Assembly Bill 298
Polling place closures
Became law
The governor signed it on Mar 21, 2024. It's .
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Introduced, passed
May 25, 2023
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Nov 9, 2023
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Feb 13, 2024
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2023 Wisconsin Act 124
Latest entry in the official record, Mar 21, 2024: “Published 3-22-2024”
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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
What it does
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Under current law, polling places are required to be established for each election at least 30 days before the election. Under this bill, under no circumstance may a municipality close more than one-half of its polling places within 30 days before an election. Additionally, the bill prohibits a municipality from closing any polling place within 30 days before an election without both the head of the governing body of the municipality and the municipal clerk approving the closures and without the municipal clerk doing all of the following:
1. Posting public notice of the closures on the municipality's website or, if the municipality does not maintain a website, posting notices in at least 3 different locations within the municipality reasonably calculated to notify the most residents.
Read the full summary Show less
2. Publishing three notices in a newspaper likely to give notice in the area notifying the public of the closures.
3. Publishing two notices or one notice in a newspaper likely to give notice in the area if time does not permit publication of three notices.
Additionally, under the bill, if after an election and more than 30 days before the next election, a municipality wishes to discontinue a polling place location, the municipality's governing body may approve the discontinuation only after a public hearing at which the public has an opportunity to present testimony on the proposed discontinuation.
Who's behind it
12 representatives are its . 8 are Republicans and 4 are Democrats.
8 more lawmakers .
See all 20 names Hide the names
Authors (12)
- Samba Baldeh · Democrat, Assembly
- Elijah Behnke · Republican, Assembly
- Rick Gundrum · Republican, Assembly
- Gus Gustafson · Republican, Assembly
- Joel Kitchens · Republican, Assembly
- Scott Krug · Republican, Assembly
- Clint Moses · Republican, Assembly
- LaKeshia Myers · Democrat, Assembly
- Sylvia Ortiz-Velez · Democrat, Assembly
- Shae Sortwell · Republican, Assembly
- David Steffen · Republican, Assembly
- Shelia Stubbs · Democrat, Assembly
Signed on in support (8)
- Joan Ballweg · Republican, Senate
- Marisabel Cabrera · Democrat, Assembly
- André Jacque · Republican, Senate
- O'Connor and Maxey
- Will Penterman · Republican, Assembly
- Mark Spreitzer · Democrat, Senate
- Lena Taylor · Democrat, Senate
- Cory Tomczyk · Republican, Senate
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 5 votes on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections vote on an amendment
Passed, 8 to 1 · Nov 3, 2023
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Campaigns and Elections, Ayes 8, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections vote to recommend it
Passed, 7 to 2 · Nov 3, 2023
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 Committee on Campaigns and Elections, Ayes 7, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote to pass it
Passed, 95 to 2 · Nov 9, 2023 · 2 didn't vote
See how each of the 99 representatives voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, R: Republican
Yes (95)
- Adam Neylon (R, 15)
- Alex Dallman (R, 39)
- Alex Joers (D, 81)
- Amanda Nedweski (R, 32)
- Amy Binsfeld (R, 27)
- Barbara Dittrich (R, 99)
- Bob Wittke (R, 63)
- Calvin Callahan (R, 35)
- Chanz Green (R, 74)
- Christine Sinicki (D, 20)
- Chuck Wichgers (R, 84)
- Cindi Duchow (R, 97)
- Clint Moses (R, 92)
- Daniel Riemer (D, 7)
- Darrin Madison (D, 10)
- Dave Armstrong (R, 67)
- Dave Considine (D, 81)
- Dave Maxey (R, 83)
- Dave Murphy (R, 56)
- David Steffen (R, 4)
- Deb Andraca (D, 23)
- Donna Rozar (R, 69)
- Dora Drake (D, 4)
- Elijah Behnke (R, 6)
- Ellen Schutt (R, 31)
- Evan Goyke (D, 18)
- Gae Magnafici (R, 28)
- Greta Neubauer (D, 66)
- Gus Gustafson (R, 55)
- James Edming (R, 87)
- Janel Brandtjen (R, 22)
- Jeff Mursau (R, 36)
- Jenna Jacobson (D, 50)
- Jerry O'Connor (R, 60)
- Jessie Rodriguez (R, 21)
- Jill Billings (D, 95)
- Jimmy Anderson (D, 47)
- Jodi Emerson (D, 91)
- Joel Kitchens (R, 1)
- John Macco (R, 88)
- John Spiros (R, 86)
- Jon Plumer (R, 42)
- Joy Goeben (R, 5)
- Kalan Haywood (D, 16)
- Karen Hurd (R, 69)
- Katrina Shankland (D, 71)
- Kevin Petersen (R, 57)
- Kristina Shelton (D, 90)
- LaKeshia Myers (D, 12)
- Lee Snodgrass (D, 52)
- Lisa Subeck (D, 79)
- Loren Oldenburg (R, 96)
- Lori Palmeri (D, 54)
- Marisabel Cabrera (D, 9)
- Mark Born (R, 37)
- Melissa Ratcliff (D, 16)
- Michael Schraa (R, 53)
- Mike Bare (D, 80)
- Nancy VanderMeer (R, 70)
- Nik Rettinger (R, 83)
- Pat Snyder (R, 85)
- Paul Melotik (R, 22)
- Paul Tittl (R, 25)
- Peter Schmidt (R, 6)
- Rick Gundrum (R, 58)
- Rob Brooks (R, 59)
- Rob Summerfield (R, 68)
- Rob Swearingen (R, 34)
- Robin Vos (R, 33)
- Robyn Vining (D, 13)
- Ron Tusler (R, 3)
- Ryan Clancy (D, 19)
- Samba Baldeh (D, 48)
- Scott Allen (R, 82)
- Scott Johnson (R, 33)
- Scott Krug (R, 72)
- Shae Sortwell (R, 2)
- Shannon Zimmerman (R, 30)
- Shelia Stubbs (D, 78)
- Steve Doyle (D, 94)
- Sue Conley (D, 44)
- Supreme Moore Omokunde (D, 17)
- Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D, 8)
- Terry Katsma (R, 26)
- Tip McGuire (D, 64)
- Tod Ohnstad (D, 65)
- Todd Novak (R, 51)
- Tom Michalski (R, 13)
- Tony Kurtz (R, 41)
- Travis Tranel (R, 49)
- Treig Pronschinske (R, 29)
- Ty Bodden (R, 59)
- Tyler August (R, 31)
- Warren Petryk (R, 93)
- Will Penterman (R, 38)
No (2)
- Clint Anderson (D, 45)
- Francesca Hong (D, 76)
Didn't vote (2)
- Angie Sapik (R, 73)
- Bob Donovan (R, 61)
Official motion: “PASSAGE”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate Committee on Shared Revenue vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · Jan 11, 2024
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote
Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 9, 2024
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Mar 21, 2024
The new law was published.
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Mar 21, 2024
The governor signed it. It became 2023 Wisconsin Act 124.
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Mar 18, 2024
Sent to the governor.
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Feb 13, 2024
The Senate passed it too.
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Feb 9, 2024
“Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)
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Jan 11, 2024
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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Nov 13, 2023
1 more senator signed on in support.
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Nov 13, 2023
Sent to the Senate Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection.
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Nov 10, 2023
The Senate received it.
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Nov 9, 2023
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Nov 9, 2023
The Assembly passed it, 95 to 2.
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Nov 9, 2023
The Assembly adopted it.
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Nov 8, 2023
3 more representatives signed on in support.
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Nov 3, 2023
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Nov 3, 2023
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 7 to 2.
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Jun 6, 2023
The committee held a public hearing.
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May 25, 2023
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections.
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May 25, 2023
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- May 25, 2023 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Sortwell, Ortiz-Velez, Baldeh, Behnke, Gundrum, Gustafson, Kitchens, Moses, Myers, Steffen, Stubbs and Krug; cosponsored by Senators Taylor, Jacque, Ballweg and Tomczyk
- May 25, 2023 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Campaigns and Elections
- Jun 6, 2023 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Jun 19, 2023 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Sortwell
- Jun 20, 2023 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Jul 12, 2023 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Sortwell
- Nov 3, 2023 · Assembly
Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Campaigns and Elections, Ayes 8, Noes 1
- Nov 3, 2023 · Assembly
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Campaigns and Elections, Ayes 7, Noes 2
- Nov 3, 2023 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Nov 7, 2023 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 11-9-2023 by Committee on Rules
- Nov 8, 2023 · Assembly
Representative Penterman added as a coauthor
- Nov 8, 2023 · Assembly
Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representatives Sortwell and Ortiz-Velez
- Nov 8, 2023 · Assembly
- Nov 9, 2023 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Nov 9, 2023 · Assembly
Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted
- Nov 9, 2023 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Nov 9, 2023 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Nov 9, 2023 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 95, Noes 2
- Nov 9, 2023 · Assembly
Representative Cabrera added as a coauthor
- Nov 9, 2023 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Nov 10, 2023 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Nov 13, 2023 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection
- Nov 13, 2023 · Senate
Senator Spreitzer added as a cosponsor
- Jan 11, 2024 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Jan 11, 2024 · Senate
Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Jan 11, 2024 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Feb 9, 2024 · Senate
Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Feb 9, 2024 · Senate
Placed on calendar 2-13-2024 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 13, 2024 · Senate
Read a second time
- Feb 13, 2024 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 13, 2024 · Senate
Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Feb 13, 2024 · Senate
Read a third time and concurred in
- Feb 13, 2024 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 13, 2024 · Assembly
Received from Senate concurred in
- Feb 19, 2024 · Assembly
LRB correction (Assembly Substitute Amendment 1)
- Feb 19, 2024 · Assembly
Report correctly enrolled on 2-19-2024
- Mar 18, 2024 · Assembly
Presented to the Governor on 3-18-2024
- Mar 21, 2024 · Assembly
Report approved by the Governor on 3-21-2024. 2023 Wisconsin Act 124
- Mar 21, 2024 · Assembly
Published 3-22-2024
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
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
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote