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2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE
January 18, 2022 - Introduced by Representatives Ramthun, Steffen, Behnke,
Brandtjen, Gundrum, Horlacher and Wichgers, cosponsored by Senators
Jacque and Nass. Referred to Committee on Campaigns and Elections.
AB847,1,5 1An Act to amend 6.275 (1) (f), 6.32 (4), 6.33 (4), 6.33 (5) (a) 1., 6.36 (1) (d), 6.36
2(1) (e), 6.47 (6), 6.47 (7) (b), 6.48 (1) (d), 6.48 (2) (b), 6.50 (2), 6.50 (2g), 6.50 (2r)
3(g), 6.50 (3), 6.50 (4), 6.50 (5), 6.50 (6), 6.50 (7), 6.50 (10), 6.56 (3), 6.56 (4) and
47.23 (1) (c) of the statutes; relating to: removing ineligible voters from the
5official voter registration list.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, if a voter who appears on the official voter registration list
maintained by the Elections Commission becomes ineligible to vote for any reason,
his or her status is changed from eligible to ineligible on the registration list.
Under this bill, if a voter appearing on the registration list becomes ineligible
to vote for any reason, he or she must be removed from the list and the Elections
Commission must keep a permanent record of the removal, including the date of and
reason for the removal. Consistent with current law, an individual who is removed
from the registration list and subsequently becomes eligible to register to vote in
Wisconsin may reregister as provided by law.
For further information see the state and local 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:
AB847,1
1Section 1. 6.275 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,2,172 6.275 (1) (f) The total number of postcards sent by the municipal clerk or board
3of election commissioners under s. 6.56 (3), the total number of such postcards
4returned to the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners because the
5elector did not reside at the address given on the postcard, the total number of
6electors whose status was changed from eligible to ineligible on removed from the
7registration list as a result of the audit under s. 6.56 (3), and the number of
8individuals referred to the district attorney under s. 6.56 (3). The municipal clerk
9or board of election commissioners shall provide the information described under
10this paragraph to the elections commission and the county clerk or county board of
11election commissioners at the earliest practicable time after, but no later than 90
12days after, each primary and election at which a state or national office is filled or
13a statewide referendum is held, including any special election. The municipal clerk
14or board of election commissioners shall update the information described under this
15paragraph on a monthly basis and shall submit, on a monthly basis, any such
16updated information to the elections commission and the county clerk or county
17board of election commissioners.
AB847,2 18Section 2. 6.32 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,3,519 6.32 (4) If the form is sufficient to accomplish registration and the commission
20or clerk has no reliable information to indicate that the proposed elector is not
21qualified, the commission or clerk shall enter the elector's name on the registration
22list and transmit a 1st class letter or postcard to the registrant, specifying the
23elector's ward or aldermanic district, or both, if any, and polling place. The letter or
24postcard shall be sent within 10 days of receipt of the form. If the letter or postcard
25is returned, or if the commission or clerk is informed of a different address than the

1one specified by the elector, the commission or clerk shall change the status of remove
2the elector on from the list from eligible to ineligible. The letter or postcard shall be
3marked in accordance with postal regulations to ensure that it will be returned to the
4commission or clerk if the elector does not reside at the address given on the letter
5or postcard.
AB847,3 6Section 3. 6.33 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,3,127 6.33 (4) When an individual's registration is changed from eligible to ineligible
8status
individual is removed from the registration list for any reason, the municipal
9clerk or board of election commissioners shall enter notify the commission, providing
10the date of and reason for change on removal from the registration list. The
11commission shall keep a permanent record of the removal, including the date of and
12reason for the removal.
AB847,4 13Section 4. 6.33 (5) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,3,1914 6.33 (5) (a) 1. Except as provided in par. (b) and this paragraph, whenever a
15municipal clerk receives a valid registration or valid change of a name or address
16under an existing registration or changes a registration from eligible to ineligible
17status
the municipal clerk or the clerk's designee shall promptly enter electronically
18on the list maintained by the commission under s. 6.36 (1) the information required
19under that subsection.
AB847,5 20Section 5. 6.36 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,4,221 6.36 (1) (d) Upon receipt of official notification by the appropriate election
22administrative authority of another state, territory, or possession that an elector
23whose name appears on the list has registered to vote in that state, territory, or
24possession, the commission or the municipal clerk of the municipality where the

1elector formerly resided shall change the elector's registration from eligible to
2ineligible status
remove the elector's name from the registration list.
AB847,6 3Section 6. 6.36 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,4,154 6.36 (1) (e) If the commission adds the name of any elector to the list, the
5commission shall promptly notify the municipal clerk of the municipality where the
6elector resides. If the commission changes the registration of any elector from
7eligible to ineligible status
removes an elector from the list, the commission shall
8promptly notify the municipal clerk of the municipality where the elector resides or,
9if the elector has changed his or her residence from one municipality to another
10municipality in this state, shall promptly notify the municipal clerk of the
11municipality where the elector resided prior to the change removal. Notification
12shall be made in writing or by electronic transmission. If the commission changes
13the registration of any elector from eligible to ineligible status
removes an elector
14from the list for any reason
, the commission shall make an entry on the list keep a
15permanent record
giving the date of and the reason for the change the removal.
AB847,7 16Section 7. 6.47 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,4,2517 6.47 (6) Upon expiration of a confidential listing on a registration list under
18sub. (2), the municipal clerk shall change the registration of remove the protected
19individual to ineligible status from the registration list unless the individual files a
20new request and qualifies under sub. (2) to obtain a renewal of the listing or unless
21the individual applies for and qualifies to obtain a nonconfidential voter registration.
22Except as authorized in sub. (8), the municipal clerk shall withhold from public
23inspection under s. 19.35 (1) the name and address of any individual whose
24registration is changed removed under this subsection if the individual qualified for
25a confidential listing at the time of that listing.
AB847,8
1Section 8. 6.47 (7) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,5,52 6.47 (7) (b) If notice to a protected individual is not provided under par. (a), the
3municipal clerk shall provide notice to the subject individual upon changing a listed
4individual to ineligible status
removing a listed individual from the registration list
5under sub. (6).
AB847,9 6Section 9. 6.48 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,5,107 6.48 (1) (d) If the clerk determines that the challenged elector is not qualified,
8the clerk shall change the challenged elector's registration from eligible to ineligible
9status on
remove the elector from the registration list and notify the inspectors for
10the ward or election district where the elector was registered.
AB847,10 11Section 10. 6.48 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,5,1912 6.48 (2) (b) Upon appearing in person, objectors shall be examined, under oath,
13by the commissioners and testimony taken. Judgment rests with the board of
14election commissioners and decisions shall be rendered as soon as heard. All cases
15are heard and decided summarily. The commissioners shall determine whether the
16person objected to is qualified. If they the commissioners determine that a person
17is not qualified, the executive director of the board of election commissioners shall
18change the elector from eligible to ineligible status on remove the elector from the
19registration list and shall notify the proper ward officials of the change immediately.
AB847,11 20Section 11. 6.50 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,5,2521 6.50 (2) If an elector to whom a notice of suspension was mailed under sub. (1)
22has not applied for continuation of registration within 30 days of the date of mailing,
23the commission shall change the registration status of that elector from eligible to
24ineligible
remove the elector from the registration list on the day that falls 30 days
25after the date of mailing.
AB847,12
1Section 12. 6.50 (2g) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,6,42 6.50 (2g) The commission may delegate to a municipal clerk or board of election
3commissioners of a municipality the responsibility to change the registration status
4of
remove electors from the registration list when required under sub. (2).
AB847,13 5Section 13. 6.50 (2r) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,6,86 6.50 (2r) (g) The number of electors who received notices under sub. (1) and
7whose status changed from eligible to ineligible who were removed from the
8registration list
.
AB847,14 9Section 14. 6.50 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,6,2410 6.50 (3) Upon receipt of reliable information that a registered elector has
11changed his or her residence to a location outside of the municipality, the municipal
12clerk or board of election commissioners shall notify the elector by mailing a notice
13by 1st class mail to the elector's registration address stating the source of the
14information. All municipal departments and agencies receiving information that a
15registered elector has changed his or her residence shall notify the clerk or board of
16election commissioners. If the elector no longer resides in the municipality or fails
17to apply for continuation of registration within 30 days of the date the notice is
18mailed, the clerk or board of election commissioners shall change the elector's
19registration from eligible to ineligible status
remove the elector from the registration
20list
. Upon receipt of reliable information that a registered elector has changed his
21or her residence within the municipality, the municipal clerk or board of election
22commissioners shall change the elector's registration and mail the elector a notice
23of the change. This subsection does not restrict the right of an elector to challenge
24any registration under s. 6.325, 6.48, 6.925, 6.93, or 7.52 (5).
AB847,15 25Section 15. 6.50 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,7,4
16.50 (4) The municipal clerk or board of election commissioners shall change
2the registration of
remove deceased electors from eligible to ineligible status the
3registration list
by means of checking vital statistics reports. No notice need be sent
4of registration changes made under this subsection.
AB847,16 5Section 16. 6.50 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,7,156 6.50 (5) The registration of any elector whose address is listed at a building
7which that has been condemned for human habitation by the municipality under s.
866.0413 (1) (j) shall be investigated by the municipal clerk or board of election
9commissioners. If the clerk or board of election commissioners can find no reason
10why the such an elector should remain on the registration of such an elector should
11not be changed from eligible to ineligible status
list, the clerk or board of election
12commissioners shall change the elector's registration status remove the elector from
13the list
. If the elector has left a forwarding address with the U.S. postal service, a
14notice of change in status removal shall be mailed by the clerk or board of election
15commissioners to the forwarding address.
AB847,17 16Section 17. 6.50 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,7,1917 6.50 (6) The municipal clerk, upon authorization by an elector, shall change the
18elector's registration from eligible to ineligible status
remove the elector from the
19registration list
.
AB847,18 20Section 18. 6.50 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,7,2421 6.50 (7) When an elector's registration is changed from eligible to ineligible
22status
elector is removed from the registration list, the commission, municipal clerk,
23or board of election commissioners shall make an entry on the registration list keep
24a permanent record of the removal
, giving the date of and reason for the change.
AB847,19 25Section 19. 6.50 (10) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,8,5
16.50 (10) Any qualified elector whose registration is changed from eligible to
2ineligible status
who is removed from the registration list under this section may
3reregister as provided under s. 6.28 (1), 6.29 (2), or 6.55 (2), or, if the elector has a
4current and valid operator's license issued to the elector under ch. 343 or a current
5and valid identification card issued under s. 343.50, may reregister under s. 6.30 (5).
AB847,20 6Section 20. 6.56 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,8,237 6.56 (3) Upon receipt of the list under sub. (1), the municipal clerk or board of
8election commissioners shall make an audit of all electors registering to vote at the
9polling place or other registration location under s. 6.55 (2) and all electors
10registering by agent on election day under s. 6.86 (3) (a) 2. unless the clerk or board
11of election commissioners receives notice from the elections commission under sub.
12(7) that the elections commission will perform the audit. The audit shall be made by
131st class postcard. The postcard shall be marked in accordance with postal
14regulations to ensure that it will be returned to the clerk, board of election
15commissioners, or elections commission if the elector does not reside at the address
16given on the postcard. If any postcard is returned undelivered, or if the clerk, board
17of election commissioners, or elections commission is informed of a different address
18than the one specified by the elector which was apparently improper on the day of
19the election, the clerk, board of election commissioners, or elections commission shall
20change the status of the elector from eligible to ineligible on remove the elector from
21the registration list, mail the elector a notice of the change in status removal, and
22provide the name of the elector to the district attorney for the county where the
23polling place is located and the elections commission.
AB847,21 24Section 21. 6.56 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,9,11
16.56 (4) After each election, the municipal clerk shall perform an audit to
2assure that no person has been allowed to vote more than once. Whenever the
3municipal clerk has good reason to believe that a person has voted more than once
4in an election, the clerk shall send the person a 1st class letter marked in accordance
5with postal regulations to ensure that it will be returned to the clerk if the elector
6does not reside at the address given on the letter. The letter shall inform the person
7that all registrations relating to that person may be changed from eligible to
8ineligible status
removed from the registration list within 7 days unless the person
9contacts the office of the clerk to clarify the matter. A copy of the letter and of any
10subsequent information received from or about the addressee shall be sent to the
11district attorney for the county where the person resides and the commission.
AB847,22 12Section 22. 7.23 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB847,9,1613 7.23 (1) (c) Registration forms of electors whose registrations are changed to
14ineligible status
removed from the registration list under s. 6.50 (7) may be destroyed
154 years after the change removal, unless an elector becomes eligible again reregisters
16during that period.
AB847,9,1717 (End)
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