The state Senate passed several bills on Tuesday that would change Wisconsin election procedures.
The legislation dealt with many details: from how ballot containers are secured to the party representation of election officials at polling places. Another bill addressed how proof-of-residency is recorded.
Sponsor and Republican state Sen. Mary Lazich said the bills would ensure the public remains confident in the election system. “By and large, most of our elections across the state, in the cities, towns, and municipalities, are run by very competent people and good things happen,“ she said. ”But, in some places, they’re not.”
Lazich said the bills provide clear guidance and consistency. She said the 2012 recount in Racine played a role in the drafting of these bills.
Critics, however, argued during debate that the bills are an attempt to micromanage the election process. Democratic state Sen. Jon Erpenbach voted against the bills, and attempted to return one to committee and table it so that some concerns he had with it could be addressed. Those actions were unsuccessful.
Erpenbach said the bills are unnecessary. "Those pieces of legislation were a complete waste of time," he said.
The bills will now head to the Assembly.
The bills include:
Senate Bill 262. Relating to: labeling of duplicate ballots
Senate Bill 264. Relating to: securing the ballot container.
Senate Bill 265. Relating to: party representation for election officials serving at polling places.
Senate Bill 267. Relating to: recording the type of identifying document provided by an elector as proof of residence.
