Thursday, October 8, 2020
School districts that schedule referenda must report them to DPI within 10 days of their boards’ adoption of resolutions to hold referenda (Wis. Stat. § 121.91(3)(a)1). If your district has scheduled a November 3, 2020 referendum, please double-check the listing of reported referenda to make sure it is included.
We are aware of the ongoing legal challenges regarding absentee ballots and other election laws. The latest decision reinstates the Election Day deadline for returning absentee ballots. Barring a repeat of April’s flurry of late legal activity, the 10-day statutory deadline for reporting referendum results (November 13) remains in effect. Roger Kordus will be contacting districts on November 4 to request preliminary results.
Districts holding referenda to exceed the revenue limit beginning with the current 2020-21 school year should also keep in mind the November 10 deadline for certifying tax levies to municipalities (Wis. Stat. § 120.12(3)). If your district is one of these, we recommend monitoring any further legal challenges that could affect your ability to canvass and certify election results in time for November 10, communicating with legal counsel and collaborating with municipal clerks as necessary.