Rep. Wichgers authors Wisconsin Assembly bill on election complaint process

The new bill authored by State Rep. Chuck Wichgers seeks to ensure the Wisconsin Elections Commission thoroughly evaluates complaints alleging violations of federal election law, according to the Wisconsin State Assembly.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s official website, the bill was described as follows: “enforcement of the federal Help America Vote Act”.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill mandates that if the Wisconsin Elections Commission receives a complaint alleging it is in violation of the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA), it must assess the complaint on its merits and make a decision, prohibiting dismissal solely on the grounds of self-involvement. Hearings must be open, recorded, and transcribed for public access. The commission is required to acknowledge receipt of complaints within five business days and, if a hearing is requested, hold it within 30 days. A final determination on all complaints must be made within 89 days unless extended by consent. The bill requires complaints to be investigated uniformly and, if found valid, demands corrective action. Decisions can be appealed in court, and results of dismissed complaints must be published on the commission’s website and reported to the legislature and relevant committees.

The bill was co-authored by Senator André Jacque (Republican-1st District), Representative Scott Allen (Republican-82nd District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Representative Joy L. Goeben (Republican-5th District), Representative Rob Kreibich (Republican-28th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Julian Bradley (Republican-28th District), along two other co-sponsors.

Chuck Wichgers has co-authored or authored another 132 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with all of them being adopted.

Wichgers, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state’s 84th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Bob Donovan.

In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.