LRB-2886/2
TKK:wlj:rs
2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE
January 21, 2014 - Introduced by Senator Lazich, cosponsored by Representative
Thiesfeldt. Referred to Elections and Urban Affairs.
SB506,1,3
1An Act to amend 6.50 (1), 6.50 (2) and 6.50 (7); and
to create 6.50 (2m) of the
2statutes;
relating to: transferring responsibility over biennial updating of
3voter registration list to the Government Accountability Board.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law requires the municipal clerk or the board of election commissioners
of each municipality (municipal clerk) to examine the voter registration records for
that municipality within 90 days of each general election to identify any elector who
was qualified to vote over the preceding four years but who has not voted within that
four-year period (nonvoting elector). The municipal clerk must mail a "Notice of
Suspension of Registration" to each nonvoting elector informing the elector that the
elector's registration will be suspended if the elector does not apply for continuation
of registration within 30 days. If the nonvoting elector fails to apply for continuation
of registration as directed, the municipal clerk must change the elector's registration
status from eligible to ineligible.
This bill transfers responsibility for reviewing each municipality's voter
registration records and mailing the Notice of Suspension of Registration forms from
the municipal clerk to the Government Accountability Board (GAB). The bill
authorizes GAB to delegate these responsibilities back to the municipal clerk. The
bill also changes the date by which this notification must occur from within 90 days
following each general election to no later than June 15 following each general
election. Under the bill, the nonvoting elector must return the application for
continuation of registration to the elector's municipal clerk.
For further information see the state 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:
SB506,1
1Section
1. 6.50 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB506,2,62
6.50
(1) Within 90 days No later than June 15 following each general election,
3the
municipal clerk or board
of election commissioners of each municipality shall
4examine the registration records
for each municipality and identify each elector who
5has not voted within the previous 4 years if qualified to do so during that entire period
6and. The board shall mail a notice to the elector in substantially the following form:
SB506,2,8
7"NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF
8
REGISTRATION
SB506,2,149
You are hereby notified that your voter registration will be suspended,
10according to state law, for failure to vote within the previous 4-year period, unless
11you apply for continuation of your registration within 30 days. You may continue
12your registration by signing the statement below and returning it to
this the office
13of the municipal clerk .... (mailing address and telephone number of office of
14municipal clerk or board of election commissioners) by mail or in person.
SB506,2,1615
APPLICATION FOR CONTINUATION
16
OF REGISTRATION
SB506,2,1817
I hereby certify that I still reside at the address at which I am registered and
18apply for continuation of registration.
SB506,2,2020
Present Address ....
SB506,3,4
1If you have changed your residence within this municipality or changed your
2name, please contact
this the office
of the municipal clerk .... (mailing address and
3telephone number of office of municipal clerk or board of election commissioners) to
4complete a change of name or address form.
SB506,3,55
[Office of clerk or board of election commissioners
SB506,2
8Section
2. 6.50 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB506,3,149
6.50
(2) The municipal clerk or If an elector to whom a notice of suspension was
10mailed under sub. (1) has not applied for continuation of registration within 30 days
11of the date of mailing, the board
of election commissioners shall change the
12registration
status of
all notified electors under sub. (1) who have not applied for
13continuation of registration within 30 days of the date of mailing of the notice of
14suspension that elector from eligible to ineligible
status.
SB506,3
15Section
3. 6.50 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB506,3,1916
6.50
(2m) The board may delegate to a municipal clerk or board of election
17commissioners of a municipality the responsibility to mail to the electors of that
18municipality a notice of suspension under sub. (1) and to change the registration
19status of electors when required under sub. (2).
SB506,4
20Section
4. 6.50 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB506,3,2321
6.50
(7) When an elector's registration is changed from eligible to ineligible
22status, the
board, municipal clerk
, or board of election commissioners shall make an
23entry on the registration list, giving the date of and reason for the change.
SB506,5
24Section
5.
Initial applicability.
SB506,4,2
1(1) This act first applies with respect to elections held at least 60 days after the
2effective date of this subsection.
