is created to read:
SB946-ASA1,18,75 7.52 (10) A member of the board of absentee ballot canvassers or other election
6official who willfully neglects or refuses to perform any of the duties prescribed under
7this section is guilty of a Class I felony.
SB946-ASA1,20 8Section 20. 8.20 (8) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB946-ASA1,18,239 8.20 (8) (a) Nomination papers for independent candidates for any office to be
10voted upon at a general election, except president, vice president and presidential
11elector,
may be circulated no sooner than April 15 preceding the election and may be
12filed no later than 5 p.m. on the June 1 preceding the partisan primary, except as
13authorized in this paragraph. If an incumbent fails to file nomination papers and
14a declaration of candidacy by 5 p.m. on June 1 preceding the partisan primary, all
15candidates for the office held by the incumbent, other than the incumbent, may file
16nomination papers no later than 72 hours after the latest time prescribed in this
17paragraph. No extension of the time for filing nomination papers applies if the
18incumbent files written notification with the filing officer or agency with whom
19nomination papers are filed for the office which the incumbent holds, no later than
205 p.m. on the 2nd Friday preceding the latest time prescribed in this paragraph for
21filing nomination papers, that the incumbent is not a candidate for reelection to his
22or her office, and the incumbent does not file nomination papers for that office within
23the time prescribed in this paragraph.
SB946-ASA1,21 24Section 21. 8.20 (8) (am) of the statutes is repealed.
SB946-ASA1,22 25Section 22. 66.0512 of the statutes is created to read:
SB946-ASA1,19,8
166.0512 Whistleblower protection for certain disclosures made by
2municipal clerks.
No municipal clerk may be discharged, disciplined, demoted, or
3otherwise discriminated against in regard to employment, or threatened with any
4such treatment, as a reprisal because the clerk lawfully reported, or is believed to
5have reported, witnessing what the clerk reasonably believed to be election fraud or
6irregularities. For purposes of this section, “lawfully reported” means a report of
7information the disclosure of which is not expressly prohibited by state or federal law,
8rule, or regulation.
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