Summary of 2011-2012 Legislative Changes to Wisconsin Election Law

The 2011-2012 session of the Wisconsin Legislature brought about significant changes to election administration law in the state.  In total, eleven election-related acts were signed into law.  Those acts impacted aspects of election administration such as voter residency requirements and absentee ballot procedures, implemented a poll book signing requirement, moved the Presidential Preference Primary to August, revised the municipal canvassing procedures and eliminated the high school special registration deputy requirement.  In addition, Wisconsin Acts 39, 43 and 44 related to redistricting and created new legislative and congressional districts based on the 2010 census.  

For your reference, we have created a summary of these legislative acts and detailed the changes contained within each piece of legislation.  This summary can be used as a reminder for local election officials about both the procedures that underwent modifications and the new requirements that were put into place.  It can also serve as a reference tool for providing municipal executives and the public with details about the challenges in administering elections this past year.  

Please note that this information was compiled by using information from the Legislative Reference Bureau.  Additional information regarding these legislative changes may be found at the following link:
http://docs.legis.wi.gov/2011/related/acts

If you have additional questions about this information, please contact the G.A.B. Help Desk at    (608) 261-2028, toll-free at (866) VOTEWIS (868-3947), or by email at GABHelpDesk@wi.gov.  Thank you.

cc:       Kevin J. Kennedy
            Director and General Counsel
              Government Accountability Board