The municipal clerk is an election administrator and, as such, should be available to the election inspectors on election day for advice, supplies, etc. In addition, there are circumstances where a hospitalized elector or sequestered juror may request an absentee ballot from the clerk on election day. Therefore, if the clerk is unable to be available on election day, a deputy should be appointed to act in the clerk's absence. 3/24/2003
The presence of a candidate at a location where ballots are given to voters may give the appearance of electioneering. During hours when ballots may be cast, Wis. Stat. § 12.03 prohibits electioneering at polling places, in-person absentee voting sites, and locations where special voting deputies are present. It also prevents electioneering on public property within 100 feet of an entrance to one of these locations. Electioneering is defined by the statute as “any activity which is intended to influence voting at an election.” Additionally, while most individuals may observe voting at polling places and in-person absentee voting sites, any candidate whose name appears on a ballot at one of those locations is not extended that right under Wis. Stat. § 7.41(1). For these reasons, the Wisconsin Elections Commission recommends that a candidate only be present at one of these locations in order to vote, and to leave as soon as the candidate has finished voting.