Program Chairs and Presenters:

Michael P. Gallagher
Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau
Madison

Joseph T. Kreye
Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau
Madison

Presenters:

Katie L. Bender-Olson
Wisconsin Legislative Council
Madison

Helen Brewer
National Conference of State Legislatures
Washington D.C.

Michael R. Haas
City of Madison
Madison

Peggy J. Hurley
Wisconsin Legislative Council
Madison

Angela O’Brien Sharpe
Wisconsin Elections Commission
Madison

Douglas M. Poland
Law Forward Inc.
Madison

Lucas T. Vebber
Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty
Milwaukee

8:25a.m. Welcome and Introduction

Michael P. Gallagher

8:30 a.m. Wisconsin Election Law Structure and Administration

• Primer to the Statutes governing the election administration structure
• Discuss the roles of various election officials that will address the issues and conduct elections

Michael R. Haas

9:20 a.m. Common Election Day Issues

• Electioneering, unauthorized election-related material, bribery
• Election observers and conduct (new admin rule!)
• Weapons in the polling place, election threats
• Election fraud
• Takeaways: election administrative complaints & planning security response before election day

Angela O’Brien Sharpe

10:10 a.m. Break

10:25 a.m. Wisconsin Election Bills in the Current Legislative Session

• Discussion on legislation introduced in the current session including Act 47
• Monday processing of absentee ballots, maintenance of voter lists, absentee voting issues
• Significant changes to the administrative code relating to election observers

Katie L. Bender-Olson, Peggy J. Hurley

11:15 a.m. The Status of Redistricting in Wisconsin and Beyond

• The role of race in redistricting (VRA Section 2/US Const Equal Protection Clause)
• The current state of Wisconsin law on criteria to be used in state legislative and congressional redistricting
• Forum and venue in redistricting challenges
• Proposed and possible statutory and constitutional reforms
• New/emerging legal theories (e.g., anti-competitive gerrymandering)

Moderator: Joseph T. Kreye
Panelists: Douglas M. Poland, Lucas T. Vebber

12:05 p.m. Lunch

1:05 p.m. Federal v. State Administration of Elections

• Constitutional primacy of the states in regulating elections and choosing the manner of appointment of presidential electors
• Congress’ role under the Elections Clause and amendments to the U.S. Constitution
• Voting Rights Act of 1965 and other federal laws regulating elections
• The President’s role, Executive Order 14248 and where it stands in the courts, and related developments
• The SAVE Act

Michael P. Gallagher

1:55 p.m. Hot Topics in Election Law

• Trends in state election legislation
• Ballot measures on elections
• Federal changes and implications for state law
• Looking Ahead: 2026 elections

Helen Brewer

2:45 p.m. Break

3:00 p.m. Ayodabo, et al, v. City of Madison

• Background; underlying facts; Madison and WEC investigations
• Complaint
• Response
• Court proceedings; case status

Joseph T. Kreye

3:50 p.m. Program Concludes

• Advise election officials, municipalities, and public officials working under time constraints
• Anticipate common election day issues before they escalate into complaints or investigations
• Understand how federal law and Wisconsin election procedures interact when disputes arise
• Stay current on legislative proposals and administrative rule changes affecting elections
• Examine the latest redistricting developments and their potential implications

• Election lawyers
• Administrative lawyers
• Government lawyers
• Municipal lawyers
• Municipal and county clerks
• Anyone interested in Wisconsin election law

Book Bonus!

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