A publication of End Domestic Abuse WI Volume 39, Issue 1 Empowering Survivors in Wisconsin MARCH 2020 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Confidential Voters .........................2 Your Right to Vote and Be Safe Local Program Assisting Voters: Life often has a way of coming full circle. Rainbow House.................................4 Safety Considerations .....................5 In my first year at End Domestic Abuse WI, when I was the Public Policy Spotlight: VoteRiders WI ................6 Coordinator, I collaborated with the National Network to End Domestic Spotlight: Coalition of Voting Violence (NNEDV) on a project called VOTE POWER. VOTE POWER Organizations ...................................8 intended to explore the ways in which coalitions could work with local First Time Voter: Aliyana ................9 Local Program Assisting Voters: domestic abuse programs to ensure that victims and advocates had Golden House...................................9 information and safe access to voting. I remember being so excited to What Can Nonprofits Do? ........... 10 think about voter engagement through my work at the coalition, Local Program Assisting Voters: Advocates of Ozaukee ................ 10 something that never even occurred to me when I worked at a If You Are Homeless ..................... 11 domestic violence shelter. I made Vote Power buttons, created CDs of Spotlight: BLOC ............................. 12 social change/voting-inspired music, and I traveled the state putting on Criminal Convictions & Voting Rights Get Out the Vote (GOTV) seminars with advocates. ......................................................... 13 First Time Voters: Vicki & Ted ..... 14 Now nearly 20 years later, and in my final days at the coalition, we at New Voting Accessibility Law ..... 14 End Abuse are still working on ways to engage domestic abuse Nursing Homes or Long Term Care ......................................................... 15 programs and victims in the act of voting. It seems more important Local Program Assisting Voters: The now than ever. When I first started at the coalition, elected officials of Asha Project ................................... 16 all parties supported our work; our issue was and should still be non- Impact of Judicial Elections.......... 16 partisan. Sadly, our issue has become a political football these days— First Time Voter: Paulo ................. 17 Spotlight: League of Women Voters VAWA and FVPSA reauthorization hang in the balance. Ultimately, WI ................................................... 18 voting should be about values: your values and how well those values Staff & Board ............................... 20 align with those of the candidates. This Coalition Chronicles is all about voting, what nonprofits can do to GOTV, and how domestic abuse programs can ensure that victims are able to vote safely. Get out there and vote! Executive Director Patti Seger Coalition Chronicles Vol 39 No 1 Empowering Confidential Voters Survivors of Gender- By Maggie McClain Based Violence in Wisconsin: Your Every eligible voter should be able to Right to Vote and Be cast a ballot and have that ballot Safe counted. That includes voters who are This issue of the victims of domestic abuse, sexual Coalition Chronicles assault, or stalking. But how can voters showcases groups experiencing these situations ensure who are working to that registering to vote and casting a mobilize ballot does not put them or their loved communities, ensure ones in danger? They can register as Maggie McClain works in the access to the political a confidential voter. City of Madison Clerk's Office process, and amplify voices that have How can voters who have survived violence been marginalized in ensure that registering to vote and casting a Wisconsin. We ballot does not put them or their loved ones in explore aspects of danger? They can register as a confidential the political process voter. that may have a direct impact on the What protections does registering as a confidential lives of those who voter provide? have experienced The names and addresses of confidential voters are not included violence. We hope in voter lists released by the state, nor is that information that the many links included in the alphabetical listing of voters in the poll book. to information and resources will assist To maintain confidentiality, confidential voter names and unique voters in our local identifying numbers are listed in the back of the poll book. communities to Furthermore, the page listing confidential voter names and numbers is not open to public inspection. exercise their right to vote safely. A big When voting on Election Day or voting absentee at an in-person thank you to absentee voting location before Election Day, confidential voters everyone who do not state their name and address. Instead, they present a contributed! confidential voter card issued by their municipal clerk’s office. This is the only thing confidential voters need to present; they –Colleen Cox, Editor are exempt from presenting photo ID. (Continued on page 3) 2 Coalition Chronicles Vol 39 No 1 (Continued from page 2) Registering as a confidential voter Voters who are victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking may have the option for a confidential listing in the poll book. Eligible individuals include: a. An individual who has been granted a protective order that is in effect related to either domestic abuse or harassment. b. An individual who is a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking where a person has been charged with or convicted of such an offense and where the individual reasonably continues to be threatened by the person charged or convicted. c. An individual who resides in a shelter. The Wisconsin State Statute about elections and voters defines “shelter" as a place where at least 4 unrelated individuals reside that provides residential shelter to individuals whose personal security is or may be threatened by family members or other persons with whom the individuals have had contact. d. An individual who has received services from a domestic abuse or sexual assault victim services provider within the last 24 months. All eligible confidential voters have to register in their municipal clerk’s office. To register as a confidential voter, the municipal clerk will need the Request for Confidential Listing (EL-146) and one of the following: a. A copy of a protective order that is still in effect. b. A completed Affidavit of Sheriff, Chief of Police, or District Attorney (EL-147), dated within 30 days of the date of the confidential listing request. c. A statement signed by the operator or an authorized agent of the operator of a shelter dated within 30 days of the date of the confidential listing request. This statement indicates that the operator operates the shelter and that the person making the request resides in the shelter. d. A statement signed by an authorized representative of a domestic abuse victim service provider or a sexual assault victim service provider dated within 30 days of the date of the confidential listing request. e. Confirmation from the Wisconsin Department of Justice that the person is a participant in the Safe at Home address confidentiality program. (Continued on page 4) Coalition Chronicles Vol 39 No 1 3 (Continued from page 3) How are local domestic abuse and Also, if you are registering at a new address, you will need to bring proof of address (also known as proof of sexual assault residence) with you when you register in your municipal programs assisting clerk’s office. The State of Wisconsin has specific survivors to vote? requirements for what can be used as proof of address; the City of Madison Clerk’s Office elections webpage Rainbow House contains a list of what documents qualify. The document We encourage Rainbow can be presented on paper or in electronic format. House advocates to get out What to expect on voting day the vote! Rainbow House When you register as a confidential voter in your posts information around municipal clerk’s office, you will be given a confidential the shelter about how to voter card. Make sure you bring this card with you when register. The entire staff has you go to vote! You will present this confidential voter information to share with card to poll workers at the poll book table on Election Day residents to ensure that they instead of stating your name and address. know their rights. If a client we are working with has Expect the poll workers to turn to the back of the poll safety concerns about book to find your name. You will NOT be required to showing up at the polls, we show photo ID to vote as part of the protections provided encourage them to make to confidential voters. sure they are currently How to address any voting day issues registered through the My Municipal clerks should train poll workers on confidential Voter Info website, and to voting. However, poll workers may need a reminder on consider absentee ballot Election Day of where to look for confidential voter voting ahead of election day. listings. If a poll worker at your polling place seems confused when you present your confidential voter card, – Courtney Olson & Jessica we encourage you to remind the poll workers to check Honish, Rainbow House, the very back of the poll book. You have the power to Marinette and Oconto make sure you are able to vote and have that vote Counties counted! If you run into any issues on Election Day, please do not hesitate to contact your municipal clerk’s office. You can search by address on myvote.wi.gov to find your municipal clerk. 4 Coalition Chronicles Vol 39 No 1 Safety Considerations The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) developed Domestic Violence and Voter Registration: Safety Considerations Technical Assistance Guidance to provide victims and survivors, as well as their advocates, with recommendations for protecting and enhancing victims’ safety while exercising their right to vote. This guidance may also be helpful to organizations and community groups that are mobilizing civic participation and engaging in voter registration efforts.