The state Senate passed a package of bills Wednesday that would limit absentee voting times and change rules relating to election officials.
The bills’ approval came after Senate Democrats temporarily stalled the legislation’s passage Tuesday night with a procedural move forcing the Senate to take up the legislation Wednesday.
State Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, and her Democratic colleagues condemned restriction of absentee voting as an attempt to disenfranchise voters of certain demographics, especially seniors, students and minorities.
“It’s like going back to Jim Crow days,” Taylor said.
Senate Minority Leader Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, accused Republicans of limiting citizens’ right to vote, saying, “At the end of the day you are trying to abort democracy in the state of Wisconsin.”
No Republicans commented on the legislation during Wednesday’s session.
A second bill passed Wednesday would allow party-affiliated election observers to stand within three to eight feet of voters in polling places.
State Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, called the legislation an opportunity for voter intimidation and predicted the state would see problems with its implementation.
“[This bill will] create profiling,” Erpenbach said. “It’s going to create tension, it’s going to create shouting and the police will be called to the polls.”
State Sen. Mary Lazich, R-New Berlin, defended the bill and said it would give election officials authority to set appropriate rules within polling locations and escort disruptive people from the area.
The bill, which also outlines proper certification of election observers, will go to Gov. Scott Walker’s desk for signature.
The Senate also passed legislation introduced last week that would allow lobbyists to make political contributions more frequently and remove financial reporting requirements for some political campaign organizations. The bill would also remove reporting requirements for campaign advertisements on the Internet.
A bill mandating residency of election officials in their polling counties also cleared the Senate.
The Senate rejected a motion to take up discussion of a bill that would change the rules by which the state draws its legislative districts.
The legislation limiting absentee voting, changing campaign finance rules and mandating residency of election officials will go to the state Assembly for approval.
