Maddy summaryThis bill would update Wisconsin's voter registration rules to ensure that people living in certain residential care facilities and retirement homes can request absentee ballots. It also establishes a process for the state election commission to automatically restore voting rights for individuals whose previous court rulings declared them ineligible to vote, provided a later court review overturns that decision. Under the proposed changes, the commission must notify affected voters of their eligibility within three business days and provide them with the necessary forms to re-register if needed. The legislation aims to streamline administrative procedures and correct past determinations without requiring voters to navigate complex legal hurdles to regain their right to vote.
Rep. Joel Kitchens
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill, which was vetoed by the Governor, sought to change how Wisconsin taxes peer-to-peer car sharing services like Turo or Getaround. It aimed to exempt individuals who rent out their own vehicles through these platforms from local sales taxes that typically apply to commercial rental companies. The legislation would have also clarified that these private owners do not need to pay the standard vehicle sales tax again when they purchase a car specifically for sharing. Ultimately, the bill did not become law because the Governor rejected it.
Maddy summaryThis Wisconsin bill defines voters who are indefinitely confined due to age, frailty, illness, or disability as eligible to automatically receive absentee ballots. It allows these individuals to apply for ballots via fax or email without needing to mail a physical application form and permits them to submit a copy of their signature instead of an original. The legislation also establishes a penalty for officials who fail to provide these ballots to eligible voters. Although the bill was passed by the legislature, it was vetoed by the Governor and subsequently failed to override that veto.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changing how Wisconsin voters select candidates for U.S. Senate and House of Representatives seats by implementing a top-five primary system followed by instant runoff voting. Under the new rules, voters in the primary election would be able to rank up to five candidates of their choice in order of preference, rather than selecting a single candidate from a specific party. If no candidate receives a majority of the first-choice votes in the general election, the system would automatically rerun the election using the voters' ranked preferences to determine a winner without requiring a second election. The legislation also includes provisions to ensure voters are clearly informed about how to cast votes across different party lines and how write-in candidates are handled within this ranked-choice framework.