The drama around last summer's recall recount in the 21st Senate District has, in part, led to proposed changes in the way we do absentee voting in Wisconsin.
Former state Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, was unseated by Democrat John Lehman last summer. During the recount that followed the election, some unsealed ballot bags were discovered and signatures in poll books weren't where they should have been.
Despite objections being filed and an investigation by the Racine County District Attorney, though, the allegations of election fraud were determined to be unfounded.
Rep. Jeff Stone, R-Greendale, is the primary author of a bill that not only introduces absentee voting changes but also revises part of the Voter ID bill, according to a story from The Journal Times.
In short, absentee voting would only be allowed from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays leading up to an election. Evening and weekend hours would be eliminated because, Stone told the newspaper, it evens the playing field across urban and rural communities.
Stone is also proposing changes to Voter ID that would make the law more palatable to those opposed by allowing religious objectors and those without an ID to swear an affidavit that they are who they say they are. Additionally, Stone adds military veteran IDs to the list of acceptable forms of identification.
Other proposed changes to the voting process include a shorter time period for absentee voting; requires special elections and referendums be held on regular election days; and limits the reasons for recall to criminal charges or ethics violations.
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