MATT: I’M MATT SMITH. TODAY, ON "UPFRONT," A BATTLE OVER ELECTION LAW CHANGES. SEN. STROEBEL: WE ARE FOR VOTER INTEGRITY. WE ARE FOR TRANSPARENCY. SEN. AGARD: THIS IS A NATIONWIDE EFFORT TO PROVIDE VOTER SUPPRESSION AND MAKE IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE. MATT: REPUBLICANS SAY CHANGES ARE NEEDED TO RESTORE PUBLIC TRUST. DEMOCRATS SAY IT’S VOTER SUPPRESSION. WE’LL GET INTO THE DEBATE WITH REPUBLICAN SENATOR DUEY STROEBEL OF CEDARBURG AND DEMOCRATIC SENATOR MELISSA AGARD OF MADISON. PLUS -- >> WE WILL MAKE IT CLEAR THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR FROM SOMEONE LIKE RON JOHNSON IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. MATT: THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HOPING TO CHALLENGE RON JOHNSON. AND RISING NUMBERS OF COVID VARIANT CASES. HOW CONCERNED SHOULD WE BE? >> TAKING ON THE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO WISCONSIN, THIS IS "UPFRONT" WITH YOUR HOST ADRIENNE PEDERSEN. MATT HI, EVERYONE. I’M MATT SMITH IN THIS WEEK FOR ADRIENNE. WE BEGIN TODAY WITH CHANGES TO ELECTION LAWS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED AT BOTH THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVELS. IN WASHINGTON, HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE APPROVED A BILL THEY SAY WILL INCREASE BALLOT ACCESS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND PREVENT WHAT THEY CALL REPUBLICAN VOTER SUPPRESSION MEASURES. HERE IN WISCONSIN, REPUBLICANS ARE PROPOSING A LONG LIST OF CHANGES THEY SAY ARE NEEDED AFTER THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. THOSE INCLUDE, REQUIRING ABSENTEE VOTERS TO SUBMIT AN I.D. FOR EVERY ELECTION, INSTEAD OF HAVING ONE ON FILE. REQUIRING ABSENTEE VOTERS TO FILL OUT A SEPARATE APPLICATIO IN THE CLERK’S OFFICE, REQUIRING VOTERS UNDER 65, WHO SAY THEY INDEFINITELY CONFINED TO PROVIDE PROOF FROM A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL, AND PROHIBIT CITIES FROM ACCEPTING PRIVATE DONATIONS TO HELP RUN THEIR ELECTIONS. THE STATE BILLS ARE SPONSORED BY REPUBLICAN SENATOR DUEY STROEBEL OF CEDARBURG, WHO JOINS US NOW, ALONG WITH DEMOCRATIC SENATOR MELISSA AGARD OF MADISON. SENATORS, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. SENATOR, HOW MANY DEMOCRATS SIGNED ON FOR CO-PARTISANSHIP -- FOR COSPONSORSHIP? SEN. STROEBEL: I DON’T BELIEVE ANY HAVE. MATT: WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT THE PARTISANSHIP OF THESE PROPOSALS? SEN. STROEBEL: IT’S SAD. IN MY OFFICE WE HAVE GOTTEN THOUSANDS OF CALLS. EVEN BEFORE 2020 THERE WAS A GALLUP POLL THAT SAID 59% OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THEIR ELECTIONS. THERE ARE THINGS WE NEED TO BE DOING HERE AND INSTEAD OF SAYING NOTHING TO SEE HERE, THERE IS SOMETHING TO SEE HERE. MATT: DOES THIS SHOW THAT DEMOCRATS ARE SIMPLY UNWILLING TO LISTEN TO THE CONCERNS OF REPUBLICANS AND, QUITE WRIGLEY, REPUBLICAN VOTERS? SEN. AGARD: CERTAINLY NOT. I’M LOOKING AT THE DATA. OUR ELECTIONS ARE FAIR, FREE, AND SECURE AND THEY HAVE BEEN FOR QUITE SOME TIME. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE ANY THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY IS TAKING CARE OF. IN FACT THESE BILLS ARE BUILT OUT OF FEAR AND RHETORIC. IF WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS ENSURE THAT PEOPLE DO BELIEVE IN THE SECURITY OF OUR ELECTIONS, WE NEED TO STOP SPINNING THE STORIES COMING FORWARD FROM OUR PREVIOUS PRESIDENT AND HIS ADMINISTRATION. MATT: THE CRITICISM OF THESE BILLS IS THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO VOTING, ESPECIALLY IN DEMOCRATIC CITIES, URBAN AREAS. WILL THIS MAKE IT HARDER TO MOVE IN WISCONSIN? SEN. STROEBEL: NO, AND WHEN YOU DEFAULT TO VOTER SUPPRESSION AND RESTRICT THE VOTE, THAT IS AVOIDING DISCUSSION. IT’S REALLY A COPOUT. LET ME GO THROUGH A QUICK LIST OF REAL THINGS OUT THERE THAT HAVE OCCURRED. VOTING LISTS NOT BEING MAINTAINED. BAILEY -- MAILING BALLOTS WITH NO VOTER ID. TRANSPARENCY IS NOT THERE. HEALTHY PEOPLE SAYING THAT THEY ARE INDEFINITELY CONFINED, BREAKING THE LAW IN THAT REGARD. PROHIBITING SPECIAL VOTING DEPUTIES FROM GOING INTO SENIOR CITIZEN LIVING FACILITIES. VOTING EARLY IN MADISON WHEN THEY HAD NO LEGAL RIGHT TO DO SO. DROPBOX IS A LEGALLY PLACED OUTSIDE PRIVATE MONEYS TO SPECIFIC MUNICIPALITIES. BALLOT HEARING THAT IS ILLEGAL. THE LIST GOES ON. THESE ARE REAL THINGS THAT HAPPENED AND THESE ARE THE THINGS WE ARE TRYING TO FIX. MATT: YOUR RESPONSE TO THOSE CONERNS? SEN. AGARD: IN WISCONSIN, OUR ELECTIONS ARE FAIR, FREE, AND SECURE. I HAVE TALKED TO ELECTIONS CLERKS IN MY DISTRICT AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO WILL VOLUNTEER AND WORK FOR OUR ELECTIONS AND IF WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS TO SUPPORT OUR ELECTIONS, WE NEED TO PROVIDE THEM WITH MORE RESOURCES. WE DON’T NEED TO BE MAKING IT HARDER TO DO THEIR JOBS. THE FACT IS OUR -- THE FACT THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE CENTRALIZED IS VITAL IN MAKING SURE PEOPLE KNOW THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE FAIR, FREE, AND SECURE. REPUBLICANS DEPEND ON GERRYMANDERING AND RIGGING OUR ELECTIONS, MAKING IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE, INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND FOCUSING ON WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR. THEY WANT OUR SCHOOLS TO BE FUNDED. THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE LOWERING HEALTH CARE COST. AND THAT WE ARE NAVIGATING OUTSIDE OF THE PANDEMIC SO OUR FAMILIES CAN CONTINUE TO BE THRIVING. MATT: LET’S TALK ABOUT ABSENTEE VOTING AND THE PROVISIONS WITHIN THIS. SENATOR AGARD, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE UNIVERSAL ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION AND REQUIRING A PHOTO VIA -- GROUP -- PHOTO ID FOR THESE REQUESTS? SEN. AGARD: WHY WOULD WE HAVE TO RESUBMIT THEM EVERY SINGLE TIME? WERE NOT PROVIDING MORE RESOURCES TO OUR COURTS -- WE ARE NOT PROVIDING RESOURCES TO OUR COURTS. COURTS DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO HOLD ONTO THIS MATERIAL. THEY ENSURE THAT THEY ARE FAIR, FREE, AND SECURE. WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IS REMOVE BARRIERS TO VOTING. MATT: THE IDEA BEHIND THESE PROPOSALS? SEN. STROEBEL: WE HAVE VOTER ID AS STATE LAW. THAT PASSED YEARS AGO. BEFORE THAT WAS PASSED, WE WERE TOLD THE SKY WAS FALLING, THAT WAS HORRIBLE AND CREATE VOTER SUPPRESSION. WE HAVE HAD MORE VOTER TURNOUT SINCE VOTER ID WAS FASTER THAN EVER BEFORE. WE’VE GOT TO CLEAR THESE LOOPHOLES. THAT IS THE LAW, VOTER ID -- VOTER ID. RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN’T VOTE WITHOUT THE ID AND THAT’S WRONG. ON ELECTION NIGHT, LET’S FIND OUT HOW MANY VOTES WERE MAILED OUT, HOW MANY HAVE BEEN RETURNED, HOW MANY ARE OUTSTANDING. THESE ARE TRANSPARENCY ISSUES. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SUPPRESSION. THIS IS JUST, LET’S CREATE MORE INTEGRITY FOR OUR SYSTEM. MATT: THE GOVERNOR HAS ESSENTIALLY SAID THAT HE WILL VETO THIS PACKAGE OF BILLS. WHAT IS THE ENDGAME? SEN. STROEBEL: IT’S A SHAME HE FEELS THAT WAY. I THINK IT DEFINES WHO WE ARE AND WHO THEY ARE. WE ARE FOR VOTER INTEGRITY. WE ARE FOR TRANSPARENCY. WE ARE FOR CONSISTENCY. THAT IS WHAT THESE BILLS ARE ABOUT. IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHAT -- WHO HE IS AND WHAT WE ARE AND THAT IS WHAT THE VOTERS NEED TO SEE. MATT: AS FAR AS THE GOVERNOR ’S BUDGET -- THE GOVERNOR’S BUDGET PROPOSAL, THERE MAY BE DIFFERENT PATHS TO GET THERE. SENATOR AGARD, IS THIS SOMEWHERE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS CAN FIND COMPROMISE? SEN. AGARD: ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS SOMETHING MY ELECTION CLERKS ARE ASKING FOR IN MY DISTRICT AND I KNOW ELECTION CLERKS ARE ASKING FOR ACROSS THE STATE OF WISCONSIN. THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HAD THIS LEGISLATION INTRODUCED SINCE THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER INSINUATING OUR ELECTIONS ARE NOT FAIR, FREE, AND SECURE AFTER THE MOST STUDIED ELECTION IN OUR NATION’S HISTORY, WHEN WE HAD PEOPLE FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION COME FORWARD AND SAY THESE ELECTIONS WERE FAIR, FREE, AND SECURE, THIS IS A NATIONWIDE EFFORT TO PROVIDE VOTER SUPPRESSION AND MAKE IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE. THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE FAIR, FREE, AND SECURE AND PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEIR VOTES DO MATTER. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING GERRYMANDERING. WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE ABILITY TO CAST BALLOTS IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN. AS WE NAVIGATE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEIR VOTES DO MATTER. MATT SHOULD THE ABSENTEE VOTES BE ALLOWED TO GO AHEAD? SEN. STROEBEL: IT IS ALL NOTHING TO SEE HERE. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WISCONSIN ELECTIONS. WERE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE COUNTRY. WE GOT TO RESTORE THE INTEGRITY OF THESE ELECTIONS. WE’VE GOT PROBLEMS. AS FAR AS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO VOTE, UNLIKE OUR SENATE MINORITY LEADER, WHO SAID THE VOTERS ARE NOT SMART, AND THAT’S A DIRECT QUOTE -- I DON’T BELIEVE THE VOTERS ARE NOT SMART. I BELIEVE THE VOTERS ARE VERY CAPABLE OF DOING THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE TO ENSURE WE HAVE ELECTION INTEGRITY WHILE WE STILL HAVE FREE AND OPEN ACCESS TO THE VOTING PROCESS. MATT: ON THE ISSUE OF THE VOTERS COUNTING, DO YOU SUPPORT THAT BILL? SEN. STROEBEL: YEAH, THAT’S A GREAT BILL. IT’S ONE OF THE REPUBLICAN BILLS WE HAVE COMING OUT. MATT: SENATORS, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AS THE PROCESS MOVES FORWARD. SEN. STROEBEL: THANKS, MATT. MATT: THANK YOU. COMING UP A GROWING FIELD OF , DEMOCRATS LINING UP TO CHALLENGE RON JOHNSON. I’LL TALK WITH THE FIRST ONE TO GET IN THE RACE, OUTAGAMIE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TOM NELSON. PLUS, A NEW VACCINE DUE TO ARRIVE IN WISCONSIN. ARE WE IN A RACE WITH COVID VARIAN