As of Feb. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked four election-related bills in the Wisconsin State Senate since the beginning of the year. Of the four, Ballotpedia tracked one from Feb. 13-19. Republicans sponsored the bill. The bill is:
- WI SB69: Restoration of the right to vote to a person barred from voting as a result of a felony conviction. (FE), Sen. Duey Stroebel (R) and Reps. Elijah Behnke (R), Ty Bodden (R), Cindi Duchow (R), James Edming (R), Rick Gundrum (R), Gae Magnafici (R), David Murphy (R), Jeffrey Mursau (R), William Penterman (R), Nik Rettinger (R), Donna Rozar (R), Shae Sortwell (R), John Spiros (R), and Ron Tusler (R).
- As introduced, this bill specifies that previously incarcerated individuals’ right to vote is restored once they have paid all fines, costs, and fees, and completed any court-ordered community service in connection with the crime.
During the week of Feb. 13-19, Ballotpedia tracked 37 Senate election-related bills nationally. As of Feb. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 551 Senate bills nationally. Ballotpedia tracked the most Senate bills this year in the New York State Senate with 107, while Ballotpedia tracked the fewest Senate bills in Delaware, Louisiana, and Massachusetts with zero. Republicans sponsored 246 of these bills, while Democrats sponsored 242. Third party sponsorship and bills with no sponsors accounted for 47 bills, while bipartisan legislators sponsored 16.
As of Feb. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 301 Senate bills in Democratic trifectas and 189 Senate bills in Republican trifectas. A trifecta is when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. Ballotpedia has tracked 61 Senate bills in states where neither party holds trifecta control.
The Wisconsin Senate is scheduled to be in session from Jan. 3 to Dec. 31 this year. In 2022, Ballotpedia tracked 37 Senate bills related to election administration. Two of these bills passed both chambers and both were enacted into law. Wisconsin is a divided government, meaning neither party holds trifecta control.
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