Wisconsin Legislative Council
AMENDMENT MEMO
One Ea st Ma in Stre e t, Suite 401 • Ma dison, W I 53703 • (608) 266-1304 • le g.council@le gis.wisconsin.gov • http://www.le gis.wisconsin.gov/lc
Memo published: November 8, 2023 Contact: Peggy Hurley, Senior Staff Attorney
2023 Assembly Bill 570
Assembly
Amendment 1
2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 570
Assembly Bill 570 defines what constitutes a complete address for purposes of an absentee ballot
certification to include a voter and a witness’ printed first and last name, house or apartment number,
street name, municipality, and signature, and states that an absentee ballot certificate that lacks any of
these elements may not be accepted. Under the bill, a municipal clerk may employ various means to
inform the voter or witness that he or she must cure the defect in order for the ballot to be counted, but
only the voter or witness may cure a defect.
The bill also defines circumstances under which an election canvass may be temporarily halted and
under which special voting deputies may be prevented from visiting assisted living facilities to conduct
absentee voting in those facilities. The bill establishes procedures for certain employees of assisted
living facilities to be trained to assist residents with voting when special voting deputies may not enter
the facility and creates a crime of coercing a resident of an assisted living facility to take or to refrain
from certain voting activities.
The bill prohibits any person who is an employee of certain campaign, issue advocacy, or political
committees or organization from working as an election official and states that an election official who
improperly accepts or refuses to accept ballots or registration in accordance with law is guilty of a Class
I felony.
ASSEMBLY AMENDMENT 1
Assembly Amendment 1 states that absentee ballot certificates must be printed with blank spaces on
which voters and witnesses may write in each required element of his or her address and may also be
printed with blank spaces on which a voter or witness may opt to write his or her state or zip code.
BILL HISTORY
Assembly Amendment 1 was introduced on November 1, 2023, by Representative Michalski. On
November 7, 2023, the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections voted to recommend
adoption of Assembly Amendment 1 by a vote of Ayes, 5; Noes, 3, and to recommend passage of the bill
as amended by a vote of Ayes, 5; Noes, 3.
For a full history of the bill, visit the Legislature’s bill history page.
PJH:jal