SB 281

This bill makes various changes in laws relating to voter registration and proof

of residence for voting. Currently, with the exception of individuals who are defined

as "military electors" under state law and new or former residents voting for

president and vice president, all eligible electors of this state must register in order

to vote in an election in this state. The registration period for each election ends on

the 20th day before that election, but an eligible elector may register to vote in an

election after that date at the office of the municipal clerk or board of election

commissioners of the municipality where he or she resides or at the polling place

serving his or her residence by providing specified proof of residence. In order to

register, an individual must provide his or her name, residence location, citizenship,

date of birth, age, and the number of a valid Wisconsin driver's license or the last four

digits of his or her social security number. An individual must also affirm that he

or she: 1) has resided in his or her ward (or municipality if not divided into wards)

for at least 28 consecutive days; 2) has not been convicted of a felony for which he or

she has not been pardoned and has not completed his or her sentence; 3) is not

disqualified on any other ground from voting; and 4) is not registered to vote at any

other location. The burden is on the elector to initiate registration and, if the elector's

name, address, or eligibility changes, to initiate any change in registration required

to maintain a valid registration.

This bill makes it the responsibility of the Government Accountability Board

(GAB) to use all feasible means to facilitate the registration of all eligible electors of

this state who are subject to a registration requirement and to maintain the

registration of all eligible electors for so long as they remain eligible, except as the

law specifically requires electors to take some action to continue their registrations.

Under the bill, GAB must attempt to facilitate the initial registration of all eligible

electors in accordance with the bill's requirements and procedures no later than July

1, 2021. To assist with its responsibility, the bill directs GAB and the Department

of Transportation (DOT) to enter into an agreement for the purpose of transferring

specified personally identifiable information in DOT's records to GAB. The bill

requires GAB to maintain the confidentiality of any information that GAB obtains

under the agreement and allows a driver's license or identification card applicant to

"opt out" of DOT's transfer of this information to GAB. Under the bill, once GAB

obtains all the information required under current law to complete an elector's

registration, GAB adds the elector's name to the statewide registration list. The

information then becomes accessible on the Internet. The bill also permits an

individual whose name is added to the registration list by GAB or who wishes to

permanently exclude his or her name from the list to file a request to have his or her

name deleted or excluded from the list or to revoke a deletion or exclusion request

previously made. A deletion or exclusion request or revocation of a deletion or

exclusion request may be made in the manner prescribed by GAB. In addition, the