Recall Petitions Will Be Stationed Near Election Polls

Petitioners plan to be outside of the election polls on Tuesday with the intent of recalling some legislators, including State Senator Mary Lazich.

Recall petition have been popping up statewide. Most of those petitions are trying to recall Republican legislators who voted in favor Governor Scott Walker's budget repair bill that eliminates collective bargaining rights for public employees.

Lazich, who represents Greendale, is among those targeted to be recalled.

Most election officials are aware that petitioners will be outside the polls. Legally petitioners can only stand 100 feet from the entrance of a polling location.

In anticipation of recall petitions at polling places the Government Accountability Board released some guidelines for clerks, election inspectors, and petition circulators to use at the polls on Tuesday.

• It is permissible to circulate a petition within 100 feet of the entrance to the polling place if it is unrelated to the candidate contests/referenda on the ballot, subject to any separate rules governing the use of and access to the property.
• Circulators must refrain from “campaign activity” for any contest on the ballot while on public property within 100 feet of the entrance of a polling place.  This includes any verbal or written statements on a recall petition referring to a candidate or issue on the ballot.
• Circulators should not solicit signatures from voters in line to vote, but rather wait until voters are leaving the polling place.
• Circulators should not stand in or block the entrance to the building.  G.A.B. recommends circulators remain at least 10 feet from the path of travel.
• The G.A.B. has concluded that petitioning in the immediate voting area or within the building containing the polling place is inherently disruptive.  Election officials should order persons petitioning inside the building to leave the building.
• The actions of the circulators should not in any way interfere with or distract voters or election officials, interrupt or disturb the election proceedings.
• If a circulator is causing a disruption of the polling place, the chief inspector should immediately address the situation and ask the circulator to cease disruptive activity. Circulators who do not cease the disruptive activity will be ordered to leave the polling place and remain outside the 100-foot zone.  If the circulator continues to disrupt the polling place, the chief inspector should contact law enforcement to enforce the order.

Kathryn Kasza, clerk-treasurer for the , is aware of the petitioners who plan to be stationed outside the polls.

"We did receive a call from someone who stated that there would be people with recall petitions outside the polling places on Tuesday," Kasza said. "We informed them of the regulations received from the Government Accountability Board (GAB).  This is no different than someone taking exit polls."