Assembly Bill 406
Challenging the ballots of electors at polling places
Topics: Elections: Ballots, Elections: Officials
Stopped before the full Assembly voted
The recommended passing it, but the full Assembly never voted on it. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
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Introduced, passed
Aug 31, 2009
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, stopped here
Stopped here. The full Assembly never voted on it.
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Senate vote, not reached
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Governor, not reached
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Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 28, 2010: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
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Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
What it would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Currently, any elector may challenge for cause the right of any other elector to vote at a polling place if the challenger knows or suspects that the challenged elector is not a qualified elector. The inspectors of election (poll workers) must then administer oaths to both the challenger and the challenged elector concerning the challenged elector's qualifications. If the inspectors receive the ballot of any elector who has been challenged, they must mark the ballot with the elector's serial number.
If canvassing an election, a board of canvassers may review and decide any challenge and may count or reject a challenged ballot accordingly. If a petition for a recount is filed, the board of canvassers may again review and decide whether a challenged ballot is cast by a qualified elector and may count or reject the ballot accordingly. An elector may also challenge the ballot of an absent elector before the inspectors at a polling place or before a board of absentee ballot canvassers in municipalities where absent ballots are not canvassed at polling places. The challenged elector need not be present when the challenge is made.
Read the full summary Show less
This bill provides that only an elector who resides in the same ward or election district as the one in which a challenged elector resides may challenge the ballot of that elector. The bill directs the inspectors or board of absentee ballot canvassers to require the challenging elector to provide proof of residence, as defined by law, when making a challenge.
Who's behind it
3 representatives are its . All 3 are Democrats.
3 more lawmakers .
See all 6 names Hide the names
Authors (3)
- Terese Berceau · Democrat, Assembly
- Frederick Kessler · Democrat, Assembly
- Sandy Pasch · Democrat, Assembly
Signed on in support (3)
- Spencer Coggs · Democrat, Senate
- Dave Hansen · Democrat, Senate
- Pat Kreitlow · Democrat, Senate
Versions and amendments
Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.
How lawmakers voted
There was one vote on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Elections and Campaign Reform vote on an amendment
Passed, 6 to 1 · Nov 24, 2009
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by committee on Elections and Campaign Reform, Ayes 6, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Apr 28, 2010
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Nov 24, 2009
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Nov 24, 2009
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 4 to 3.
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Sep 15, 2009
The committee held a public hearing.
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Aug 31, 2009
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Elections and Campaign Reform.
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Aug 31, 2009
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Aug 31, 2009 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Kessler, Berceau and Pasch;Cosponsored by Senators Coggs, Hansen and Kreitlow
- Aug 31, 2009 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Elections and Campaign Reform
- Sep 15, 2009 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Sep 23, 2009 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 1 offered by Representative Kessler
- Nov 17, 2009 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Nov 24, 2009 · Assembly
Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by committee on Elections and Campaign Reform, Ayes 6, Noes 1
- Nov 24, 2009 · Assembly
Report passage as amended recommended by committee on Elections and Campaign Reform, Ayes 4, Noes 3
- Nov 24, 2009 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Apr 28, 2010 · Assembly
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote