Dear Friends,

Wisconsin has now administered more than 4.5 million vaccines. Also, more than 80% of residents 65 and older have received at least one dose. We are making strong progress in the fight against the pandemic!

Everyone in Wisconsin 16 and older is now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. If you are eligible and are having trouble finding the COVID-19 vaccine in your area, the State of Wisconsin now has a map of vaccine providers. The website not only helps link people to the vaccine but also provides information on how the state is distributing doses. The state also has a COVID-19 Vaccine Assistance Hotline. The hotline is offering personal assistance for vaccine-related questions. The toll-free number is 1-844-684-1064.

Please continue to be careful and follow CDC guidelines. Continue to wear a mask when necessary, practice social distancing, wash your hands, and get vaccinated.

As always, if you have any concerns or ideas on how to improve our great state, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at 608-266-5830 or by email at Sen.Darling@legis.wisconsin.gov.

On, Wisconsin!
Election Reforms Approved
One thing that was very clear from the November election is that we need to restore trust in our process. We must have a consistent process whether you live in Milwaukee, or Mequon, or Marinette.

On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Elections, Election Process Reform, and Ethics approved one of my election reforms that will make sure our laws are clear and consistent. Senate Bill 212 authored by Representative Joe Sanfelippo and I give voters notice if there is a problem with their ballot and allows them to correct it. It also helps prevent outside groups from having access to your ballot at any point in the process.

In her dissent in the Trump lawsuit case, Chief Justice Roggensack raised serious issues regarding ballot curing in our state. She noted that guidance issued by the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) directed clerks to write in missing address information. However, the statutes do not permit that and, instead, mandate that when ballots are counted, any ballots with missing witness addresses must be discarded. Without clear laws, everyone's absentee ballot is in jeopardy of not counting on election day.

Fixing problems on a ballot is a good thing. Who fixes those mistakes is also important. Until the vote is counted, the ballot should belong to the voter, not the clerk or an outside group. For too long, we have relied on guidance and not the law when it comes to curing ballots.

We saw a record level of absentee ballots cast in the last election. Since that is a trend that will likely continue, it’s important to update our statutes and make sure everyone is playing by the same rules.

Also this week, we had a public hearing on a bill I am working on with Representative David Steffen of Green Bay, that will legalize drop boxes. That's right, election drop boxes aren't really legal. In fact, Wisconsin law does not address drop boxes at all.

Not regulating drop boxes likely leads to confusion among voters. Clerks reported receiving ballots from different communities and even from other states. The City of Fitchburg’s Public Library put a sign above its book drop to warn voters not to place ballots there. While most of the more than 500 drop boxes from the November election were already located at their city or town hall, some were located at grocery stores, in city parks, and even at the home of their local clerk.

Drop boxes are an added convenience and voters will still have the option of mailing their ballot. Having legal and standardized drop boxes will help our elections run smoothly and will also help restore confidence in our system.
Senate Committee Hears Pathways to Employment Bill
This week, the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety held a public hearing on a bipartisan bill I authored with Representative David Steffen of Green Bay to help give people a second chance.

Our bill provides pathways to employment for individuals through criminal justice reform. Our goal is to help the many hardworking people who won’t have a chance at employment because of a mistake made years ago. Expungement reform will give them a chance to support themselves and their families while helping the needs of employers throughout our state.

Expungement refers to a process in which a person can petition to have their record expunged (sealed) of a non-violent, lower-level offense. An individual is only eligible for expungement if they meet certain criteria. Currently, a judge can only order that an individual is eligible for expungement at the time of sentencing and it is only available to individuals under the age of 25.

This bill would allow a judge to order that a record be expunged after a person completes his or her sentence, and removes the arbitrary age limit of 25. The legislation also ensures for employment purposes that an expunged record does not prohibit an individual from obtaining a professional license in Wisconsin.

It's not just Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature coming together to support expungement reform. A recent poll of the non-partisan Badger Institute shows 72% of Wisconsin voters, including 77% of Republicans and 70% of Democrats support the reforms in our bill.

We also have the support of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, and many other groups. With that level of support, I'm very excited about the future of this bill and the future of our workforce!
COVID-19 Vaccine, Testing Information
Please Donate Blood, Plasma
One way you can help is by donating blood. If you have recovered from COVID-19, please especially consider donating your plasma.

You can find out where to donate here and here.
COVID-19 Cases in Our Area
The table above contains data reported on May 5, 2021 from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services on coronavirus cases in our area.
Emergency Room Visits with COVID Symptoms
Around the 8th...