Government Accountability Board:
WHAT IS THE G.A.B.?
Those of us who study and follow the
elections process in the State of Wisconsin
need to know the answer to that question!
The Government Accountability Board (GAB) was created by the Wisconsin State Legislature in September of 2007, when the State Elections Board and the State Ethics Board were merged. GAB has two divisions: the Elections Division and the Ethics and Accountability Division. A single board, the GAB is responsible for the administration and enforcement of election, election campaign, ethics and lobbying laws. There are 6 members on the Board - all must have been elected to and have served as a judge in Wisconsin. The governor appoints the Board based on the recommendations of a nominating committee called the Government Accountability Candidate Committee. Each member serves for a 6-year term. The GAB was given the responsibility to implement the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA Law) which was enacted by Congress to correct some of the problems of the 2000 Presidential election. Specifically, the law established requirements for states to follow regarding voting machines (attempting to get rid of punch cards -- "hanging chads", etc.); requirements for improving access to polling places and voting systems for persons with disabilities and to require each state to implement and maintain a single, central, computerized list of registered voters (Statewide Voter Registration System -- SVRS).
Currently, GAB has adopted a 5-Year Plan for Wisconsin elections. The proposed cost of the plan is $17 million dollars. GAB will be evaluating the possibility of Early Voting in Wisconsin; changes to Absentee Voting; alternative voting methods such as vote by mail. vote by phone, vote via the Internet; GAB will evaluate voting equipment for purchase by municipalities to ensure the integrity and security of the systems and GAB will devise training programs for poll-workers, election clerks and others responsible for running Wisconsin elections. The on-going responsibility of maintaining the Statewide Voter Registration System will continue. Unfortunately, GAB will not study Voter ID in the
5-Year Plan.
Our interest and concern about the activities of GAB needs to be communicated to them. These are Wisconsin election -- we are Wisconsin voters. How would these changes protect the integrity and security of our vote? GAB has a public website: www.gab.wi.gov . We encourage you, or a member of your organization, to go on that site and stay informed on GAB proposals. GAB views us as "customers" and we need to do our part by letting them know how we feel about their "products". What we really need to let GAB know is that we're not actually their "customers" so much as their "bosses".
Once GAB makes recommendations regarding changes to our voting process, those recommendations should be sent to one of the Legislature's elections committees or to the Joint Finance Committee if there are tax dollars involved. If any of your representatives are on those committees, you might like to discuss voting issues with them. Check this fall after the November Election to find out who will be on which of the following committees:
Joint Finance Committee
Assembly Elections and Campaign Reform Committee
Senate Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs Committee
CONTACTING THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD (GAB)
On that website you will find dates of GAB meetings; a detailed agenda for the nextmeeting; minutes of the previous meeting and information about GAB and changes itis proposing to our elections process and laws.GAB viewing on "Wisconsin Eye": www.wiseye.org
* Click onto: "Video Archive"* Click onto: "Executive and Judicial"* Click onto: "State Agencies and UW Systems"* This will take you to a list of archived meetings. Look for GAB meetings by title anddate. You can watch or listen to the proceedings.Attending a GAB meeting:
* Address: 212 East Washington Avenue, Madison 53707-7984* GAB Board Meeting Room* Phone number: 1-608-266-8005* Meetings start at 9:30 a.m. available on the website the Thursday before the meeting for your review. They are also available on the date of the meeting.
* If you wish to speak to the Board, sign in when you arrive and bring 12 copies of your remarks for all committee members and staff.If you have questions about anything on our website,
please contact us at:
The "We're Watching...Wisconsin Elections" Campaign is a group of unaffiliated citizens following issues affecting Wisconsin Elections
