Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Relating to: using an absentee ballot drop box or the U.S. mail or a commercial carrier to commit election fraud and providing a penalty.
Crime and criminals — Felony Elections — Ballots Fraud Fuel Legislature — Criminal penalties joint review committee on Legislature — Employment relations joint committee on Postage and postal service
- Introduced, stopped here
- Passes Assembly, not reached
- Passes Senate, not reached
- Governor signs, not reached
- Law, not reached
Unfamiliar terms? Glossary
What this bill does
Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, the severest punishment for election fraud is generally a Class I felony, the penalty for which is a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed three years and six months, or both. Generally, mail fraud is punishable as a Class H felony, the penalty for which is a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed six years, or both.
Under this bill, it is a Class H felony to use an absentee ballot drop box or the U.S. mail or a commercial carrier in the course of committing election fraud.
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.
Sponsors
Registered lobbying interests · 2
Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record
Full history
- Dec 17, 2025 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives O'Connor, Behnke, Dittrich, Gundrum, B. Jacobson, Kitchens, Knodl, Moses, Murphy, Piwowarczyk and Steffen; cosponsored by Senators Wimberger, Tomczyk and Wanggaard
- Dec 17, 2025 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Campaigns and Elections
- Jan 28, 2026 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Mar 23, 2026 · Assembly
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1