Wisconsin Administrative Code Government Accountability Board

1. Government Accountability Board (GAB):

The GAB was a state agency in Wisconsin responsible for oversight of elections, ethics, and campaign finance.

Its purpose was to ensure fair, transparent, and impartial elections and enforce state laws related to ethics and lobbying.

The GAB handled things like:

Administering state elections.

Monitoring campaign finance reports.

Investigating ethics complaints against public officials.

Providing guidance and training for local election officials.

2. Administrative Rules (Wisconsin Administrative Code):

The Wisconsin Administrative Code contains the rules and regulations that state agencies like the GAB use to implement state laws.

Rules specific to the GAB were found in Chapters GAB 1–22 of the code.

These rules covered:

Election procedures (voter registration, ballot handling, recounts).

Campaign finance reporting requirements.

Ethics and lobbying rules.

Complaint procedures and enforcement processes.

The Administrative Code is legally binding and ensures the GAB operates according to Wisconsin law.

3. How the Administrative Code Relates to GAB:

Statutes (laws passed by the legislature) give the GAB its authority.

Administrative rules (in the Wisconsin Administrative Code) explain how those laws are applied and enforced in practical terms.

Example: A statute might require candidates to file campaign finance reports; the Administrative Code specifies forms, deadlines, and penalties.

Important Note:
The Government Accountability Board was abolished in 2016. Its duties were split into two separate agencies:

Wisconsin Elections Commission – handles elections.

Wisconsin Ethics Commission – handles ethics and lobbying.

However, the administrative code from the GAB era still exists and can be referenced for historical rules and procedures.

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