THE TRUST ACT

The TRUST Act — Transparent, Reliable, Unified Standards for Election Turnout

Free, Fair & Accessible Elections

The TRUST Act — Transparent, Reliable, Unified Standards for Election Turnout
More Oversight. More Transparency. More Confidence.

Wisconsin's elections are administered by thousands of dedicated local officials across the state. But good intentions alone aren't enough to build public confidence — and public confidence is the foundation of a functioning democracy. The TRUST Act doesn't assume anything went wrong. It builds a system transparent enough that nobody has to wonder.

Oversight at every stage of the electoral process — from the moment someone registers to vote to the moment results are certified — is not a partisan idea. It is common sense. The TRUST Act establishes that standard statewide.

The Cornerstone — Bipartisan Teams and Nonpartisan Observers at Every Stage

Every single step of Wisconsin's electoral process must be conducted in the presence of both bipartisan teams and credentialed nonpartisan observers. Not just at the steps that seem important. Not just when someone requests it. Every step. Every time.

This means:

• Bipartisan teams — representatives of more than one party present and actively participating at every stage of the process, ensuring no single political interest can influence, delay, or manipulate any part of the election

• Nonpartisan observers — credentialed independent observers with no party affiliation, present at every stage to provide an additional layer of accountability that exists entirely outside of partisan politics

• No closed doors — any step in the electoral process that cannot be observed by both bipartisan teams and nonpartisan observers does not happen until it can be

This is the foundation on which every other provision of the TRUST Act rests. Transparency isn't meaningful if it only applies to the parts of the process that are convenient to show. The TRUST Act requires the whole picture — always.

1. Voter Registration — Clean Rolls, Open Records

Accurate voter rolls are the foundation of a trustworthy election. The TRUST Act requires:

• Regular, systematic maintenance of Wisconsin's voter registration database to remove outdated, duplicate, or ineligible entries — conducted on a defined schedule, not on an as-needed basis

• Full public transparency into the maintenance process, including how records are flagged, reviewed, and removed

• A clear, accessible process for voters to verify their own registration status and correct errors well in advance of any election

• Bipartisan teams and nonpartisan observers present during all voter roll maintenance activities, with complete documentation of every change made available for public inspection

2. Absentee & Mail-In Ballots — Chain of Custody from Start to Finish

Every absentee ballot issued should be trackable from the moment it leaves the clerk's office to the moment it is counted. The TRUST Act establishes:

• A documented chain of custody for every absentee ballot — issued, returned, verified, and counted — with records available for public inspection after the election

• Standardized procedures for signature verification on returned absentee ballots, applied consistently across all municipalities

• Clear, uniform deadlines and drop box standards so that absentee voting rules are the same regardless of which city or county a voter lives in

• Bipartisan teams and nonpartisan observers present at every point in the absentee ballot process — from the moment ballots are prepared and mailed to the moment they are opened, verified, and counted — with no exceptions

3. Polling Place Operations — Consistent Standards Statewide

A voter in Appleton should have the same experience as a voter in Milwaukee. Right now, polling place procedures vary too widely from municipality to municipality. The TRUST Act establishes:

• Uniform statewide standards for polling place setup, staffing, equipment testing, and voter check-in procedures

• Required training and certification for all poll workers, with refresher requirements before each election cycle

• Bipartisan teams staffing every polling location, with credentialed nonpartisan observers guaranteed an unobstructed presence — not as a privilege, but as a right

• Clear, publicly posted procedures at every polling location so voters know exactly what to expect before they arrive

4. Vote Counting & Tabulation — Open, Observable, and Verifiable

The counting of votes should never happen behind closed doors. The TRUST Act requires:

• All vote counting and tabulation to be conducted in the presence of bipartisan teams and nonpartisan observers with a full, unobstructed view of every step of the process

• Pre-election public testing of all tabulation equipment, conducted with bipartisan teams and nonpartisan observers present, with results posted publicly before Election Day

• A paper record for every ballot cast — whether in person or by mail — that can be used for independent verification and auditing

• Real-time public reporting of ballot processing status so that the flow of results on election night is understandable, predictable, and fully traceable

5. Post-Election Audits — Verify Every Time, Not Just When Someone Asks

Audits should be a routine part of every election — not a response to someone losing. The TRUST Act establishes:

• Mandatory post-election audits following every election cycle, conducted before results are certified — no exceptions

• Risk-limiting audits that statistically verify the accuracy of reported results with a high degree of confidence

• All audits conducted by bipartisan teams with nonpartisan observers present throughout, with complete results made fully public before certification

• A standardized audit process that applies equally to every race — from local school board to statewide office — so that no race is too small to verify and no race is too big to scrutinize

The Bottom Line:

Wisconsin's elections belong to Wisconsin's voters. The TRUST Act doesn't pick winners or change outcomes — it opens every door, turns on every light, and invites every eligible citizen to see exactly how their democracy works. Bipartisan teams and nonpartisan observers at every stage means no one has to take anyone's word for it. When the process is transparent from start to finish, confidence follows naturally. That's not a partisan goal. That's the whole point of elections.