Assembly Bill 374 seeks to amend Wisconsin election laws to comply with the federal Electoral Count Reform Act (ECRA) by establishing clear deadlines for the certification and transmission of presidential election results. The bill mandates that the governor must transmit a certificate of ascertainment of presidential electors to the archivist of the United States no later than six days before the electors meet. It also changes the date for electors to convene from the first Monday to the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December. Additionally, the Elections Commission is required to complete the state canvass of presidential election results within 16 days after the election, and the bill modifies the recount process to expedite actions and appeals related to presidential elections.

Moreover, the bill introduces new deadlines for municipal and county canvassing, requiring canvassing for presidential elections to begin by 5 p.m. on the Friday after the election, with county boards of canvassers examining returns by noon on the following Saturday. It shortens the appeal period for recount results to one business day and mandates that appeals be filed with the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The bill also requires the county clerk to make necessary corrections and return statements to the commission within three days of receipt, and it establishes that if a county board fails to certify a statement by the 16th day after the election, the commission chairperson will canvass unofficial returns. Overall, these amendments aim to streamline the election certification process and ensure timely and accurate reporting of election results.

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