Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB945

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/28/26
• Refer: 1/28/26
• Failed: 3/23/26

Caption

An Act to amend 6.02 (1), 6.02 (2), 6.10 (3), 6.10 (4), 6.15 (1), 6.15 (2) (a), 6.18 (form), 6.22 (7), 6.29 (2) (a), 6.55 (2) (a) (form), 6.85 (2), 6.87 (2) (form), 6.94 and 7.52 (5) (b) of the statutes; Relating to: residency requirement for purposes of voting.

Summary

AB945 would shorten Wisconsin’s general residency requirement for voting from 28 consecutive days to 10 consecutive days. The bill makes that change across multiple election-law provisions, including rules for determining voter eligibility, moving within the state shortly before an election, presidential voting by new residents, absentee voting, same-day or late registration certifications, military elector provisions, challenged-ballot oaths, and related statutory forms. In effect, it updates the language in those sections so that the shorter residency period applies consistently throughout the election code. The bill also revises several election forms and oath statements to match the new 10-day standard, including forms used for voter registration, absentee ballots, presidential elector ballots, and challenged elector procedures. It preserves the existing framework for where a person votes after moving, but changes the cutoff for whether a voter must use a former or new ward or municipality from 28 days to 10 days before an election.

Impact

AB945 would amend Wisconsin election statutes in chs. 6 and 7 to reduce the residency threshold for voting eligibility and related procedures from 28 days to 10 days. This would affect eligible electors, municipal clerks, election inspectors, absentee ballot canvassers, military electors, and voters who move shortly before an election, while also requiring conforming changes to statutory forms and oath language used in election administration.

Sentiment

No committee transcript or recorded vote information was provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or bipartisan support in the materials. The bill’s introduction by a large group of Assembly and Senate cosponsors suggests some level of interest or support among its authors, but the final action shows it failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1. Overall, the available record indicates the proposal did not advance to enactment.

Contention

The central point of contention is the policy choice to shorten the residency requirement for voting from 28 days to 10 days. Supporters would likely view the change as expanding access and making it easier for recent movers, students, and new residents to vote, while opponents may argue it weakens residency safeguards or complicates election administration. Because the bill also changes absentee and challenged-voter procedures, any concerns about verification, fraud prevention, or administrative burden would likely focus on those implementation details as well.