Legislation:                             

Voter ID Bill:  ACT 23 ---

How Will It Affect Elections?

On June 9th, 2011, Act 23 requiring photo ID for voting was published and became election

law in Wisconsin.  A photo ID Bill was first introduced by former Lieutenant Governor

Margaret Farrow and then-Assemblyman Scott Walker 10 years ago.  Photo ID has been

championed by Representative Jeff Stone and current State Senator Joe Leibham during

each legislative session since.  Photo voter ID has had bipartisan support and the support of

over 88% of Wisconsin voters for that long.  Act 23 finally makes the changes voters have asked

for to protect the security of their vote and the integrity of Wisconsin's elections process.

Any elector needing a photo ID for voting will be notified of the requirement and the Government

Accountability Board has been charged with the responsibility to develop an "outreach

program" to assist voters needing an ID.  This educational program will also explain that an ID            certificate for voting purposes can be obtained at the Department of Transportation at no                   charge, if the voter so requests. 

The Bill will be fully implemented for the 2012 Spring Primary elections.  Voters will be

required to show an ID which contains the name of the voter and which also conforms

to the voter's registration and contains a photo of that individual, in order to receive a ballot to

vote either on Election Day or by absentee ballot.  The list of acceptable IDs includes:

*A driver's license issued by the DOT

*An identification card for voting purposes issued by the DOT

*An identification card issued by the U.S. Armed Services

*A U.S. passport

*A U.S. certificate of naturalization issued not earlier than two years prior to an election

*An unexpired driving receipt issued by the DOT

*An unexpired identification card receipt issued by the DOT

*An identification card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Wisconsin

*An unexpired identification card issued by an accredited university or college in the

state, that contains a photo, the date of issuance and the signature of the individual

to whom it is issued.  It must contain an expiration date indicating that the card expires

no later than two years after the date of issuance, if the individual established that he

or she is enrolled as a student at the university or college on the date that the card is

presented.

PROVISIONS THAT WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR THE RECALL ELECTIONS INCLUDE:

*Changes voter residency requirments from 10 days to 28 consecutive days prior to

voting

*Requires voters to sign their name in the poll book before receiving a ballot

*Eliminates the straight-party ballot.  Electors will need to vote for each individual

candidate

*Continues Same-Day voter registration but requires the registrant to provide

acceptable "proof of residence", to list current and previous address on registration

form and to sign a statement on the registration form that the registrant understands

that falsifying information on a registration form is a Class I Felony.  In addition, the

registration form will be designed to obtain the number of the elector's current and

valid driver's license.

*Eliminates the practice of corroboration (vouching) for another voter's proof of

residence

*A qualified elector who has not previously registered or whose name does not appear

on the registration list may register after the close of registration but no later than

5 p.m., or close of business, on the Friday before Election Day.  They may also register

on Election Day.

*Changes time allowed for "in-person absentee" voting to the 3rd Monday prior to an

election and ends it at 5 p.m. or close of business on the Friday prior to Election Day

*Proof of Residence for college students:  Proof of residence includes a university,

college or technical school ID card with a photograph of the cardholder presented as

proof of residence, together with a fee payment receipt dated no earlier than 9 months

before the date of the election; or includes an ID card with a photograph of the

cardholder, if the university, college or technical school provides a certified and current

list showing the current addresses of students who reside in housing sponsored by the

university, college or technical school where the student is a U.S. citizen and where the

student is included on the list.

*Requires Poll Workers to "challenge" for cause any person offering to vote who does

not adhere to any voter requirement under Chapter 6 of Wisconsin State Statutes

(statutes governing elections)

*Special Registration Deputies (SRDs), citizens who are trained and certified to register

voters during Open Registration, are to be trained and certified and accountable to the

municipal clerk in whose municipality they will register voters.  The Government

Accountability Board will no longer train and certify SRDs but will continue to provide

the required SRD training program.

*Increases the types of residential living facilities in which Special Voting Deputies

(SVDs)  may conduct voting.  These are nursing homes and other facilities in which the

voters cannot get to the polls, so the polls are brought to them.  Prohibits

electioneering where SVD voting is taking place and requires SVDs to return all ballots                       issued to them to the municipal clerk.

*Requires the Government Accountability Board to develop and implement an

education program regarding voter ID requirements and to develop an outreach

program for electors potentially needing assistance to obtain a Voter ID.

In the 2012 Elections, when the Voter ID law is fully implemented, voters who vote on

Election Day or by absentee ballot, must present proof of identification which name must

conform to the name on the poll list and which must have a photograph which reasonably

resembles the elector.  Those who do not MUST VOTE BY PROVISIONAL BALLOT. 

Provisional ballots have had limited use in Wisconsin, but Act 23 expands that use so voters are

not denied their right to vote as long as they adhere to state statutes.  A provisional ballot is not

counted but is placed in a separate envelope.  In order to have that ballot counted, the elector

bears the responsibility to produce the required proof of identification by the time their polling

place closes at 8 p.m. on Election Day or at the office of their clerk by the close of business on

the Friday following Election Day.

In addition, there are provisions in the bill that will become law when Wisconsin implements the

Federal Real ID Bill.  The above summary is intended to give an outline of major provisions that

voters will see implemented in elections in 2012 and is not all-inclusive.  Readers can read the

entire statute by going to legis.wisconsin.gov and then to "Wisconsin Law".  Then click on

"2011 - 2012 Acts" and look for Act 23.

The We're Watching Wisconsin Elections Campaign

If you have questions about anything on our website,

please contact us at:

protectyourvoteproject@gmail.com

"We're Watching Wisconsin Elections" is an unaffiliated group of concerned citizens following issues affecting Wisconsin Elections.