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Bills from the 2013–14 session

Senate Bill 20

Residency of election officials

Became law

The governor signed it on Mar 27, 2014. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Feb 13, 2013

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Mar 11, 2014

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed 56 to 38

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2013 Wisconsin Act 147

Latest entry in the official record, Mar 27, 2014: “Published 3-28-2014”

Read the bill

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What it does

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Current law generally requires election officials to be qualified electors of the municipality in which the officials serve. In addition, current law generally requires election officials who serve at a polling place to be qualified electors of the ward for which the polling place is established, whenever a municipality is divided into wards.

However, special registration deputies who register electors at a polling place on election day, election officials who are appointed to work at a polling place that serves more than one ward, election officials who are reassigned by a municipal clerk or board of election commissioners to correct staffing deficiencies, or election officials who are appointed to fill a temporary or permanent vacancy need not be electors of any particular ward, but must be qualified electors of the municipality in which they serve. Officials who are appointed to work at a polling place that serves more than one ward must be electors of one of the wards served by the polling place. A high school pupil who is 16 or 17 years of age may serve as an inspector (poll worker) at the polling place serving his or her residence. In addition, if the municipal clerk or the executive director of a board of election commissioners or a deputy to the clerk or executive director serves as a special registration deputy or is appointed to work at a polling place to fill a vacancy in an inspector position, the clerk, executive director, or deputy need not be a resident of the municipality in which he or she serves.

Read the full summary

This bill provides, with certain exceptions, that an individual who serves as an election official at a polling place on election day need be an elector only of a county in which the municipality where the official serves is located. An individual who serves as the chief inspector at a polling place must be a qualified elector of the municipality where he or she serves unless no qualified candidate is available or the chief inspector is appointed to fill a temporary vacancy. A high school pupil who serves as an inspector must continue to meet the current residency requirement.

Who's behind it

3 senators are its ⁠. All 3 are Republicans.

5 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 8 names

Authors (3)

Signed on in support (5)

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 were 10 votes on this bill. Taking a bill up right away needs two-thirds of the members, a higher bar than passing it, so that vote can draw more yeses than the final one.

Senate vote to recommend it

Passed, 3 to 2 · Nov 1, 2013

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report passage as amended recommended by Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 0 · Nov 1, 2013

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 4 to 1 · Nov 1, 2013

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 2 recommended by Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 4, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 0 · Nov 1, 2013

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report introduction of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 by Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 18 to 15 · Mar 11, 2014

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Amendment 1 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 15”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 18 to 15 · Mar 11, 2014

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Official motion: “Placed at the foot of the 12th on the calendar of 3-11-2014, Ayes 18, Noes 15”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to take it up right away

Passed, 18 to 15 · Mar 11, 2014

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Official motion: “Refused to suspend rules, Ayes 18, Noes 15”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 17 to 16 · Mar 12, 2014

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Official motion: “Read a third time and passed, Ayes 17, Noes 16”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 56 to 38 · Mar 20, 2014 · 5 didn't vote

See how each of the 99 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (56)

No (38)

Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 56, Noes 38”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 56 to 38 · Mar 20, 2014

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 56, Noes 38”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Mar 27, 2014

    The new law was published.

  2. Mar 27, 2014

    The governor signed it. It became 2013 Wisconsin Act 147.

  3. Mar 26, 2014

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Mar 20, 2014

    The Assembly passed it too, 56 to 38.

  5. Mar 18, 2014

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  6. Mar 12, 2014

    The Assembly received it.

  7. Mar 12, 2014

    The Senate passed it, 17 to 16.

  8. Mar 11, 2014

    The Senate adopted it.

  9. Mar 11, 2014

    “Placed at the foot of the 12th on the calendar of 3-11-2014, Ayes 18, Noes 15” (the official wording)

  10. Nov 1, 2013

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.

  11. Nov 1, 2013

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 2 recommended by Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 4, Noes 1” (the official wording)

  12. Nov 1, 2013

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  13. Nov 1, 2013

    “Report introduction of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 by Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  14. Sep 4, 2013

    The committee held a public hearing.

  15. Feb 13, 2013

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Elections and Urban Affairs.

  16. Feb 13, 2013

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Feb 13, 2013 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Lazich, Cowles, Grothman and Miller; cosponsored by Representatives Bernier, Kleefisch, Bies, Thiesfeldt and Schraa

  2. Feb 13, 2013 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Elections and Urban Affairs

  3. Sep 4, 2013 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  4. Oct 31, 2013 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Lazich

  5. Oct 31, 2013 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 offered by Senator Lazich

  6. Oct 31, 2013 · Senate

    Senator Miller withdrawn as a coauthor

  7. Oct 31, 2013 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  8. Nov 1, 2013 · Senate

    Report introduction of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 by Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  9. Nov 1, 2013 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  10. Nov 1, 2013 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 2 recommended by Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 4, Noes 1

  11. Nov 1, 2013 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  12. Nov 1, 2013 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  13. Mar 7, 2014 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 3-11-2014 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  14. Mar 11, 2014 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senators Lassa, Hansen, Erpenbach, Carpenter, L. Taylor, Vinehout, Harris, Shilling, Lehman, Miller, T. Cullen, Risser and C. Larson

  15. Mar 11, 2014 · Senate

    Placed at the foot of the 12th on the calendar of 3-11-2014, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  16. Mar 11, 2014 · Senate

    Read a second time

  17. Mar 11, 2014 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Amendment 1 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  18. Mar 11, 2014 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 adopted

  19. Mar 11, 2014 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 adopted

  20. Mar 11, 2014 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  21. Mar 11, 2014 · Senate

    Refused to suspend rules, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  22. Mar 12, 2014 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 17, Noes 16

  23. Mar 12, 2014 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  24. Mar 12, 2014 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  25. Mar 18, 2014 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  26. Mar 18, 2014 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 10:21 AM on 3-20-2014 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 28

  27. Mar 20, 2014 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  28. Mar 20, 2014 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representatives Zamarripa, Zepnick and Hulsey

  29. Mar 20, 2014 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 56, Noes 38

  30. Mar 20, 2014 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  31. Mar 20, 2014 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  32. Mar 20, 2014 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 56, Noes 38

  33. Mar 20, 2014 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  34. Mar 21, 2014 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  35. Mar 26, 2014 · Senate

    LRB correction (Senate Amendment 2)

  36. Mar 26, 2014 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  37. Mar 26, 2014 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 3-26-2014

  38. Mar 27, 2014 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 3-27-2014. 2013 Wisconsin Act 147

  39. Mar 27, 2014 · Senate

    Published 3-28-2014

Terms on this page

Wisconsin Act

The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.

Official term: Act. 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

Wisconsin Act

The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.

Official term: Act

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