Assembly Bill 426 aims to enhance the rights of election observers in Wisconsin by amending existing statutes and introducing new provisions. The bill mandates that municipal clerks, chief inspectors, and boards of canvassers provide uniform and nondiscriminatory access to all stages of the election process, including recounts. It also specifies that election observers must be allowed to observe the certification of election technologies, absentee voting, canvassing, vote tabulation, and recounts. Additionally, the bill establishes penalties for election officials who violate these provisions, allowing for imprisonment of up to 90 days or fines of up to $1,000.

The bill amends Section 7.41 to clarify the responsibilities of election officials regarding the designation of observation areas, ensuring they are positioned to allow observers to see all public aspects of the voting process. It also creates a new subsection (4m) that explicitly requires uniform access for observers and amends Section 9.01 to ensure that recounts are conducted publicly and in accordance with the new provisions. Violations of these regulations by election officials can result in significant penalties, reinforcing the importance of transparency and accountability in the electoral process.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 7.41(2), 7.41, 9.01(1)(b)11, 9.01