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Bill > AB227

WI AB227

Inducements to sign or refrain from signing nomination papers, recall petitions, and certain other petitions.

summary

Introduced
04/23/2025
In Committee
04/23/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Current law prohibits certain kinds of election bribery, including offering, giving, lending, or providing money or anything of value to an elector or other person to induce the elector to vote or refrain from voting. Under current law, Xanything of valueY includes an object having utility independent of a political message it contains, the value of which exceeds $1. Election bribery is a Class I felony, the penalty for which is a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed three years and six months, or both. This bill prohibits as election bribery such inducement of an elector to sign or refrain from signing a petition supporting or opposing a candidate, referendum, or proposition about political or social issues, state law, or proposed or potential legislation, if the petition is related to an election or referendum or is circulated during an election period, as defined in the bill. Additionally, the bill prohibits as election bribery such inducement of an elector to sign or refrain from signing nomination papers or a recall petition. Finally, the bill defines Xanything of valueY for purposes of a violation of the bill[s provisions to include an object having utility independent of a political message it contains, if the object[s value exceeds $5, rather than 1$.

AI Summary

This bill expands Wisconsin's election bribery laws to more comprehensively prohibit attempts to influence petition signing during specific election periods. The bill defines an "election period" as specific timeframes around spring, general, special, and recall elections, and broadens the definition of election bribery to include offering anything valued over $5 to induce or discourage an elector from signing petitions related to candidates, referendums, propositions, political or social issues, state law, potential legislation, nomination papers, or recall petitions. Previously, the threshold for "anything of value" was set at $1, and the law did not explicitly cover petition signing inducements. The bill maintains existing penalties for election bribery, which can include a fine up to $10,000, imprisonment up to three and a half years, or both. By expanding the scope of prohibited inducements, the bill aims to protect the integrity of the petition and election processes by preventing potential manipulation or undue influence on voters' petition-related actions.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (34)

Last Action

Representative Sinicki added as a coauthor (on 06/24/2025)

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