Dear Friends,

There's strong bipartisan support for the election reforms I authored with Senator Duey Stroebel of Cedarburg. A new poll conducted by Scott Rassmussen and the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty shows 84% of voters support requiring voters to show a photo ID to vote, and nearly 70% support requiring a copy of a photo ID when voting by mail. Sixty-five percent of voters would like to outlaw political activists from collecting ballots (ballot harvesting) and delivering them to an election office.

One of my bills standardized the rules for fixing ballot errors. According to the poll, nearly 90% of voters support that bill. Despite the broad, bipartisan support, Governor Evers vetoed our comm0n-sense reforms. He cares more about politics than protecting your vote. While it's disappointing, I will continue to fight for these reforms. You can read more about our 10 election reform bills below.

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!
Housing Modernization
Housing prices in Wisconsin are continuing to rise. While that's good news for homeowners, it can price low-income families out of the market. I'm working on legislation that will help address that problem.

On Wednesday, State Representative Mike Kuglistch of New Berlin and I testified in the Senate Committee on Housing, Commerce, and Trade on our bill to modernize housing authorities in our state. Currently, local housing authorities are tasked with increasing the availability of low-income housing. Our bill allows them to create mixed-use and mixed-income developments.

According to the Wisconsin Realtor's Association, the average cost of a home increased 15% over the last year. The rising prices are keeping low-income families out of affordable housing. Many l0w-income families are also finding themselves living in "food deserts," areas without nearby access to grocery stores.

Our bill attacks both of those problems. For instance, housing authorities would be able to authorize apartments for low and moderate-income families with a commercial space, like a grocery store, on the ground floor. Not only will this type of development be attractive to working families, but it will also be an attractive project for developers to build. These types of developments will also remove the stigma of living in a "housing project." Families will be able to live in a stable, affordable, and safe community.
Election Protection Update
Senator Duey Stroebel and I introduced ten bills to help restore integrity to our elections. Unfortunately, Governor Evers vetoed six of those common-sense reforms. Four other bills are awaiting action in the State Assembly.

It's important to note that all bills need to have public hearings and to be voted on by both the full State Assembly and the full State Senate before heading to the governor for final approval. However, Governor Evers clearly has no interest in reforming our elections. You can read more about the progress of the bills below.

SB 210 (Darling/Stroebel) Increases protections for election observers and specifically makes it easier for them to participate in the recount process. Vetoed by Governor.

SB 212 (Darling/Stroebel) Clarifies that election officials and clerks may not cure ballots or absentee ballot certificates. Provides a process that allows voters to track their ballot and correct any errors. Requires election officials to report any election fraud that they observe or have knowledge of occurring. Vetoed by Governor.

SB 209 (Darling/Stroebel) Legalizes absentee ballot drop boxes and limits absentee ballot drop boxes to one per municipality or a maximum of four per city of 70,000 or more. Drop boxes must be located on city property, be ADA compliant, be emptied once per day by 2 election officials, must be weather-proof, and must be under 24/7 video surveillance if they are not the only box in the municipality. Passed Senate.

SB 207/AB 173 (Stroebel/Roth/Darling) – Bans out-of-state billionaires from buying access election administration in Wisconsin. Partisan political operatives should not influence how municipal clerks facilitate absentee voting, register voters, and count ballots. Vetoed by Governor.

SB 203 (Stroebel/Darling) Protects the integrity of absentee voting by banning ballot harvesting and requiring in-person absentee ballot collection events to comply with existing early in-person voting provisions. A family member may return a family member’s absentee ballot, or a person may designate in-writing another Wisconsin voter to return their ballot. A person may only return the absentee ballots of two non-family members. Vetoed by Governor.

SB 208 (Stroebel/Darling) Creates more transparency at the Wisconsin Elections Commission by requiring WEC to post copies of their meeting minutes and motions online within 48 hours of a commission meeting. Signed into law.

SB 213 (Stroebel/Darling) Increases election law enforcement by authorizing district attorneys in neighboring counties to investigate election fraud. Additionally authorizes citizens to seek a judicial remedy in court for election law violations by election officials instead of waiting for WEC to slowly conduct an administrative investigation. Passed Senate.

SB 204 (Stroebel/Darling) Requires all absentee voters to show a voter ID when they apply for an absentee ballot, prohibits the automatic mailing of absentee ballot applications by clerks, will include SB 206, which requires indefinitely confined voters to get a witness of their confinement before claiming the status, requires indefinitely confined voters to comply with voter ID. Vetoed by Governor.

SB 205 (Stroebel/Darling) Require long-term care facilities to notify family members of residents of when absentee voting is conducted at the facility and authorizes clerks to train a minimum of 2 long-term care facility workers as election officials. The bill also makes it a Class I felony for a facility employee to coerce a resident into voting or not voting, and establishes an audit of ballots cast from long-term care facilities. Vetoed by Governor.

SB 214 (Stafsholt/Stroebel/Darling) Authorizes municipalities to start counting absentee ballots the Monday before the election. This would prevent late-night ballot dumps and ensure that absentee vote totals, as much as possible, do not come in late on election night. Passed Senate Elections Committee.
Road Construction Update
Help a Student in Need
One in three students in Milwaukee is living in poverty. You can help them have a successful school year. The Milwaukee Rescue Mission is raising funds to get kids the supplies they need. Click on the picture for more information.
The Afghanistan Crisis - How to Help
I am saddened by the disastrous events in Afghanistan. As you may know, many refugees were airlifted to Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. Here are a few ways you can help.

The American Red Cross has more than 50 personnel on the ground at Fort McCoy to provide critical care and help to Afghan refugees. Your financial gifts will help the American Red Cross continue to fund efforts to help the people affected by this crisis.

Team Rubicon partnered with the American Red Cross to coordinate local volunteers and donors throughout the Wisconsin community. More information about Team Rubicon and how to volunteer is available here.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin, launched a campaign to provide assistance. They are accepting donations at 3710 East Avenue South in La Crosse, and they have a gift registry set up through Amazon Smile. Amazon Smile allows donors to purchase needed items and have them shipped directly.
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 Vaccine, Testing Information
Click on the picture above for a list of 9/11 memorial events in our area.
Around the 8th...
The Taste of Mequon is set for Saturday, September 11, 2021, from noon to 9 pm. Click on the picture above for more information.