6.82 Assisting electors.

(1) Receipt of ballot at poll entrance.

(a) When any inspectors are informed that an eligible elector is at the entrance to the polling place who as a result of disability is unable to enter the polling place, they shall permit the elector to be assisted in marking a ballot by any individual selected by the elector, except the elector's employer or an agent of that employer or an officer or agent of a labor organization which represents the elector. Except as authorized in s. 6.79 (6) and (7), the individual selected by the elector shall present to the inspectors proof of identification and, if the proof of identification does not constitute proof of residence under s. 6.34, shall also provide proof of residence under s. 6.34 for the assisted elector and all other information necessary for the elector to obtain a ballot under s. 6.79 (2). The inspectors shall verify that the name on the proof of identification presented by the person assisting the elector conforms to the elector's name on the poll list or separate list, shall verify that any photograph appearing on that document reasonably resembles the elector, and shall enter both the type of identifying document submitted by the assisted elector as proof of residence and the name of the entity or institution that issued the identifying document in the space provided on the poll list or separate list. The inspectors shall then issue a ballot to the individual selected by the elector and shall accompany the individual to the polling place entrance where the assistance is to be given. If the ballot is a paper ballot, the assisting individual shall fold the ballot after the ballot is marked by the assisting individual. The assisting individual shall then immediately take the ballot into the polling place and give the ballot to an inspector. The inspector shall distinctly announce that he or she has “a ballot offered by .... (stating person's name), an elector who, as a result of disability, is unable to enter the polling place without assistance". The inspector shall then ask, “Does anyone object to the reception of this ballot?" If no objection is made, the inspectors shall record the elector's name under s. 6.79 and deposit the ballot in the ballot box, and shall make a notation on the poll list: “Ballot received at poll entrance".

(b) If objection to receiving the ballot is made by any qualified elector present, the inspectors shall receive the ballot under s. 6.95.

(2) Aid in marking ballot.

(a) If an elector declares to the presiding election official that he or she cannot read or write, or has difficulty in reading, writing or understanding English or that due to disability is unable to mark a ballot or depress a button or lever on a voting machine, the elector shall be informed by the officials that he or she may have assistance. When assistance is requested, the elector may select any individual to assist in casting his or her vote. The selected individual rendering assistance may not be the elector's employer or an agent of that employer or an officer or agent of a labor organization which represents the elector. The selected individual shall certify on the back of the ballot that it was marked with his or her assistance. Where voting machines are used, certification shall be made on the registration list.

(b) The individual chosen shall enter the voting booth or machine with the elector and shall read the names of all candidates on the ballot for each office, and ask, “For which one do you vote?". The ballot shall be marked or the lever or button depressed according to the elector's expressed preference. The individual selected to assist may not disclose to anyone how the elector voted.

(c) Intoxication shall not be regarded as a disability.

(d) The election officials shall enter upon the poll list after the name of any elector who had assistance in voting the word “assisted". The officials shall also record on the poll list the full name and address of the individual who renders assistance.

(3) Use of paper ballots. Whenever, in a municipality in which voting machines are used, an elector declares to the chief inspector that, due to physical disability, the elector is unable to depress a button or lever on a voting machine, the inspectors shall permit the elector to vote using a paper ballot and voting booth.

(4) Solicitation prohibited. No election official or other person assisting an elector under this section or s. 5.79 may request, suggest or seek to persuade an elector to cast a vote for or against any candidate, party or question.

History: 1971 c. 304 s. 29 (2); 1975 c. 85, 199, 275; 1977 c. 26; 1977 c. 394 s. 53; 1979 c. 260, 311, 355; 1983 a. 484; 1985 a. 304; 1987 a. 391; 1989 a. 192; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 265; 2005 a. 451; 2011 a. 23; 2013 a. 182.

An elector with dyslexia may qualify for voter assistance under sub. (2), 1971 stats. 62 Atty. Gen. 195.