Wisconsin's election system faces scrutiny due to various issues in Madison and Milwaukee. An investigation is underway regarding the actions of Maribeth Witzel-Behl, the former clerk of Madison, related to absentee ballots during the November election.
• Election Problems: Madison and Milwaukee have reported multiple election-related issues, including uncounted absentee ballots and ballot shortages on Election Day.
• Witzel-Behl's Resignation: Maribeth Witzel-Behl resigned after failing to count 193 absentee ballots and notifying the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) late. The mayor confirmed that these uncounted ballots did not affect any electoral outcomes.
• City Statements: Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway praised Witzel-Behl for her two decades of service, despite the issues. Witzel-Behl expressed gratitude in her resignation letter, wishing the city well moving forward.
• Ongoing Investigation: The WEC is investigating Witzel-Behl’s handling of the ballots, which also involved sending duplicate absentee ballots to over 2,200 voters in Septembera situation city officials described as "human error. "
• Claims of Voters: Four Madison voters whose absentee ballots were uncounted have filed claims against the city and Dane County, potentially leading to a lawsuit.
• Contentious Meetings: A recent WEC meeting became heated when a Republican commissioner raised concerns about problems in Milwaukee's elections, particularly a shortage of ballots that caused delays.
• Blocked Access: During the April elections, observers were reportedly blocked from seeing certain election processing areas in Milwaukee, raising transparency concerns.
• City Responses: Milwaukee election officials stated that secure areas are necessary for processing ballots and that only authorized individuals have access, which is monitored for security.
The investigation into election mishandlings in Wisconsin highlights significant concerns regarding electoral integrity, ballot processing, and communication from election officials. As the state moves forward, the situation has prompted a call for improved practices and transparency to ensure fair elections in the future.
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