The Sconi

Wisconsin is debating a new voting law that will prohibit municipal clerks from filling out blank information or correcting information on absentee ballots received.

Senate Bill 212 states that ballots must be returned if the absentee ballot has any blank portions or incorrect information and clerks must post a notification of the issue on the MyVote Wisconsin website's information page. 

"Under this bill, if a municipal clerk receives an absentee ballot with an improperly completed certificate or with no certificate, the clerk is required to return the ballot to the voter and post a notification of the defect on the voter's voter information page on the internet site that is used by voters for original registration, currently titled MyVote Wisconsin," the bill's language states. "The bill also prohibits the municipal clerk from correcting a defect in the certificate." 

SB 212 is one of multiple Wisconsin bills being put in place to make voter fraud more difficult and attempts to prevent fraud altogether. 

“Prior to, during and after the 2020 election, public polls showed segments of our population lacked faith in the process and outcomes of elections. These bills are designed to make it easy to vote, but hard to cheat,” said Sen. Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville) as reported by Milwaukee's WUMB.

According to the bill's text, by prohibiting clerks from filling out missing information or making corrections, it will ensure that clerks are unable to submit invalid votes, reject valid ballots and/or knowingly neglect to report voter fraud. Under SB 212, a fine of up to $10,000 could be imposed on those who do not follow the new law.

"Under current law, an election official who commits election fraud is generally subject to a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed three years and six months or both," the bill states. "Under the bill, election officials violating the prohibitions described above are likewise subject to that penalty."  

The elderly and disabled have seen increases in voter fraud. These two demographics are most likely to use absentee voting ballots due to inability to make it to polling facilities physically, Wisconsin Examiner reported. 

The most-common reason absentee ballots would be sent back to voters is failure to fill out the required information, such as the address of a witness, the article said. 

Although some say that this is unfair to those who are disabled, lack transportation or to the elderly that need someone else to fill out the ballots for them, others argue that other provisions will be in place specifically for these instances. Such bills are already in review, and some have already passed the state Senate, in the multiple bills currently being viewed.