Governor Scott Walker has signed a bill limiting early voting, with a partial veto. The partial veto means early voting will not be limited to 45 total hours per week for statewide elections, but the governor maintained a requirement for more uniform voting hours across the state – Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. A provision essentially preventing clerks from offering weekend voting would remain intact.
Walker also vetoed a provision which would have required municipalities to compensation to people who assist with in-person absentee voting, eliminating the appropriation that would have created a new state expenditure.
The Republican-authored bill passed the state Senate on a 17-16 vote, with Republican Senator Dale Schultz joining Democrats in voting against it. It passed the Assembly 56-38. Republicans argued the bill is needed for uniformity – because rural areas can’t offer extended voting hours. Democrats maintained it was simply an effort to limit voting access in heavily Democratic urban areas like Milwaukee, Racine and Madison.
