The state Senates passes a bill moving the September primary election. Waunakee Democrat, Senator Jon Erpenbach, offered an amendment to the bill, which provides for overseas and military voters to receive absentee ballots electronically – but not to voters in the state. That, said Erpenbach, is a violation of the equal protection clause of the Constitution which may set the law up for a legal challenge. The bill’s author, New Berlin Republican Mary Lazich, believes the bill (SB-116), which moves the September primary to the second Tuesday in August, will pass constitutional muster. The measure brings Wisconsin into compliance with federal law. The Senate also passed legislation moving Wisconsin’s presidential primary from February to April.
