Legislation in Wis

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2007-8 Election bills and laws

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2009-10 Election Administration Bills in Wisconsin

The main Senate committee for election bills is Labor, Elections, and Urban Affairs (LEUA). Chair is Democrat Spencer Coggs (Milwaukee). Vice-chair is Democrat Senator Bob Wirch (Kenosha). Democrat Members: John Lehman (Racine). Republican members: Glen Grothman (West Bend), Alan Lasee (De Pere).

The main Assembly committee for election bills is Elections and Campaign Reform (E&CR). Chair is Democrat Jeff Smith (Eau Claire). Members: Democrats: Fred Kessler (Milwaukee), Annette Polly Williams (Milwaukee), James Soletski (Green Bay), Kelda Helen Roys (Madison). Republicans: Jeff Stone (Greendale), Don Pridemore (Hartford), Roger Roth (Appleton).

Election Administration Bill that Passed

# & Main Sponsor	Status	Subject	Notes	Comments – for & against
SB-435 Committee	Passed by Senate, Assembly, signed by Gov. Becomes 2009 Wisconsin Act 397	Allows voting machine memory to be cleared 21 days after local election		John Washburn's blog

Bills introduced, but not passed by the April 22 end of the legislative session

# & Main Sponsor	Status	Subject	Notes	Comments – for & against
Senate Bills
SJR-42 Taylor	Public hearing Dec 15	excludes incarcerated from redistricting	same as AJR-63
SJR-49 Carpenter	Referred to LEUA Oct 2	local non-partisan elections to be held with November partisan elections	Constitutional amendment	same as AJR-2
SB-179 Coggs	Modified and folded into SB-640	Prohibits voter suppression	fiscal estimate asks for 3 new positions	same as AB-249
SB-199 Leibham	May 7 referred to LEUA	Requires voters to show ID	44 co-sponsors
SB-240 Taylor	Public hearing Oct 13, 1:00 pm	let felons vote when out of prison	same as AB-353
SB-249 Darling	Aug 5 referred to Committee on Tech Colleges	election of Tech College Boards
SB-272 Coggs	modified to county residents and folded into SB-640	challenges at polling places may only be done by residents of the ward
SB-322 Taylor	Referred to LEUA Sept 30	Limits independent candidates to 5 words on ballot	same as AB-454
SB-350 Kanavas	referred to LEUA Oct 14	voluntary photo ID		press release
SB-462 Coggs	Jan 14, 2010, referred to Committee on Education	Moves Milw. School Bd. election to Nov. 2012, 2014	Many other provisions
SB-549 Risser	Referred to LEUA Feb 22, 2010	National Popular Vote	same as AB-751
SB-640 Coggs	Sub passed by Joint Finance April 7	Omnibus bill	Rep Smith also sponsoring	same as AB-895
SB-645 Risser	folded into SB-640 sub April 6.	allow voters with DL to register online	section-by-section analysis	identical to AB-892
Assembly Bills
AB-39 Kessler	modified & folded into AB-895	satellite absentee voting locations
AB-145 Kessler	March 13 referred to Com. on State affairs	legislative review of municipal districts	sub amendment
AB-163 Berceau	E&CR public hearing April 21	allow political signs on rental property
AB-249 Young	modified & folded into AB-895	Prohibits voter suppression	same as SB-179
AB-330 Turner	Reported out of committee Nov 24	military and overseas witness need not be citizen for absentee ballot	deletes specific wording for envelope for all absentees	Malischke testimony
AB-353 Grigsby	Passed by E&RC 6-5. Referred to Rules Comm. April 16, 2010	let felons vote when out of prison	same as SB-240	press release
AB-406 Kessler	Modified to county residents and added to AB-895	challenges at polling places may only be by residents of the ward	same as SB-272
AB-454 Smith	Feb 16 2010 passed by Assembly. April 9 OK'd by Senate Committee	Limits independent candidates to 35 characters on ballot
AB-545 Smith	added to AB-895	allows pollworkers to work anywhere in their county
AB-630 Kestell	Dec 18, referred to E&CR	require GAB to promulgate rule to enforce citizenship requirement
AB-646 Committee	passed by both houses as SB-435	storage of election records - memory cards	John Washburn's blog
AB-751 Roys	Public hearing Feb 17, 2010	National Popular Vote
AB-814 Kramer	introduced 3/9/10, withdrawn April 9	Optional voter ID
AB-872 Black	referred to E&CR March 19, 2010	LRB submit re-districting to legislature
AB-892 Berceau	April 6 folded into AB-895, sub amendment, and passed by Joint Finance April 7	Allow voters to register online		Identical to SB 645
AB-895 Smith	Sub passed by Joint Finance April 7	omnibus bill		same as SB-640
AB-947 Stone	Introduced 4/12/10	Election day registrants must show DL or state ID
Assembly resolutions, usually constitutional amendments
AJR-2 Sherman	Referred to E&CR	Eliminates spring elections. Local races would be in the fall.	Constitutional amendment.	same as SJR-49
AJR-6 Kessler	Feb 5 referred to E&CR	Supreme court to be appointed by Governor	Constitutional amendment
AJR-26 Schneider	Public hearing Sept 15, noon	sets rep term at 4 years, senate at 6	Constitutional amendment
AJR-29 Kessler	Hearing Nov 17	Specifications for redistricting	Constitutional amendment	press release
AJR-39 Mason	April 14 referred to Committee on State Affairs	Lowers voting age to 17	Constitutional amendment
AJR-63 Kessler	Referred to Rules Committee April 16, 2010	excludes incarcerated from redistricting	Constitutional amendment. Same as SJR-42	press release June 18 website: prisoners of the census
AJR-125 Stone	April 12, 2010, referred to E&CR	require photo ID to vote or register on election day	Constitutional amendment

Contact Paul Malischke about bills to be added, broken links, if the status is not up to date, or with your comments. Last updated Saturday, July 10, 2010

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