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2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 499
October 18, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives SNODGRASS, SHELTON, KRUG, J.
ANDERSON, CONLEY, CONSIDINE, DRAKE, EMERSON, JOERS, MOORE OMOKUNDE,
PALMERI, SHANKLAND and OHNSTAD, cosponsored by Senators SMITH, LARSON,
ROYS, SPREITZER, TAYLOR, HESSELBEIN and AGARD. Referred to Committee on
Campaigns and Elections.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
AN ACT to amend 6.28 (1) (b); and to create 6.28 (2m) of the statutes; relating
to: voter registration at high schools.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Prior to 2011 Wisconsin Act 240, state law required that all public high schools
be used for voter registration for enrolled students and members of the high school
staff. Prior law also authorized voter registration to take place at a private high
school or a tribal school that operates high school grades if requested by the principal.
This bill reinstates those provisions.
Under the bill, the municipal clerk must notify the school board of each school
district in which the municipality is located that high schools will be used for voter
registration. The school board and the clerk then appoint at least one qualified voter
at each high school to be a special school registration deputy. The bill allows students
and staff to register at the school on any day that classes are regularly held. The
deputies promptly forward the registration forms to the clerk and the clerk adds
qualified voters to the registration list. The clerk may reject a registration form, but
the clerk must notify the registrant and inform the registrant of the reason for being
rejected. Under the bill, a form completed by an individual who will be 18 years of
age before the next election and who is otherwise qualified to vote must be filed in
such a way so that the individual is automatically registered to vote when the
individual is 18.
Finally, the bill allows a principal of a private high school or tribal school that
operates high school grades to request that the municipal clerk appoint a qualified
voter at the school to be a special school registration deputy. Under the bill, the clerk
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ASSEMBLY BILL 499
must appoint a special school registration deputy if the clerk determines that the
private high school or tribal school has a substantial number of students residing in
the municipality.
For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 6.28 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
6.28 (1) (b) All applications for registration corrections and additions may be
made throughout the year at the office of the city board of election commissioners,
at the office of the municipal clerk, at the office of the county clerk, or at other
locations provided by the board of election commissioners or the common council in
cities over 500,000 population or by either or both the municipal clerk, or the common
council, village or town board in all other municipalities and may also be made
during the school year at any high school by qualified persons under sub. (2m) (a).
An elector who wishes to obtain a confidential listing under s. 6.47 (2) shall register
at the office of the municipal clerk of the municipality where the elector resides.
SECTION 2. 6.28 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
6.28 (2m) AT HIGH SCHOOLS. (a) Public high schools shall be used for
registration for enrolled students and members of the high school staff.
(b) The municipal clerk of each municipality shall notify the school board of
each school district in which the municipality is located that high schools shall be
used for registration pursuant to par. (a). The school board and the municipal clerk
shall agree upon the appointment of at least one qualified elector at each high school
as a special school registration deputy. The municipal clerk shall appoint such
person as a school registration deputy and explain the person's duties and
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ASSEMBLY BILL 499
responsibilities. Students and staff may register at the high school on any day that
classes are regularly held. The school registration deputies shall promptly forward
properly completed registration forms to the municipal clerk of the municipality in
which the registering student or staff member resides. The municipal clerk, upon
receiving such registration forms, shall add all those registering electors who have
met the registration requirements to the registration list. The municipal clerk may
reject any registration form and shall promptly notify the person whose registration
is rejected of the rejection and the reason therefor. A person whose registration is
rejected may reapply for registration if he or she is qualified. The form of each high
school student who is qualified and will be eligible to vote at the next election shall
be filed in such a way that when a student attains the age of 18 years the student is
registered to vote automatically. Each school board shall assure that the principal
of every high school communicates elector registration information to students.
(c) The principal of any private high school or of any tribal school, as defined
in s. 115.001 (15m), that operates high school grades that has a substantial number
of students residing in a municipality may request the municipal clerk to appoint a
special school registration deputy in accordance with par. (b). Students and staff
may register at the high school on any day that classes are regularly held. The clerk
shall appoint a special school registration deputy in the high school if the clerk
determines the school to have a substantial number of students residing in the
municipality.
(END)
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