Inactive Voters Have Two Weeks to Respond

MADISON, WI – Wisconsin voters who have not voted in four years or
more have two weeks to respond to a notice postcard recently sent to
them from the Elections Division of the Government Accountability
Board (G.A.B.).

The G.A.B.’s “Notice of Suspension” postcard was mailed to more than
313,000 Wisconsinites on February 20 and asks inactive voters who wish
to be retained as “active” in the state system to respond to the
agency by March 23. After that date, voters who do not respond will be
classified as ”inactive”, which means, they will no longer be included
on poll lists. However, these inactive voters will not be deleted
from
the Statewide Voter Registration System.

“With help from voters, we are improving the quality of voter
information by bringing
Wisconsin’s voter registration database up to date and thereby making
it more accurate,” said Nat Robinson, Elections Division
Administrator. “For voters who received our postcard, it is easy for
them to maintain an active status in the system and on the poll lists
if we hear from them soon.”

Voters who received a postcard but participated in Wisconsin’s
February 17 Spring Primary, or who will vote in the April 7 Spring
Election, are automatically retained in the Statewide Voter
Registration System and on the active poll list.

“Accurate voter data is extremely important in conducting problem-free
and transparent
elections,” said Kevin Kennedy, G.A.B. Director. “Updating our records
is a process that is required by law in order for Wisconsin to
maintain a current and quality voter database.”

The G.A.B. mailing includes a tear-off return postcard that contains
an “Application for
Continuation of Registration” which voters must sign and date. Voters
who have changed their name or address in the last four years must
re-register, Robinson said.

The Government Accountability Board (G.A.B.) is responsible for
administration and enforcement of
campaign finance, elections, ethics and lobbying laws in Wisconsin.
The G.A.B. is made up of six
non-partisan, former judges and is supported by an agency of
non-partisan staff members.

Additional information about the mission of the G.A.B. may be obtained
by telephone at
1-608-266-8005 or by electronic mail at [email protected], or through the
Internet at http://gab.wi.gov.