Governor Evers Takes Action on Election Bills

Saturday, March 23rd, 2024 -- 11:00 AM

(Anya van Wagtendonk, Wisconsin Public Radio) On Thursday, Governor Tony Evers took action on several election bills.

According toAnya van Wagtendonk with Wisconsin Pubic Radio, Evers signed a law that bars any municipality from closing more than half its polling places within 30 days of an election.

That comes four years after polling place closures tied to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic sent Milwaukee’s 2020 spring primary election spiraling into chaos. The governor also signed a law that protects election workers’ personal information and increases the penalty for harming election officials.

That law, which won’t go into effect until July 2025, also establishes whistleblower protections for people who report alleged election fraud. Evers vetoed a bill that would have given election observers more access to more of the election process, including the ability to move closer to election workers than is currently allowed. Evers said that increased the likelihood of intimidation or interference.

The governor rejected a GOP bill that would have changed requirements for how people in nursing homes and care facilities submit absentee ballots. It would have allowed certain employees to help residents fill out their ballots, and strengthen requirements of witness information on absentee envelopes. Evers argued that tightening those technical requirements would allow votes to be invalidated “based on a minor mistake.“

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