http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/voters-2022-getty-s430.pngThe V.O.T.E package focuses on engaging and aiding voters across a wide spectrum of the electorate.

Madison, WI - Wednesday morning, All Voting is Local hosted a joint press conference with Representative Lee Snodgrass (D-Appleton) ranking member of the Assembly Committee on Campaigns & Elections and Representative Scott Krug (R-Nekoosa), vice chair of Campaigns & Elections featuring competing bill packages and diverging approaches to elections.

Representative Lee Snodgrass and her colleagues spearheaded the V.O.T.E. bill package (Voter Outreach Training & Education) with a focus on reaching and encouraging young voters, increasing accessibility of polling locations for those living with a disability, and clarifying some elections statutes for municipal and county clerks, engaging future voters, increasing polling place accessibility to those with disabilities, and clarifying state statute for county and municipal clerks. Representative Krug introduced a separate package of bills.

The V.O.T.E package focuses on engaging and aiding voters across a wide spectrum of the electorate. Youth focused bills would require voter education in K-12, require voting information and forms at public and private high schools, allow pre-registration before turning 18, and allow 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the time of the general election to vote in the primary election.

The package also includes provisions to increase accessibility for the elderly and voters with disabilities by mandating the use of an accessibility checklist at every polling place and increases accessibility training for all poll workers.

Finally, the V.O.T.E. package also includes a bill requiring all state non-judicial elected officials to serve as poll workers on an election day, ensuring all elected officials have a firsthand understanding of Wisconsin election administration and election integrity confidence.

Rep. Snodgrass released the the following statement:

“In a time of deep and contentious partisan divide, it is important to continue to try and reach across the aisle to find solutions. You will not hear much agreement today on elections and voting but you did hear the willingness to continue to have conversations. Rep. Krug and I joined with All Voting is Local today to uplift the issues surrounding our elections, not  because we have reached any consensus on the bills themselves. We have different approaches and priorities in these packages. I have serious issues with my colleague’s bills, particularly regarding the overwrought ballot drop box requirements and the needlessly complicated and unaffordable changes to a clean Monday processing bill.  However, like today, we are willing to have conversations and we will hash out these differences in committee. Because that is where good legislating takes place, not behind closed doors, but in view of the people we represent.”