Legislative Changes & Court Decisions

Today, the United States Supreme Court, in Wisconsin Legislature, et al. v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, et al, reversed the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s March 3rd decision in Johnson v. Wisconsin Elections Commission that selected Governor Evers’ state assembly and senate maps (see attached). It is...

The Wisconsin Court of Appeals issued a stay this afternoon of the Waukesha County Circuit Court decision in the Teigen v. WEC case regarding the use of absentee ballot drop boxes and who can return an absentee ballot on behalf of a voter. The stay means the ruling issued by the Circuit Court will...

On October 8, 2020, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, stayed the lower court’s decision in the DNC, et al. v. Bostelmann, et al. (consolidated cases) litigation involving challenges to the application of various election laws during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Court of Appeals decision...

This afternoon the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a decision in the Hawkins (Green Party) matter. The Court denied the petition for ballot access to candidates Howie Hawkins and Angela Walker representing the Green Party for the November 3, 2020 Presidential Election. The Court further vacated the...

Due to the recent ruling by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in the One Wisconsin Institute case, several changes to election law are now in place. Several of these changes impact election day procedures for voter registration and photo ID. We have created an information sheet that should be...

A mandate was issued today by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in the One Wisconsin Institute case meaning that this ruling is now in effect. Please review the summary of changes below to determine how this decision impacts voting laws and procedures and how you will need to update any training and...

On June 30, 2020 WEC sent a clerk communication and RAVE alert to clerks regarding the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling. We have since received updated legal advice that this order is not yet in effect. The Wisconsin Department of Justice has updated their guidance and advised us that the Court...

Please see the updated Clerk Communication memo regarding the implementation of this court ruling. On June 29, 2020 the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals issued its ruling in the One Wisconsin Institute case that had been on appeal since 2016. WEC staff are in contact with the Wisconsin Department of...

This memorandum summarizes three court decisions which were issued today related to Election Day. First, the Wisconsin Supreme Court enjoined the Governor’s Executive Order which had postponed the election, meaning that in-person voting will occur at the polls. County and municipal clerks and...

Today there were two important modifications to the Court Order issued yesterday by Judge Conley of the Western District of Wisconsin related to the Spring Election and Presidential Preference Primary: The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay regarding the portion of the Order permitting...