Green Bay Reporter

Rep. Kristina Shelton (D-Green Bay) tweeted on Oct. 6 about proposed legislation that would require certain members serving in office to serve as poll workers in Wisconsin elections.

The offices that AB 359 would affect would be governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state superintendent of public instruction, state senator and state representative to the assembly.

The bill would require people elected to these positions to serve as election officials for an election during the person’s first term, as well as once every three years during additional terms. They could not work as election officials in elections in which they are running, told by the Wisconsin State Legislature.

“Hmmmm… Don’t know how elections work?" Shelton said in an Oct. 6 tweet to her followers in response to a Tweet by Rep. Lee Snodgrass (D-Appleton) who co-authored the bill with Sen. Jeff Smith (D-Brunwick). "Support our bill, AB 359, which would require certain elected to become poll workers and therefore, to go through poll worker training! Bingo! When you know better you do better!”

Introduced in May of 2021, the bill would require “certain persons holding a state elective office to serve as an election official," according to Legiscan.

Snodgrass believes that those who are questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 election do not understand how elections work, according to a press release from the Wisconsin State Legislature.

“Every Wisconsinite wants fair, legitimate transparent and well-staffed elections that follow election law and uphold our shared values," Snodgrass said, the press release reported. "Unfortunately, some state and local leaders are trying to divide us by redefining our election laws based on falsehoods and hearsay. This bill will provide education, training and direct volunteer experience as an election poll worker for stakeholders closest to the issue – state lawmakers. By signing up to be poll workers, we, state elected leaders, will learn more about election practices and will ensure our polls are well-staffed, efficient and functioning to the highest standard of the law."