AB 609

This bill requires the Elections Commission to use all feasible means to

facilitate the registration of all eligible electors of this state 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, the commission must attempt to facilitate the initial registration of

all eligible electors no later than July 1, 2021. To facilitate the initial registration,

the bill directs the commission and the Department of Transportation to enter into

an agreement so that DOT may transfer specified personally identifiable

information in DOT's records to the commission. The bill requires the commission

to maintain the confidentiality of any information it 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 the commission. Once the commission obtains all the

information required under current law to complete an elector's registration, the

commission 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 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 the commission. In addition, the bill directs

the commission to notify an individual by first class postcard whenever the

commission removes his or her name from the registration list or changes his or her

status on the list from eligible to ineligible.

The bill also directs the elections commission to report to the appropriate

standing committees of the legislature, no later than July 1, 2019, concerning its

progress in initially implementing the registration system created by the bill. The

report must contain an assessment of the feasibility and desirability or integration

of registration information with information maintained by the departments of

health services, children and families, workforce development, revenue, regulation

and licensing, and natural resources; the University of Wisconsin System; and the

Technical College System Board, as well as with the technical colleges in each

technical college district.

Under current law, a qualified elector with a current and valid driver's license

or identification card issued by DOT may register to vote electronically on a secure

Internet site maintained by the elections commission. To register electronically

under current law a qualified elector must also authorize DOT to forward a copy of

his or her electronic signature to the commission. The authorization affirms that all

information provided by the elector is correct and has the same effect as a written

signature on a paper copy of the registration form. Finally, current law requires the

commission and DOT to enter into an agreement that permits the commission to