SB 404

Under current law, an elector who, as a result of a disability, is unable to enter

a polling place ("assisted elector") may request to receive a ballot at the entrance of

the polling place and may also request to receive assistance with marking that ballot

from an assisting individual. The assisted elector must give his or her name and

address to an election official and provide proof of residence if he or she would

otherwise be required to provide proof of residence to receive a ballot. Unless the

assisted elector is registering in person on the day of the election, an election official

who receives a request from an assisted elector must verify that the assisted elector's

name and address conform to the elector's name and address on the poll list. The

election official must also, generally, require the elector to enter his or her signature

on the poll list or on a separate list maintained for new, late, or same-day registrants.

If the election official issues a ballot for the assisted elector, the election official must

accompany the assisting individual to the entrance to the polling place. After the

assisted elector or assisting individual has marked and folded the assisted elector's

ballot, the assisting individual must immediately take the ballot into the polling

place and give the ballot to an election official. The election official must announce

in the polling place that he or she has a ballot offered by a person requiring

assistance, and must ask whether anyone in the polling place objects to the issuance

of a ballot for the elector. The ballots of challenged electors are marked and may be

reviewed during the canvassing process. A ballot may be disqualified only if the

municipal clerk, the board of election commissioners, or a challenging elector

demonstrates beyond a reasonable doubt that the person does not qualify as an

elector or is not properly registered.

Under current law, a Wisconsin voter may vote by absentee ballot, by mail, or

in person for any election. This bill extends the accommodations available to electors

who, as a result of a disability, are unable to enter a polling place on election day to

electors who, as a result of a disability, are unable to enter a municipal clerk's office

or alternate site used for the purpose of absentee voting in person. The

responsibilities assigned to election officials under current law are assigned to the

clerk or deputy clerk, or to a person designated by and under the employment or

control of the clerk or deputy clerk, in this bill.