Bills that would seriously undermine voting rights have recently been introduced in the Wisconsin Legislature. Please contact your representatives ASAP to oppose these measures. Immediate action is critical because a hearing will be held this Tuesday, October 13 at the Capitol. Passage could follow soon thereafter, given the short time frame the Republican majority now imposes on the legislative process.
SB 294/AB 388: This bill would radically change the state's administration of elections. The Government Accountability Board, now a nonpartisan group of six retired judges, would be replaced by partisan appointees, resulting in gridlock. The only reason for this change is retribution for the GAB's cooperation with the John Doe investigation against Scott Walker and his associates.
SB 295/AB 389: Introduced just yesterday, this bill would create a system for voter registration through the GAB website with a process that links to the voter's driver's license or state ID in the DMV database. But it also ends the role of volunteer Special Registration Deputies (who register voters out in the community). The new plan will not help people who are insufficiently acquainted with computers or have no license or ID. It also will increase the pressure on poll workers who have to register such voters on election day (this is especially true in the central city of Milwaukee and in student areas, which are more Democratic). Even worse, Republicans might then end same-day registration. They have been unable to do that because federal law requires it in states without motor-voter registration. Absent same-day registration, any of us can be forced to walk away without voting if the poll book for some reason (simple mistake or deliberate purging) does not include our name. (Regrettably, some of the sponsors of this bill are Democrats.)
SB 292/AB 387: In a nutshell, this bill would legalize coordination between candidates' campaigns and special interest supporters.
The joint Senate and Assembly hearing will be held on Tuesday, October 13 at 9 am in the Capitol, Room 412 East. For more information see http://legis.wisconsin.gov/. Anyone who can appear and testify on these bills, or just sign the lists of those opposed, will help the effort to defeat these gross examples of legislative overreach.