In this chapter:

1. (1) “Chief inspector” means the chief inspector at a polling place, appointed pursuant to s. 7.30 (6) (b), Stats.
2. (2) “Clerk” has the same meaning as “municipal clerk” under s. 5.02 (10), Stats.
3. (3) “Commission” means the Wisconsin elections commission.
4. (4) “Communications media member” means an individual who communicates to the designated election official that the individual seeks to record or report information outside the voting area. Except as provided in s. EL 4.07 (3), a communications media member is not an observer under this chapter.
5. (5) “Confidential information” means information that is not part of the public aspects of the voting process, including an operator’s license or identification card number issued by the Wisconsin department of transportation, a birth date, a social security number or any portion thereof, accommodation information on a voter registration form, information concerning a confidential voter, guardianship information, a voted ballot, and a communication by a voter to a person rendering voting assistance under ss. 6.82, 6.87 (5), or 6.875 (6) (c) 1., Stats. Confidential information does not include the type of document that is submitted for photo identification as defined by s. 5.02 (6m), Stats., or for proof of residency as defined by s. 6.34 (3), Stats., but includes the information provided thereon.
6. (6) “Designated election official” means the chief inspector, if the observable location is a polling place, or the clerk, or any other election official designated by a chief inspector or clerk to carry out the election responsibilities under this chapter. At a facility served by special voting deputies, designated election official means the special voting deputies. At a recount, designated election official means the board of canvassers.
7. (7) “Electioneering” has the meaning given in s. 12.03 (4), Stats.
8. (8) “Election official” has the meaning given in s. 5.02 (4e), Stats. An individual authorized by the commission to conduct any election related activities is an election official in this chapter.
9. (9) “Inspector” or “election inspector” means an individual appointed pursuant to s. 7.30, Stats., to conduct an election.
10. (10) “Member of the public” means an individual, excluding an election official, a candidate appearing on the ballot at that observable location, or a registered write-in candidate for an office voted on at that observable location.
11. (11) “Observable location” means a polling place, a municipal clerk’s office that is located in a public building, an alternate absentee ballot site, a meeting location of a board of absentee ballot canvassers, a facility served by special voting deputies, a central count location, or a recount location during those hours specified in this chapter as permitting observation.
12. (12) “Observe” means to see or hear and does not include physically handling election related materials or materials provided by the voter.
13. (13) “Observer” means a member of the public who has signed in as an observer at an observable location and is present at an observable location to observe an election or the absentee ballot voting process. An accessibility reviewer is an individual authorized by the commission who monitors compliance with s. 5.25 (4) (a), Stats., and an accessibility reviewer is not an observer under this chapter.
14. (14) “Organization” means an organization represented by an observer at an observable location under this chapter and shall not be construed to be limited to political parties, candidates, or campaigns.
15. (15) “Posting and distribution of election-related material” has the meaning given in s. 12.035, Stats.
16. (16) “Public aspects of the voting process” means the election activities that take place at an observable location during those hours specified in this chapter as permitting observation, except for inspection of confidential information.
17. (17) “Representing the same organization” means individuals who were deployed, assigned, or who identify as representing the same organization.
18. (18) “Voting area” is that area at an observable location where voters receive, prepare, or deposit their ballots, or where voters cast their votes on a voting machine.

History

History: CR 24-032: cr. Register July 2025 No. 835, eff. 8-1-25; correction in (8) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats.,correction in (13) made under s. 35.17, Stats., and correction in (16) made under ss. 13.92 (4) (b) 12. and 35.17, Stats., Register July 2025 No. 835.