Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

Wisconsin Senate Bill SB1177

Introduced

3/19/26

Refer

3/19/26

Failed

3/23/26

Caption

An Act to repeal 7.51 (2) (e), 7.51 (2) (em) 1., 7.51 (2) (em) 2., 7.52 (4) (e), 7.52 (4) (em) 1. and 7.52 (4) (em) 2.; to renumber 7.08 (6), 7.51 (2) (em) 3. and 7.52 (4) (em) 3.; to amend 6.875 (5), 7.51 (2) (e), 7.52 (4) (e) and 9.01 (1) (b) 4. a.; to create 7.08 (6) (b), 7.51 (2) (em), 7.52 (4) (em) and 7.58 of the statutes; Relating to: performing risk-limiting audits and eliminating the process for removing excess ballots from the vote count. (FE)

Impact

The bill specifically impacts existing state election laws by repealing certain procedures related to handling excess ballots. Previously, if the number of ballots exceeded the number of registered voters, those excess ballots were not counted. However, under SB1177, all ballots, including excess ones, will be included in the risk-limiting audit process. This represents a significant change in how electoral discrepancies and potential errors are addressed in the counting process.

Summary

Senate Bill 1177 proposes new measures to enhance election integrity through the implementation of risk-limiting audits for selected statewide contests in Wisconsin. Starting in 2027, the bill mandates that each county clerk must perform these audits using statistical methods to ensure that the certified election outcomes are accurate and reflective of the votes cast. This involves the manual inspection of random samples of paper ballots. The legislation aims to bolster public confidence in election results by providing a method to verify the accuracy of electronic voting systems.

Contention

There are several points of contention surrounding SB1177. Proponents argue that the bill is a necessary step towards safeguarding electoral integrity and ensuring that elections reflect the will of the voters. However, there are concerns regarding the feasibility and logistics of conducting these audits statewide. Additionally, questions have been raised about the potential increase in workload for county clerks and the associated costs of implementing these new auditing procedures. Critics worry that the requirements may place undue burdens on local election offices, particularly in smaller municipalities.

Latest WI SB1177 Activity

View All Events: WI 2025-2026 Regular Session SB1177

Companion Bills

WI AB1212

Crossfiled An Act to repeal 7.51 (2) (e), 7.51 (2) (em) 1., 7.51 (2) (em) 2., 7.52 (4) (e), 7.52 (4) (em) 1. and 7.52 (4) (em) 2.; to renumber 7.08 (6), 7.51 (2) (em) 3. and 7.52 (4) (em) 3.; to amend 6.875 (5), 7.51 (2) (e), 7.52 (4) (e) and 9.01 (1) (b) 4. a.; to create 7.08 (6) (b), 7.51 (2) (em), 7.52 (4) (em) and 7.58 of the statutes; Relating to: performing risk-limiting audits and eliminating the process for removing excess ballots from the vote count. (FE)

Previously Filed As

WI AB1212

Performing risk-limiting audits and eliminating the process for removing excess ballots from the vote count. (FE)

WI SB1445

An act to amend Sections 115.10, 802.5, 1621, 1724, 1750.1, 2564.79, 4202.6, 4826.3, 4980.36, 4980.41, 4980.43.2, 4980.72, 4980.81, 4990.26.1, 4996.17.1, 4996.17.2, 4996.23.1, 4999.32, 4999.33, 4999.46.2, 4999.60, 4999.62, 7026.12, 7057, 7071.18, 7139.3, 7511, 7582.22, 9884.9, 9884.76 9884.76, 9884.9, 17913, 19120, 19239, 19278, and 19279.2 of, and to repeal Sections 1632.6, 4840.9, 4842, 6980.82, 7519, 7581.5, and 7599.71 of, the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts.

WI HB434

Exempt military driver's license applicants from driver's ed

WI HB642

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-2499.8, 2.2-2818, 2.2-2905, 2.2-3114, 2.2-3711, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 2.2-3802, 2.2-4024, 3.2-4112, 3.2-4113, 3.2-4116, 3.2-4126, 3.2-5145.1, 3.2-5145.2:1, 3.2-5145.4, 4.1-103, 4.1-105, 4.1-352, 4.1-600, 4.1-601, 4.1-603, 4.1-604, 4.1-606, 4.1-607, 4.1-611, 4.1-614, 4.1-621, 4.1-1100, 4.1-1101, 4.1-1121, 4.1-1402, 4.1-1500, 4.1-1501, 4.1-1502, 4.1-1600 through 4.1-1603.2, 4.1-1604, 5.1-13, 9.1-1101, 15.2-912.4, 16.1-69.40:1, 16.1-260, 16.1-273, 16.1-278.9, 18.2-46.1, 18.2-247, 18.2-248, 18.2-248.01, 18.2-251, 18.2-251.03, 18.2-251.1:1, 18.2-251.1:2, 18.2-251.1:3, 18.2-252, 18.2-254, 18.2-255, 18.2-255.1, 18.2-255.2, 18.2-258, 18.2-258.02, 18.2-258.1, 18.2-265.1, 18.2-265.2, 18.2-265.3, 18.2-287.2, 18.2-308.012, 18.2-308.4, 18.2-371.2, 18.2-460, 18.2-474.1, 19.2-66, 19.2-81, 19.2-81.1, 19.2-83.1, 19.2-188.1, 19.2-303.01, 19.2-386.22 through 19.2-386.25, 19.2-389, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 19.2-389.3, 19.2-392.02, 19.2-392.6 and 19.2-392.12:1, as they shall become effective, 22.1-206, 22.1-277.08, 23.1-1301, 46.2-105.2, 46.2-347, 48-17.1, 53.1-231.2, 54.1-2903, 54.1-3401, 54.1-3443, 58.1-301, and 59.1-200 of the Code of Virginia; to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Subtitle II of Title 2.2 a part labeled D, containing a chapter numbered 61, consisting of a section numbered 2.2-6100, by adding in Chapter 6 of Title 4.1 sections numbered 4.1-629 and 4.1-630, by adding in Title 4.1 chapters numbered 7 through 10, consisting of sections numbered 4.1-700 through 4.1-1010, by adding sections numbered 4.1-1102 through 4.1-1105, 4.1-1106, 4.1-1106.1, 4.1-1113, 4.1-1114, 4.1-1115, 4.1-1117, 4.1-1118, and 4.1-1119, by adding in Title 4.1 a chapter numbered 12, consisting of sections numbered 4.1-1200 through 4.1-1206, by adding in Chapter 13 of Title 4.1 sections numbered 4.1-1300, 4.1-1301, and 4.1-1303 through 4.1-1309, by adding in Chapter 14 of Title 4.1 sections numbered 4.1-1403 through 4.1-1407, by adding a section numbered 4.1-1602.1, by adding in Title 4.1 a chapter numbered 17, consisting of sections numbered 4.1-1700 through 4.1-1705, by adding in Article 2 of Chapter 1 of Title 6.2 a section numbered 6.2-108, and by adding in Chapter 44 of Title 54.1 a section numbered 54.1-4426; and to repeal Article 4 (§§ 3.2-4122 through 3.2-4126) of Chapter 41.1 of Title 3.2 and §§ 3.2-5145.4:1, 4.1-1101.1, 4.1-1105.1, 18.2-248.1, and 18.2-251.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to cannabis control; retail market; penalties.

WI HB238

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-2751, 2.2-4321.3, 11-4.6, 40.1-28.7:7, 40.1-28.12, 40.1-29, 40.1-29.2, 40.1-29.3, 53.1-40.02, and 53.1-202.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to labor and employment; payment of wages; minimum wage and overtime wages; misclassification of workers; civil actions.

WI HB863

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 3.2-4212, 4.1-302, 16.1-253.2, 18.2-36.1, 18.2-36.2, 18.2-46.3:3, 18.2-51.1, 18.2-53.1, 18.2-57, 18.2-60.4, 18.2-61, 18.2-67.1, 18.2-67.2, 18.2-67.5:2, 18.2-67.5:3, 18.2-154, 18.2-186.4, 18.2-248, 18.2-248.01, 18.2-248.03, 18.2-248.1, 18.2-248.5, 18.2-255, 18.2-255.2, 18.2-270, 18.2-308.1, 18.2-308.2, 18.2-308.2:2, 18.2-308.4, 18.2-374.1, 18.2-374.1:1, 18.2-374.3, 19.2-160.1, 19.2-297.1, 46.2-341.28, 46.2-391, 53.1-116, and 53.1-203 of the Code of Virginia, relating to elimination of mandatory minimum sentences for certain offenses.

WI HB887

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 4.1 and 4.2 and §§ 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, and 5.8, as severally amended, of Chapter 646 of the Acts of Assembly of 1968, which provided a charter for the Town of Herndon in Fairfax County, and to repeal §§ 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 6.1:2, and 7.5 of Chapter 646 of the Acts of Assembly of 1968, relating to town manager, town employees, town attorney.

WI HB1149

The revised uniform unclaimed property act; and to declare an emergency.

WI HB1149

AN ACT to amend and reenact sections 47-30.2-04, 47-30.2-24, 47-30.2-32, 47-30.2-39, 47-30.2-50, 47-30.2-52, 47-30.2-55, and 47-30.2-63 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the revised uniform unclaimed property act; and to declare an emergency.

WI HB964

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 8.01-338, 24.2-101, 24.2-404, 24.2-409, 24.2-409.1, 24.2-410, 24.2-418, 24.2-427, 53.1-5, 53.1-10, 64.2-2000, and 64.2-2009 of the Code of Virginia; to amend the Code of Virginia by adding sections numbered 24.2-400.1, 24.2-409.2, and 24.2-418.2; and to repeal Chapter 12.1 (§§ 53.1-231.1 and 53.1-231.2) of Title 53.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to voter registration; restoration of political rights upon release from incarceration; certain adjudications.

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