Assembly Bill 595 seeks to strengthen compliance with the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) by implementing significant changes to Wisconsin's voter registration process. The bill requires the Elections Commission to address complaints regarding HAVA violations, including those against itself, and mandates a written final determination on such complaints. It also establishes data sharing agreements between the Elections Commission and various state departments, such as the Department of Transportation and the Office of Vital Records, to ensure accurate voter registration lists by verifying citizenship status and removing ineligible voters. Additionally, the bill introduces a voter citizenship audit conducted by the Legislative Audit Bureau every odd-numbered year, requiring non-citizens identified in the audit to provide proof of citizenship within 30 days to remain registered.

Moreover, the bill modifies the procedures for managing voter registration records, mandating that the Elections Commission maintain a permanent record of removals from the voter registration list, including the date and reason for each removal. It updates the process for handling valid registrations and changes of name or address, ensuring timely entry into the commission's electronic list. The bill also changes the procedure for updating the registration status of electors who have registered in another state, requiring their names to be removed from the registration list entirely rather than changing their status to ineligible. These changes aim to enhance the integrity and accuracy of the voter registration process in Wisconsin.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 5.056, 5.061(3), 5.061, 6.275(1)(f), 6.275, 6.32(4), 6.32, 6.33(4), 6.33, 6.33(5)(a)1, 6.36(1)(d), 6.36, 6.36(1)(e)