Wis. Stat. § 6.55
Polling place registration; voting by certification
Redline — January 1, 2003 → current.View current text →
Current — January 1, 2015
As of January 1, 2003
(2)
(2)
(a)
(a) Except where the procedure under par. (c) or (cm) is employed, any person who qualifies as an elector in the ward or election district where he or she desires to vote, but has not previously filed a registration form, or was registered at another location, may request permission to vote at the polling place for that ward or election district, or at an alternate polling place assigned under s. 5.25 (5) (b) . When a proper request is made, the inspector shall require the person to execute a registration form prescribed by the commission. The registration form shall be completed in the manner provided under s. 6.33 (2) and shall contain all information required under s. 6.33 (1) , together with the following certification:
2. If a change of address is made from outside the municipality, the municipal clerk shall file the notice required under s. 6.40 (1) (a) 3.
(b) Upon executing the registration form under par. (a) , the elector shall provide acceptable proof of residence under sub. (7) . If the elector cannot provide acceptable proof of residence, the information contained in the registration form shall be corroborated in a statement that is signed by any elector who resides in the same municipality as the registering elector and that contains the current street address of the corroborating elector. The corroborator shall then provide acceptable proof of residence as provided in sub. (7) . The signing by the elector executing the registration form and by any corroborator shall be in the presence of the special registration deputy or inspector. Upon compliance with this procedure, the elector shall be permitted to cast his or her vote, if the elector complies with all other requirements for voting at the polling place.
(b) Upon executing the registration form under par. (a) , the elector shall provide proof of residence under s. 6.34 . The signing by the elector executing the registration form shall be in the presence of the election registration official or inspector. Upon receipt of the registration form, the official or inspector shall enter both the type of identifying document submitted by the elector as proof of residence and the name of the entity or institution that issued the identifying document, and, if the identifying document includes a number that applies only to the individual holding that document, that number in the space provided on the form. The official or inspector shall then print his or her name on and sign the form, indicating that the official or inspector has accepted the form. Upon compliance with this procedure, the elector shall be permitted to cast his or her vote, if the elector complies with all other requirements for voting at the polling place.
(c)
(c)
1. As an alternative to registration at the polling place under pars. (a) and (b) , the board of election commissioners, or the governing body of any municipality may by resolution require a person who qualifies as an elector and who is not registered and desires to register on the day of an election to do so at another readily accessible location in the same building as the polling place serving the elector's residence or at an alternate polling place assigned under s. 5.25 (5) (b) , instead of at the polling place serving the elector's residence. In such case, the municipal clerk shall prominently post a notice of the registration location at the polling place. The municipal clerk, deputy clerk or special registration deputy at the registration location shall require such person to execute a registration form as prescribed under par. (a) and to provide acceptable proof of residence as provided under sub. (7) . If the elector cannot provide acceptable proof of residence, the information contained in the registration form shall be corroborated in the manner provided in par. (b) . The signing by the elector executing the registration form and by any corroborator shall be in the presence of the municipal clerk, deputy clerk or special registration deputy. Upon proper completion of registration, the municipal clerk, deputy clerk or special registration deputy shall serially number the registration and give one copy to the elector for presentation at the polling place serving the elector's residence or an alternate polling place assigned under s. 5.25 (5) (b) .
1. As an alternative to registration at the polling place under pars. (a) and (b) , the board of election commissioners, or the governing body of any municipality, may by resolution require a person who qualifies as an elector and who is not registered and desires to register on the day of an election to do so at another readily accessible location in the same building as the polling place serving the elector's residence or at an alternate polling place assigned under s. 5.25 (5) (b) , instead of at the polling place serving the elector's residence. In such case, the municipal clerk shall prominently post a notice of the registration location at the polling place. An eligible elector who desires to register shall execute a registration form as prescribed under par. (a) and provide proof of residence as provided under s. 6.34 . The signing by the person executing the registration form shall be in the presence of the municipal clerk, deputy clerk, or election registration official. Upon receipt of the registration form, the municipal clerk, deputy clerk, or election registration official shall enter the type of identifying document submitted by the elector as proof of residence, the name of the entity or institution that issued the identifying document, and, if the identifying document includes a number that applies only to the individual holding that document, the last 4 digits of that number in the space provided on the form. If the number on the identifying document submitted by the elector has 6 or fewer digits, the clerk shall enter only the last 2 digits of that number. The municipal clerk, the deputy clerk, or the election registration official shall then print his or her name and sign the form, indicating that the clerk, deputy clerk, or official has accepted the form. Upon proper completion of registration, the municipal clerk, deputy clerk, or election registration official shall serially number the registration and give one copy to the person for presentation at the polling place serving the person's residence or an alternate polling place assigned under s. 5.25 (5) (b) .
2. Upon compliance with the procedures under subd. 1. , the municipal clerk or deputy clerk shall issue a certificate addressed to the inspectors of the proper polling place directing that the elector be permitted to cast his or her vote if the elector complies with all requirements for voting at the polling place. The clerk shall enter the name and address of the elector on the face of the certificate. If the elector's registration is corroborated, the clerk shall also enter the name and address of the corroborator on the face of the certificate. The certificate shall be numbered serially and prepared in duplicate. The municipal clerk shall preserve one copy in his or her office.
2. Upon compliance with the procedures under subd. 1. , the municipal clerk or deputy clerk shall issue a certificate addressed to the inspectors of the proper polling place directing that the elector be permitted to cast his or her vote if the elector complies with all requirements for voting at the polling place. The clerk shall enter the name and address of the elector on the face of the certificate. The certificate shall be numbered serially and prepared in duplicate. The municipal clerk shall preserve one copy in his or her office.
3. The elector, at the time he or she appears to vote at the polling place, shall deliver the certificate issued under subd. 2. to the inspectors.
3. The elector, at the time he or she appears to vote at the polling place, shall deliver the certificate issued under subd. 2. to the inspectors.
(cm) If an elector who is not registered wishes to obtain a confidential listing under s. 6.47 (2) , the elector shall register at the office of the municipal clerk of the municipality where the elector resides. Upon completion of registration, the municipal clerk or a deputy clerk shall serially number the registration form and issue a voting identification card to the elector under s. 6.47 (3) . The elector may vote at the polling place serving his or her residence by presenting the identification card or by providing his or her name and identification serial number to the inspectors.
(cm) If an elector who is not registered wishes to obtain a confidential listing under s. 6.47 (2) , the elector shall register at the office of the municipal clerk of the municipality where the elector resides. Upon completion of registration, the municipal clerk or a deputy clerk shall serially number the registration form and issue a voting identification card to the elector under s. 6.47 (3) . The elector may vote at the polling place serving his or her residence by presenting the identification card or by providing his or her name and identification serial number to the inspectors.
(cs) The commission shall provide to each municipal clerk a list prepared for use at each polling place showing the name and address of each person whose name appears on the list provided by the department of corrections under s. 301.03 (20m) as ineligible to vote on the date of the election, whose address is located in the area served by that polling place, and whose name does not appear on the poll list for that polling place. Prior to permitting an elector to register to vote under this subsection or s. 6.86 (3) (a) 2. , the inspectors or election registration officials shall review the list. If the name of an elector who wishes to register to vote appears on the list, the inspectors or election registration officials shall inform the elector or the elector's agent that the elector is ineligible to register to vote. If the elector or the elector's agent maintains that the elector is eligible to vote in the election, the inspectors or election registration officials shall permit the elector to register but shall mark the elector's registration form as “ineligible to vote per Department of Corrections." If the elector wishes to vote, the inspectors shall require the elector to vote by ballot and shall challenge the ballot as provided in s. 6.79 (2) (dm) .
(d) A registered elector who has changed his or her name but resides at the same address, and has not notified the municipal clerk under s. 6.40 (1) (c) , shall notify the inspector of the change before voting. The inspector shall then notify the municipal clerk at the time when materials are returned under s. 6.56 (1) . If an elector has changed both a name and address, the elector shall register at the polling place or other registration location under pars. (a) and (b) .
(d) A registered elector who has changed his or her name but resides at the same address, and has not previously provided notice of the change to the municipal clerk, shall notify the inspector of the change before voting. The inspector shall then notify the municipal clerk at the time when materials are returned under s. 6.56 (1) . If an elector has changed both a name and address, the elector shall register at the polling place or other registration location under pars. (a) and (b) .
(3)
(a) Any qualified elector in the ward or election district where the elector desires to vote whose name does not appear on the registration list but who claims to be registered to vote in the election may request permission to vote at the polling place for that ward or election district. When the request is made, the inspector shall require the person to give his or her name and address. If the elector is not at the polling place which serves the ward or election district where the elector resides, the inspector shall provide the elector with directions to the correct polling place. If the elector is at the correct polling place, the elector shall complete registration as provided in sub. (2) .
(b) Prior to permitting an elector to vote under this subsection, the inspectors shall review the list provided by the commission under sub. (2) (cs) . If the name of the elector appears on the list, the inspectors shall inform the elector that he or she is ineligible to vote at the election. If the elector maintains that he or she is eligible to vote in the election, the inspectors shall permit the elector to vote, but shall require the elector to vote by ballot, and shall challenge the ballot as provided in s. 6.79 (2) (dm) .
(5) Any person who violates this section may be punished as provided in ss. 12.13 (3) (g) and 12.60 (1) (b) .
(5) Any person who violates this section may be punished as provided in ss. 12.13 (3) (g) and 12.60 (1) (b) .
(6) The governing body or board of election commissioners of any municipality may provide by resolution that any of the registration duties of inspectors under sub. (2) shall be carried out in the municipality by special registration deputies appointed by the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners at any polling place or other registration location whenever the clerk or board of election commissioners determines that the registration process provided for in that subsection will be facilitated thereby. The deputies shall be specially appointed by the clerk or board of election commissioners for one election only to conduct elector registration only.
(6) Any of the registration duties of inspectors under sub. (2) may be carried out in the municipality by the municipal clerk. The municipal clerk, however, may not carry out the registration duties of the inspectors under sub. (2) if the municipal clerk is a candidate on the ballot for that election day.
(7)
(a) For purposes of this section, an identifying document constitutes acceptable proof of residence if it includes:
1. A current and complete name, including both the given and family name; and
2. A current and complete residential address, including a numbered street address, if any, and the name of a municipality.
(b) If an elector's address has changed since an identifying document was issued, the new information may be typed or printed on the document by hand, in ink.
(c) Identifying documents which constitute acceptable proof of residence under this section, when they contain the information specified in par. (a) , include the following:
1. An operator's license issued under ch. 343 .
2. An identification card issued under s. 343.50 .
3. Any other official identification card or license issued by a Wisconsin governmental body or unit or by an employer in the normal course of business, but not including a business card.
4. A credit card or plate.
5. A library card.
6. A check-cashing or courtesy card issued by a merchant in the normal course of business.
7. A real estate tax bill or receipt for the current year or the year preceding the date of the election.
8. A residential lease which is effective for a period that includes election day.
9. A university, college or technical institute fee card.
10. A university, college or technical institute identification card.
11. An airplane pilot's license.
12. A gas, electric or telephone service statement for the period commencing not earlier than 90 days before election day.
(d) Identifying documents specified in par. (c) which are valid for use during a specified period shall be valid on the day of an election in order to constitute acceptable proof of residence at that election.
Official source: Wisconsin State Legislature. Reproduced from public-domain Wisconsin statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.