An Act to repeal 6.87 (4) (b) 3.; to renumber and amend 6.86 (1) (ar); to amend 6.18 (intro.), 6.30 (5), 6.86 (1) (ac), 6.86 (2m) (a), 6.87 (1), 6.87 (2) (intro.), 6.87 (4) (b) 1., 6.87 (4) (b) 2., 6.87 (4) (b) 5. and 12.60 (1) (a); to repeal and recreate 6.86 (2); and to create 6.86 (1) (as), 6.86 (8), 6.88 (4) and 12.13 (3) (ig) of the statutes; relating to: absentee ballot applications, unsolicited mailing or transmission of absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots, canvassing absentee ballots, electronic voter registration, and providing a penalty.

6.18 Former residents. (intro.) If ineligible to qualify as an elector in the state to which the elector has moved, any former qualified Wisconsin elector may vote an absentee ballot in the ward of the elector's prior residence in any presidential election occurring within 24 months after leaving Wisconsin by requesting an application form and returning it, properly executed, to the municipal clerk of the elector's prior Wisconsin residence. When requesting an application form for an absentee ballot, the applicant shall specify the applicant's eligibility for only the presidential ballot. Unless the applicant is exempted from providing proof of identification under s. 6.87 (4) (b) 2. or 3., or the applicant is a military or overseas elector, the elector shall enclose a copy of his or her proof of identification or any authorized substitute document with his or her application. The municipal clerk shall verify that the name on the proof of identification conforms to the name on the application. The clerk shall not issue a ballot to an elector who is required to enclose a copy of proof of identification or an authorized substitute document with his or her application unless the copy is enclosed and the proof is verified by the clerk. The application form shall require the following information and be in substantially the following form:

6.30 (5) By electronic application. An eligible elector who holds a current and valid operator's license issued under ch. 343 or a current and valid identification card issued under s. 343.50 may register electronically in the manner prescribed by the commission. The commission shall maintain on the Internet a secure registration form that enables the elector to enter the information required under s. 6.33 (1) electronically. An elector who registers electronically under this subsection must authorize the commission to obtain from the department of transportation an electronic copy of the elector's signature, which signature shall constitute an affirmance that all information provided by the elector is correct and shall have the same effect as if the elector had signed the application personally. The commission shall include on the registration form a place for the elector to give this authorization. Upon submittal of the electronic application, the commission shall obtain from the department of transportation a copy of the electronic signature of the elector. The commission shall maintain the a version of the completed application on file and, which shall contain the elector's electronic signature, and shall notify the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners of the municipality where the elector resides of its receipt of each completed application. The commission shall also permit any elector who has a current and valid operator's license issued to the elector under ch. 343 or a current and valid identification card issued under s. 343.50 to make changes in his or her registration at the same Internet site that is used by electors for original registration under this subsection. An elector shall attest to the correctness of any changes in the same manner as provided in this subsection for information entered on an application for original registration.

6.86 (1) (ac) Any elector qualifying under par. (a) may make written application to the municipal clerk for an official ballot by means of facsimile transmission or electronic mail. Any application under this paragraph need not shall contain a copy of the applicant's original written signature. An elector requesting a ballot under this paragraph shall return with the voted ballot a copy of the request bearing an original signature of the elector as provided in s. 6.87 (4) or contain the applicant's electronic signature on the application form in portable document format (PDF). Except as authorized in ss. 6.87 (4) (b) 2. to 5., 4., and 5. and 6.875 (6), and notwithstanding s. 343.43 (1) (f), the elector shall transmit a copy of his or her proof of identification in the manner provided in s. 6.87 (1) unless the elector is a military elector or an overseas elector or the elector has a confidential listing under s. 6.47 (2).

6.86 (1) (ar) 1. Except as authorized in s. 6.875 (6), the municipal clerk shall not issue an absentee ballot unless the clerk receives a written application therefor from a qualified elector of the municipality a completed application in the form prescribed by the commission under par. (as) that contains the elector's original written signature, or, if application is made under par. (ac), that contains the elector's electronic signature or a copy of the elector's original written signature, or the signature of a person the elector authorizes to sign on the elector's behalf under par. (ag) or sub. (3) (a). The clerk shall retain each absentee ballot application until destruction is authorized under s. 7.23 (1). A municipal clerk issuing an absentee ballot contrary to this subdivision is guilty of a Class I felony.

2. Except as authorized in s. 6.79 (6) and (7), if a qualified elector applies for an absentee ballot in person at the clerk's office, the clerk shall not issue the elector an absentee ballot unless the elector presents proof of identification. The clerk shall verify that the name on the proof of identification presented by the elector conforms to the name on the elector's application and shall verify that any photograph appearing on that document reasonably resembles the elector. The clerk shall then enter his or her initials on the certificate envelope indicating that the absentee elector presented proof of identification to the clerk.

6.86 (1) (as) The absentee ballot application form and instructions shall be prescribed by the commission and shall be separate and distinct from the certificate envelope prescribed in s. 6.87 (2). The application shall require the elector to certify facts establishing that he or she is qualified to vote in the election at the municipality of his or her legal voting residence and shall include at least all of the following information: