City of Madison - File #: 42550

• File #: 42550
• Version: 1
• Name: Declaring the City of Madison’s ongoing commitment and increased efforts to make voter registration maximally accessible, convenient and modern.
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Passed
• File created: 4/15/2016
• In control: COMMON COUNCIL
• On agenda: 6/21/2016
• Final action: 6/21/2016
• Enactment date: 6/23/2016
• Enactment #: RES-16-00491
• Title: Declaring the City of Madison’s ongoing commitment and increased efforts to make voter registration maximally accessible, convenient and modern.
• Sponsors: Maurice S. Cheeks, Ledell Zellers, Larry Palm, Michael E. Verveer, Tim Gruber, Shiva Bidar, Barbara Harrington-McKinney, Steve King, Marsha A. Rummel

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
6/21/2016	1	COMMON COUNCIL	Adopt	Pass
6/16/2016	1	EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION	RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT - REPORT OF OFFICER
4/19/2016	1	COMMON COUNCIL	Refer	Pass
4/15/2016	1	Council Office	Referred for Introduction

Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
Declaring the City of Madison’s ongoing commitment and increased efforts to make voter registration maximally accessible, convenient and modern.
Body
WHEREAS, the right to vote in free, fair, accessible, and open elections is one of our most fundamental rights; and

WHEREAS, the greatest barrier to free, fair, accessible and open elections is our nation’s ramshackle voter registration system; and

WHEREAS, voter registration laws in our country are undeniably rooted in a history of efforts to obstruct voter participation from minorities, women, poor people and foreign born citizens; and

WHEREAS, some states are adopting voter modernization laws to simplify access and increase voter participation in an effort to overcome that history and eliminate obstacles to accessing this fundamental right; and

WHEREAS, in the most recent state legislative session, Wisconsin’s current legislators and Governor passed and signed into law a prohibition of the successful practice of manual voter registration drives within the community by Special Registration Deputies; and

WHEREAS, manual voter registration is still a crucial part of our electoral process in Wisconsin; and

WHEREAS, proof of residence is required when registering to vote in Wisconsin; and

WHEREAS, only documents specifically allowed by State Statute may be used as proof of residence; and

WHEREAS, government documents are accepted forms of proof of residence; and

WHEREAS, in February 2012, 35 City of Madison residents were unable to register and vote on Election Day because they did not present an accepted form of proof of residence at the polls; and

WHEREAS, in April 2012, 51 City of Madison residents were unable to register and vote on Election Day because they did not present an accepted form of proof of residence at the polls; and

WHEREAS, in May 2012, 130 City of Madison residents were unable to register and vote on Election Day because they did not prese...