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Bill > SB517

WI SB517

WI SB517
Accessibility training for election officials. (FE)

summary

Introduced
10/09/2025
In Committee
10/09/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Current law requires that each polling place be accessible to all individuals with disabilities. The Elections Commission must ensure that the voting system used at each polling place will permit all individuals with disabilities to vote without the need for assistance and with the same degree of privacy that is accorded to nondisabled voters. In addition, current law provides that if an election inspector is informed that a voter is at the polling place entrance but unable to enter the polling place because of the voter[s disability, the inspector must allow the voter to receive assistance marking the voter[s ballot at the polling place entrance. Also, upon notifying the presiding election official, a voter who is inside the polling place, but unable to mark a ballot because of a disability or because the voter has difficulty with reading or writing may receive assistance from another voter. Finally, no later than June 30 of each odd-numbered year, the commission must submit a report on impediments to voting faced by the elderly and individuals with disabilities to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature. This bill requires all election officials, including municipal clerks and election registration officials, to attend one hour of training regarding voter accessibility to ensure compliance with current accessibility requirements. The accessibility training is in addition to training requirements under current law for election LRB-4996/1 JK:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 517 officials. The bill requires the Elections Commission to first provide the accessibility training before the 2027 spring election. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

AI Summary

This bill requires all election officials, including municipal clerks, election registration officials, chief inspectors, and special voting deputies, to attend one hour of mandatory training specifically focused on voter accessibility. The training is designed to ensure compliance with existing laws that require polling places to be accessible to individuals with disabilities and to help election officials understand how to assist voters with disabilities. The bill mandates that the Elections Commission develop and provide this additional training, which is separate from existing training requirements for election officials. The training will cover topics such as helping voters who cannot enter polling places, assisting voters who need help marking ballots, and ensuring that voters with disabilities can vote privately and independently. The Elections Commission must first implement this new training requirement before the 2027 spring election, giving election officials ample time to prepare. The bill also makes some minor technical changes to existing statutes, such as replacing the phrase "prescribed in rules promulgated" with "established" in several sections related to election official training and duties.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry

Sponsors (20)

Last Action

Representative J. Jacobson added as a cosponsor (on 02/09/2026)
(1 Companion Bills)

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