Senate Bill 378 seeks to amend Wisconsin election laws to comply with the federal Electoral Count Reform Act (ECRA), which requires states to complete their canvass, recount, and precertification processes within 36 days after a presidential election. The bill establishes a state deadline for certifying presidential election results, mandating that the governor transmit the certificate of ascertainment to the archivist of the United States no later than six days before the presidential electors meet. It also changes the meeting date for electors to the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December and shortens the appeal period for recount results from five business days to one.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new procedures for presidential election recounts, including immediate recount orders from the Elections Commission and a requirement for county boards of canvassers to start recounts within a specified timeframe. Appeals of recount results must be filed with the Wisconsin Supreme Court within one day, and the court is obligated to resolve these appeals quickly. The bill also includes provisions for the county clerk to correct election statements within three days and specifies that the state canvass for presidential elections must be completed no later than 16 days after the election. Overall, these amendments aim to streamline the election process and ensure timely certification of results, particularly for presidential elections.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 7.51(5)(b), 7.51, 7.53(1)(a), 7.53, 7.53(2)(d), 7.60(3), 7.60, 7.60(5)(a), 7.70(1)(b), 7.70, 7.70(3)(a), 7.70(3)(c), 7.70(3)(i), 7.70(5)(title), 7.70(5)(a), 7.75(1), 7.75, 9.01(1)(ar)3, 9.01