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LRB-2350/1
JK:skw
2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE
March 23, 2021 - Introduced by Representatives Steffen, Edming, Gundrum,
Knodl, Krug, Murphy, Neylon, Skowronski, Spiros, VanderMeer and
Wichgers, cosponsored by Senators Darling, Felzkowski, Nass, Petrowski,
Stroebel, Wanggaard and Wimberger. Referred to Committee on Campaigns
and Elections.
AB177,1,3 1An Act to renumber and amend 6.87 (4) (b) 1.; and to create 6.87 (4) (b) 1. e.
2of the statutes; relating to: returning absentee ballots to the office of the
3municipal clerk.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, a voter may return his or her absentee ballot by mailing it
or delivering it in person to the municipal clerk. Under this bill, a voter may return
his or her absentee ballot by mailing it or delivering it in person to the office of the
municipal clerk, except that the voter may return it to a drop box authorized by the
municipal clerk that is attached to a building where the municipal clerk's office is
permanently located. The bill prohibits the use of any other drop box for the delivery
of an absentee ballot.
Under the bill, if the municipal clerk authorizes the use of a drop box, the drop
box must be tamper-resistant and moisture-resistant, include a slot that is only
large enough to allow for the insertion of an absentee ballot, satisfy the accessibility
requirements under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, and be emptied
once each day at 9 a.m. by the clerk or deputy clerk in public view. Finally, the clerk
must publish notice of the location of the drop box and the days on which it is
available for receiving absentee ballots.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB177,1
1Section 1. 6.87 (4) (b) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 6.87 (4) (b) 1. a. and
2amended to read:
AB177,2,243 6.87 (4) (b) 1. a. Except as otherwise provided in s. 6.875, an elector voting
4absentee, other than a military elector or an overseas elector, shall make and
5subscribe to the certification before one witness who is an adult U.S. citizen. A
6military elector or an overseas elector voting absentee, regardless of whether the
7elector qualifies as a resident of this state under s. 6.10, shall make and subscribe
8to the certification before one witness who is an adult but who need not be a U.S.
9citizen. The absent elector, in the presence of the witness, shall mark the ballot in
10a manner that will not disclose how the elector's vote is cast. The elector shall then,
11still in the presence of the witness, fold the ballots so each is separate and so that the
12elector conceals the markings thereon and deposit them in the proper envelope. If
13a consolidated ballot under s. 5.655 is used, the elector shall fold the ballot so that
14the elector conceals the markings thereon and deposit the ballot in the proper
15envelope. If proof of residence under s. 6.34 is required and the document enclosed
16by the elector under this subdivision does not constitute proof of residence under s.
176.34, the elector shall also enclose proof of residence under s. 6.34 in the envelope.
18Except as provided in s. 6.34 (2m), proof of residence is required if the elector is not
19a military elector or an overseas elector and the elector registered by mail or by
20electronic application and has not voted in an election in this state. If the elector
21requested a ballot by means of facsimile transmission or electronic mail under s. 6.86
22(1) (ac), the elector shall enclose in the envelope a copy of the request which bears an
23original signature of the elector. The elector may receive assistance under sub. (5).
24The return envelope shall then be sealed. The witness may not be a candidate.
AB177,3,6
1b. The return envelope shall be mailed by the elector, or delivered in person,
2to the permanent office of the municipal clerk issuing the ballot or ballots, except that
3an elector may deliver his or her ballot to a drop box authorized by the municipal
4clerk that is attached to that building where the office of the municipal clerk is
5permanently located. An elector may not deliver his or her absentee ballot to any
6other drop box
.
AB177,3,9 7c. If the return envelope is mailed from a location outside the United States,
8the elector shall affix sufficient postage unless the ballot qualifies for delivery free
9of postage under federal law.
AB177,3,14 10d. Failure to return an unused ballot in a primary does not invalidate the ballot
11on which the elector's votes are cast. Return of more than one marked ballot in a
12primary or return of a ballot prepared under s. 5.655 or a ballot used with an
13electronic voting system in a primary which is marked for candidates of more than
14one party invalidates all votes cast by the elector for candidates in the primary.
AB177,2 15Section 2. 6.87 (4) (b) 1. e. of the statutes is created to read:
AB177,3,2216 6.87 (4) (b) 1. e. If the municipal clerk authorizes the use of a drop box for the
17delivery of return envelopes, the drop box shall be tamper-resistant and
18moisture-resistant, include a slot that is only large enough to allow for the insertion
19of a return envelope, satisfy the accessibility requirements under the federal
20Americans with Disabilities Act, and be emptied once each day at 9 a.m. by the clerk
21or deputy clerk in public view. The clerk shall publish notice of the location of the
22drop box and the days on which it is available for receiving return envelopes.
AB177,3,2323 (End)
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