Cross Plains trains poll workers on Badger Book ahead of upcoming elections

Village of Cross Plains trainers held a full-day session to prepare poll workers for upcoming elections, focusing on the Badger Book electronic poll book, absentee processing and new procedures for protected and confidential voters. Bill Brocious, chief election inspector, led the training and walked staff through check-in, registration and absentee workflows.

The training matters because the Badger Book has changed how staff handle check-in and registration: it separates registration from check-in so a newly registered voter remains in the system throughout the day, and it uses on-screen steps and watermarks to flag voter status. "Please state your name and address and present your photo ID," Brocious said as he demonstrated the check-in prompt staff must read aloud. He also noted a new state-designated class: "There is a new type of voter called protected voter," meaning certain judicial officers and immediate family members can request that identifying data be kept confidential in local records.

Trainers reviewed the mechanics poll workers will use on Election Day. Staff will log into Badger Book using a standard ID (first initial and last name), scan or manually enter driver-license data to auto-populate records, and, once they accept the verification screen, print a ticket number the voter uses to pick up a ballot. The group practiced handling three signature exceptions: voters who cannot physically sign, curbside voters, and voters assisted by a companion (the assistant signs in those cases). Brocious explained that processed absentee returns prevent an in-person second vote and described the envelope-scanning workflow for absentee ballots.

The session also covered which photo IDs remain acceptable: Wisconsin driver licenses or state ID cards (including certain expired IDs), U.S. passports, Veterans Affairs and military IDs, student IDs and certificates of naturalization. Trainers said IDs that expired on or after Nov. 5, 2024 remain acceptable under current guidance. Trainers discussed barcode scanning and manual mailing-ID entry for absentee envelopes, and explained that overvotes may trigger a reissued ballot; trainers said the office had issued about 130 absentee ballots and received roughly 45 returns in the current cycle (figures given in training discussion).

Logistics discussed at the training included the village's current use of a DS200 voting machine and plans to add a DS300 by August to reduce bottlenecks should turnout increase. Trainers also reviewed ward-selection and address auto-complete in Badger Book (the village has seven wards), proof-of-residency options (tax bill, recent utility or bank statement, DMV printout or phone image), and the seven-step Election Day registration flow for voters who are not in the system.

The trainers closed by inviting attendees to practice at set-up stations and offering follow-up help from chief election inspectors and village staff. The session also included reminders about timecards and volunteer sign-up for new poll workers.

The Village of Cross Plains did not take any formal votes during the training; the session was instructional and procedural. Attendees were advised to follow Wisconsin Elections Commission guidance and to contact chief election inspectors on duty with procedural questions.