The committee prioritizing bipartisan election bills to ensure '2024 isn't another 2020'

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- After a highly polarized 2020 presidential election, Republicans and Democrats are working together to pass a series of election bills ahead of what's expected to be another hotly contested election year.

Since becoming chairman of the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections, Rep. Scott Krug (R-Nekoosa) said his goal was to put bills on the floor that have support from Republicans and Democrats. And after serving nearly a year as chair, Krug is following through on his word by holding public hearings on several bipartisan bills that have a chance of becoming law.

Prioritizing election bills that are backed by both parties is a change of pace from the previous session when the committee, then-chaired by Rep. Janel Brandjten (R-Menomonee Falls), fast-tracked several GOP authored bills that sought to overhaul how elections are conducted in wake of former President Donald Trump's loss in 2020.

Those bills, nearly 20, were vetoed by Gov. Tony Evers.

The committee also used to frequently invite election deniers to testify, including former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who was hired by Assembly Republicans to lead a taxpayer funded review of the 2020 election and later fired after finding no evidence of widespread voter fraud.

This session, Krug has focused on putting the fallout of the last presidential election behind him and moving the committee work forward.

"My ultimate end goal is to make sure 2024 isn't another 2020," Krug said. "Knowing the political realities we're in, we're not going to get a complete wish list of Republicans or Democrats. We have to find compromise."

Last week, the committee discussed bipartisan legislation that would require state elected officials to serve as election workers, eliminate a requirement that a voter ID number be on the back of absentee ballots and reinstate voter registration at high schools.

Rep. Kristina Shelton (D-Green Bay) said her bill that would deploy a special voting deputy to high schools to help eligible students register to vote is geared towards educating students about the process.

"We are not forcing anyone to register to vote," Shelton said. "We are simply giving them information, helping them understand how to register to vote and the importance of it."

While there have been disagreements among committee members over other bills, all agree it's time to take a new approach and send bills to Evers that he would likely sign.

Rep. Lee Snodgrass, a Democrat from Appleton, co-authored legislation to eliminate the requirement for clerks to write poll book numbers on absentee ballots that are processed at a central count location.

Snodgrass and clerks who testified argued the change is necessary because if those numbers on the ballot are not removed, which are subject to public record, they could reveal how someone voted.

"I understand it's difficult to work together when we have very different ideological views," Snodgrass said. "But on the very rare instances where we agree on something, I really hope that we can just sort of take it at face value, that there's nothing nefarious. We have no plot."

Krug wants to have the bills out of committee and on the floor by mid-November before lawmakers wrap up their work for the year.

On Tuesday, the committee will also hold a public hearing on a pair of proposals that seek to amend the state constitution. One would clarify that only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote, and another would prohibit local governments from accepting private grant money to help administer elections.

If approved this session, both constitutional amendments would be placed on next year's ballot for voters to ratify.

Committee members will also hear testimony on legislation that would indicate on new driver's licenses issued to non-citizens that they are ineligible to vote.

These bills are in addition to a series of other election related proposals introduced this year. Some have bipartisan support, including implementing a text message to alert voters their absentee ballot has been received, while others are unlikely to pass.