SB 159

This bill makes various changes to laws relating to elections and voting,

including the following:

Automatic voter registration

The 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, 2023. 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 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 commission to report to the appropriate standing

committees of the legislature, no later than July 1, 2021, 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, Safety and Professional

Services, 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 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