Wisconsin worried about spike in virus cases due to election
4 years, 9 months ago

Wisconsin worried about spike in virus cases due to election

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The decision to forge ahead with Wisconsin’s election amid a pandemic has stirred fears about a possible spike in the state’s coronavirus cases in the face of stay-at-home orders and efforts to limit contact with others. “The fact that politics interfered with sound judgment and jeopardized public safety is something that should not be ignored.” Caleb Andersen, 40, said he was concerned that holding the election would wipe out any progress Wisconsin had made in slowing the spread of the virus. Milwaukee Election Commission Executive Director Neil Albrecht called for the Postal Service to launch an official investigation on missing absentee ballots in Milwaukee that were issued and mailed around March 22 and March 23. Fox Point Village Administrator Scott Botcher said postal workers began returning undelivered absentee ballots to the village about three weeks before Tuesday’s election with no explanation beyond that it might have been a sorting problem in downtown Milwaukee’s post office. And now I’m scared of what’s going to happen.” ___ Associated Press writers Doug Glass and Amy Forliti in Minneapolis; Todd Richmond in Madison, Wisconsin; and Gretchen Ehlke in Milwaukee contributed to this report.

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History of this topic

Hundreds of absentee ballots found a month after election in Wisconsin
1 week, 3 days ago

Hundreds of absentee ballots found a month after election in Wisconsin

Raw Story  

On Election Day in Madison, nearly 200 absentee ballots slipped through the cracks. The critical disenfranchisement of 193 Madison voters on Nov. 5 resulted from mistakes at two different polling locations and the lack of a comprehensive system for poll workers to track whether they’ve counted every absentee ballot At a polling site in Ward 56, just west of downtown, …

US Postal Service touts timely delivery of mail ballots despite concerns from election officials
1 month, 1 week ago

US Postal Service touts timely delivery of mail ballots despite concerns from election officials

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Postal Service said Monday nearly 100% of completed mail …

US Postal Service touts timely delivery of mail ballots despite concerns from election officials
1 month, 1 week ago

US Postal Service touts timely delivery of mail ballots despite concerns from election officials

Associated Press  

Postal Service said Monday nearly 100% of completed mail ballots were returned to election offices within a week for this year’s presidential contest, despite hurricanes, some misdirected election mail and delivery concerns raised by state officials. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said postal workers processed more than 99 million general election ballots — making extra deliveries and collections and working to …

Republican Wisconsin congressman falsely suggests city clerk was lying about absentee ballots
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Republican Wisconsin congressman falsely suggests city clerk was lying about absentee ballots

Associated Press  

Follow live: Updates from AP’s coverage of the presidential election. MADISON, Wis. — The mailing of about 2,200 duplicate absentee ballots in Wisconsin’s heavily Democratic capital city of Madison has led a Republican member of Congress to falsely suggest that the clerk was lying about the presence of barcodes on the ballots themselves. Madison city spokesperson Dylan Brogan said Thursday …

Wisconsin capital city sends up to 2,000 duplicate absentee ballots, leading to GOP concerns
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Wisconsin capital city sends up to 2,000 duplicate absentee ballots, leading to GOP concerns

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Up to 2,000 voters in Wisconsin’s heavily Democratic capital of Madison were sent duplicate absentee ballots, but a city spokesperson said Tuesday that none had been returned, all affected voters were being contacted and there were multiple safeguards in place to ensure only one ballot is counted. “The clerk’s office moved to rectify it as quickly as …

Judge dismisses lawsuit challenging absentee voting procedure in battleground Wisconsin
5 months, 1 week ago

Judge dismisses lawsuit challenging absentee voting procedure in battleground Wisconsin

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin judge dismissed a lawsuit Monday that challenged absentee voting procedures, preventing administrative headaches for local election clerks and hundreds of thousands of voters in the politically volatile swing state ahead of fall elections. Oldenberg argued that the state Elections Commission hasn’t been following a state law that requires voters who electronically request absentee ballots to …

In battleground Wisconsin, election clerks must now accept absentee ballots with partial addresses
11 months ago

In battleground Wisconsin, election clerks must now accept absentee ballots with partial addresses

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Elections Commission has complied with court orders and voted to tell the more than 1,800 local clerks who run elections in the battleground state that they can accept absentee ballots that are missing parts of a witness’s address. The commission voted 5-1 Thursday, with Republican Commissioner Bob Spindell opposed, to adopt the new guidance for …

Wisconsin judge dismisses lawsuit over military voting lists
1 year, 5 months ago

Wisconsin judge dismisses lawsuit over military voting lists

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin judge has dismissed a GOP state lawmaker’s lawsuit over military voting records, saying Friday that the challenge should have been brought against a local elections official, not the statewide elections commission. Rep. Janel Brandtjen, the former head of the Assembly elections committee who has promoted election conspiracy theories, and a local veterans group sued the …

Disabled Wisconsin voters say absentee law not followed
1 year, 9 months ago

Disabled Wisconsin voters say absentee law not followed

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Disabled voters say local election leaders across Wisconsin are not following federal law during early voting in the high-stakes race for state Supreme Court, incorrectly telling them they can’t have another person return their absentee ballot for them. Wisconsin Republicans successfully sued last year to ban absentee ballot drop boxes, and the conservative-controlled state Supreme Court ruled …

Wisconsin GOP leader wants to change military voting
2 years ago

Wisconsin GOP leader wants to change military voting

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The Republican leader of the Wisconsin Senate said Thursday that he is considering legislation that would change the state’s military absentee voting laws, reversing his previous position on the issue. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu’s support for taking action comes after some members of the bipartisan Wisconsin Election Commission said changes to the law could be the …

Wis. election officials weigh changes to military voting
2 years, 1 month ago

Wis. election officials weigh changes to military voting

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin election officials are weighing whether changes to military absentee voting are needed after a top Milwaukee election official was charged with fraud in false requests for military absentee ballots just days before the Nov. 8 election. One change members of the Wisconsin Election Commission said they’re eyeing would add a layer of security by requiring military …

No voters turned away over Detroit absentee ballot glitch
2 years, 2 months ago

No voters turned away over Detroit absentee ballot glitch

Associated Press  

CLAIM: Voters in Detroit were prevented from casting ballots on Election Day after officials mistakenly said they’d already voted by absentee ballot. One of the places election watchers sounded the alarm early on was the battleground state of Michigan, where they seized on an issue with absentee ballots in Detroit, the state’s largest city. “People are showing up to vote …

Wisconsin judge won’t order sequestering of absentee ballots
2 years, 2 months ago

Wisconsin judge won’t order sequestering of absentee ballots

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin judge on Monday, less than 14 hours before polls opened, refused to order that military absentee ballots be pulled aside and sequestered until it can be verified that they were cast legally, saying that would be a “drastic remedy” that could disenfranchise voters. The judge said the case did raise questions about whether the bipartisan …

Explainer: Protections against absentee ballot fraud in Wis.
2 years, 2 months ago

Explainer: Protections against absentee ballot fraud in Wis.

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The Nov. 8 election is drawing near, and nearly 600,000 Wisconsin voters have already cast their ballots through advance voting. Wisconsin Election Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe called the official’s alleged action a setback to public confidence, but said she has “every confidence the upcoming election will be fair and accurate.” Here are answers to some of the …

Milwaukee elections worker fired over false ballot requests
2 years, 2 months ago

Milwaukee elections worker fired over false ballot requests

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — A top Milwaukee elections official has been fired after sending falsely obtained military absentee ballots to the home of a Republican state lawmaker who has been an outspoken critic of how the 2020 election was administered, the city’s mayor said Thursday. Kimberly Zapata, deputy director of the Milwaukee Election Commission, requested military ballots for fictitious voters from …

Wisconsin ballot spoiling is a no-go after court upholds ban
2 years, 2 months ago

Wisconsin ballot spoiling is a no-go after court upholds ban

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin appeals court is refusing to block a lower court’s ruling prohibiting voters who already submitted an absentee ballot from voiding it and voting again, a rarely used practice known as ballot spoiling. “Thus, claims of confusion and disenfranchisement ring hollow.” The appeals court’s ruling lifted that hold as of 3 p.m. on Friday, leading to …

Sheriff: 2 admitted ordering Wisconsin ballots for others
2 years, 5 months ago

Sheriff: 2 admitted ordering Wisconsin ballots for others

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Two people in Wisconsin who believe false claims that the 2020 election was marred by widespread fraud admitted they broke state election law by requesting absentee ballots for others in an attempt to underscore vulnerabilities in the state’s voter website, according to a local sheriff. Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling issued a statement Thursday saying that two …

Wisconsin official: Voters must mail own absentee ballots
2 years, 5 months ago

Wisconsin official: Voters must mail own absentee ballots

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s chief election administrator said Thursday that Wisconsin voters must place their own absentee ballots in the mail and can’t have someone do it for them, adding to confusion over whether elderly and disabled people would be breaking the law if they receive help. Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe’s remarks came after the state Supreme Court …

AP FACT CHECK: Wisconsin election probe ignores some facts
2 years, 10 months ago

AP FACT CHECK: Wisconsin election probe ignores some facts

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — A former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice examining the 2020 election in battleground Wisconsin laid out his interim findings this week and recommended that legislators should consider decertifying the state’s presidential result — a move attorneys have said is illegal. The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission before the 2020 election provided guidance to local election clerks who run elections, …

Wisconsin Elections Commission proceeds with absentee rule
2 years, 11 months ago

Wisconsin Elections Commission proceeds with absentee rule

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Elections Commission is moving ahead with enacting a rule that will make clear that local election officials can fill in missing information on absentee ballot envelopes submitted by voters. The bipartisan commission voted 4-2 on Monday to use its existing guidance on correcting absentee ballot envelopes when drafting an emergency rule spelling out what is …

Wisconsin Republicans send election bills to governor
3 years, 6 months ago

Wisconsin Republicans send election bills to governor

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Assembly sent bills to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday that would make it more difficult for the elderly and disabled to cast absentee ballots and prohibit officials from filling in missing information on the envelopes of returned absentee ballots. One of the bills that was passed would require most elderly and disabled people who …

Wisconsin disabled community opposes election law changes
3 years, 7 months ago

Wisconsin disabled community opposes election law changes

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin voters with disabilities urged lawmakers on Wednesday to reconsider two Republican-backed bills passed by the state Senate that would make it more difficult to cast absentee ballots as part of the broader GOP push to make it harder to vote by mail following Donald Trump’s defeat. One of the measures that the Wisconsin Senate passed on …

Wisconsin Republicans want to limit ballot drop boxes
3 years, 10 months ago

Wisconsin Republicans want to limit ballot drop boxes

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Ballot drop boxes would not be allowed anywhere other than election clerk offices in Wisconsin, and only voters — not elections officials — could fill out information on absentee envelopes, under the latest election-related bills circulated Wednesday by Republicans. Many communities across Wisconsin had multiple drop boxes to make it easier for voters to return ballots during …

Judge orders Postal Service to search for ballots, but no evidence so far of widespread missing votes
4 years, 2 months ago

Judge orders Postal Service to search for ballots, but no evidence so far of widespread missing votes

LA Times  

As deadlines for mail ballots loom in several swing states, including Nevada and North Carolina, a federal judge on Thursday ordered the U.S. The move comes days after Postal Service executives said that 300,000 mail ballots sent by voters had not been reported as delivered to election offices. Sullivan’s order stems from one of several lawsuits from voting rights groups …

Minnesota SOS: Too late to mail ballots -- but not to vote
4 years, 2 months ago

Minnesota SOS: Too late to mail ballots -- but not to vote

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota’s secretary of state said Thursday it’s too late for voters to mail back their absentee ballots if they want to make sure their votes count, after an appeals court ruling indicated that mail-in ballots arriving after Election Day are at risk of being invalidated. Simon said voters who still have absentee ballots in hand may drop them …

Supreme Court asked to extend Wisconsin absentee voting
4 years, 2 months ago

Supreme Court asked to extend Wisconsin absentee voting

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Democrats and their allies asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday to allow for absentee ballots in battleground Wisconsin that are received up to six days after the election to be counted — a move being fought by Republicans who have opposed other attempts across the country to expand voting. A federal judge in September sided with …

Court blocks Wisconsin absentee ballot extension
4 years, 3 months ago

Court blocks Wisconsin absentee ballot extension

Al Jazeera  

Democrats are likely to go to the US Supreme Court to get an extension of the election day deadline for absentee ballots. A federal appeals court on Thursday blocked a decision to extend the deadline for counting absentee ballots by six days in battleground Wisconsin, in a win for Republicans who have fought attempts to expand voting across the United …

Whitmer approves earlier processing of absentee ballots
4 years, 3 months ago

Whitmer approves earlier processing of absentee ballots

Associated Press  

LANSING, Mich. — Clerks in Michigan cities or township of at least 25,000 people can start processing a surge of absentee ballots a day before November’s presidential election under legislation signed by Gov. Benson cautioned that because absentee ballots cannot begin to be counted until 7 a.m. on Election Day, the count may not be final until three days after …

GOP loses bid to suspend Wisconsin absentee ballot ruling
4 years, 3 months ago

GOP loses bid to suspend Wisconsin absentee ballot ruling

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — A federal appeals court on Wednesday declined a request by Republicans to suspend a ruling that will allow absentee ballots to be counted for six days after the election in the presidential battleground state. Circuit Court of Appeals to keep its ruling on hold until the Wisconsin Supreme Court could address a separate question about whether the …

Error leaves thousands in NYC with flawed absentee ballots
4 years, 3 months ago

Error leaves thousands in NYC with flawed absentee ballots

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Mail-in voting has gotten off to a rocky start in New York City, where election officials sent out nearly 100,000 absentee ballots with the wrong names and addresses printed on the return envelopes. The faulty ballots are limited to one print run of ballots sent out to Brooklyn voters, the board’s director Michael Ryan said at a …

Appellate court halts Wisconsin ballot-counting extension
4 years, 3 months ago

Appellate court halts Wisconsin ballot-counting extension

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — A federal appeals court on Sunday temporarily halted a six-day extension for counting absentee ballots in Wisconsin’s presidential election, a momentary victory for Republicans and President Donald Trump in the key presidential battleground state. The Democratic National Committee, the state Democratic Party and allied groups including the League of Women Voters sued to extend the deadline for …

Voters' poorly marked ovals could lead to contested ballots
4 years, 3 months ago

Voters' poorly marked ovals could lead to contested ballots

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. While ballots subject to review have historically represented a tiny portion of overall ballots, …

Voters’ poorly marked ovals could lead to contested ballots
4 years, 3 months ago

Voters’ poorly marked ovals could lead to contested ballots

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — Two decades ago, Florida’s hanging chads became an unlikely symbol of a disputed presidential election. “Potential challenges, delays in results, questions on which ballots count and who counts them — there are just a lot of questions, and that could open up Pennsylvania to a lot of uncertainty.” The group is working with election officials statewide, emphasizing clear …

2 Republicans challenge Minnesota plan for late mail ballots
4 years, 3 months ago

2 Republicans challenge Minnesota plan for late mail ballots

Associated Press  

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A Republican state representative and a GOP activist are challenging an agreement to accept mail-in ballots in Minnesota that arrive up to a week after the November election, adding to the nationwide legal fight over voting rules before the presidential election. The lawsuit states the agreement by Secretary of State Steve Simon, a Democrat, violates federal …

Wisconsin Legislature appeals absentee ballot ruling
4 years, 3 months ago

Wisconsin Legislature appeals absentee ballot ruling

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature on Wednesday appealed a federal court ruling that allows for absentee ballots to be counted up to six days after the Nov. 3 presidential election in the battleground state. Wisconsin law requires absentee ballots to be returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day. But Democrats argued that given challenges posed by the ongoing …

Judge extends Wisconsin absentee cutoff 6 days post election
4 years, 3 months ago

Judge extends Wisconsin absentee cutoff 6 days post election

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — A federal judge ruled Monday that absentee ballots in battleground Wisconsin can be counted up to six days after the Nov. 3 presidential election as long as they are postmarked by Election Day. In Wisconsin’s April presidential primary, Conley also extended the deadline for returning absentee ballots for a week. The Republican National Committee, the Wisconsin GOP …

Wisconsin election clerks rush to mail ballots after delay
4 years, 3 months ago

Wisconsin election clerks rush to mail ballots after delay

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Election clerks across the presidential battleground state of Wisconsin rushed to mail absentee ballots Tuesday, less than 24 hours after the state Supreme Court lifted a temporary freeze on sending them while it considered a legal challenge. “Oh, we’re busy,” said Wendy Helgeson, the Town of Greenville clerk who also serves as president of the Wisconsin Municipal …

Wisconsin Supreme Court action on ballots raises questions
4 years, 3 months ago

Wisconsin Supreme Court action on ballots raises questions

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision to halt the mailing of absentee ballots raised concerns that it could cause delays and confusion in the presidential battleground state. A: The state Supreme Court ordered an immediate halt to the mailing of absentee ballots to the more-than 1 million voters who had a request on file. Voters can also choose …

Wisconsin court sets up possible delay in absentee mailing
4 years, 3 months ago

Wisconsin court sets up possible delay in absentee mailing

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The conservative-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a halt in the mailing of absentee ballots until it gives the go-ahead or makes any future ruling about who should be on the ballot in the critical battleground state. The ruling came in a lawsuit by Green Party presidential candidate Howie Hawkins, who asked the state’s highest court …

Donald Trump Can Do More Than Attack Post Office Funding. He’s Mounting A Legal War Against Mailed Ballots.
4 years, 4 months ago

Donald Trump Can Do More Than Attack Post Office Funding. He’s Mounting A Legal War Against Mailed Ballots.

Huff Post  

President Donald Trump stunned even hardened observers when he admitted on national television Thursday morning that he would not agree to additional U.S. These include directing the Postal Service not to deliver mailed ballots and ordering state officials to stop counting absentee ballots on Election Day, even though the president doesn’t have legal authority to do either of these things. …

Record 76% of Americans able to vote by mail in 2020 despite Trump’s complaints
4 years, 4 months ago

Record 76% of Americans able to vote by mail in 2020 despite Trump’s complaints

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. If recent election trends hold and turnout increases, …

Vote-By-Mail Worries Mount As Election Nears
4 years, 5 months ago

Vote-By-Mail Worries Mount As Election Nears

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING BOSTON — Brace yourself for what’s expected to be the first U.S. presidential election conducted mostly by mail. “It hasn’t been built to withstand that high of a volume.” Among the major concerns: — Although Congress has sent $400 million to help states deal with pandemic-related pressures on election systems, it’s well short of the estimated $2 …

No spike, but no certainty on fallout of Wisconsin election
4 years, 8 months ago

No spike, but no certainty on fallout of Wisconsin election

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s presidential primary election held last month in the face of the coronavirus pandemic drew concern from doctors, voters, poll workers and politicians who warned that having thousands of people leave their homes to cast ballots would further spread the highly contagious virus. Now well beyond the 14-day incubation period for COVID-19, and with a Tuesday special …

Milwaukee Claims 7 Coronavirus Cases Tied To Controversial Wisconsin Election
4 years, 8 months ago

Milwaukee Claims 7 Coronavirus Cases Tied To Controversial Wisconsin Election

NPR  

Milwaukee Claims 7 Coronavirus Cases Tied To Controversial Wisconsin Election Enlarge this image toggle caption Derek R. Henkle/AFP via Getty Images Derek R. Henkle/AFP via Getty Images At least seven people may have become infected with the coronavirus as a result of Wisconsin's controversial decision to go forward with in-person voting for its April 7 election, Milwaukee's top public health …

7 Wisconsin coronavirus cases linked to in-person voting
4 years, 8 months ago

7 Wisconsin coronavirus cases linked to in-person voting

LA Times  

Voters wait in line to cast ballots in Milwaukee on April 7 after Republican officials thwarted attempts to postpone the Wisconsin election. Health officials in Wisconsin said they have identified at least seven people who appear to have contracted the coronavirus from participating in the April 7 election, the first such cases detected following in-person voting that was held despite …

In Wisconsin, missing absentees spur questions and anger
4 years, 9 months ago

In Wisconsin, missing absentees spur questions and anger

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The U.S. Postal Service and election officials searched for answers Thursday about why an untold number of absentee ballots never made it to voters in Wisconsin who didn’t want to risk contracting the coronavirus by voting at the polls in the state’s presidential primary. The Wisconsin Elections Commission reported Thursday that nearly 1.3 million absentee ballots had …

Black voters weighed history, health in Wisconsin election
4 years, 9 months ago

Black voters weighed history, health in Wisconsin election

Associated Press  

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — After going to sleep angry and afraid to vote, Xavier Thomas woke up on election day in Wisconsin thinking about how hard black people had to fight for the right to cast a ballot. “A lot of people aren’t going to go vote, especially the elderly,” said the 59-year-old, who wore a mask and gloves. “A lot …

Wisconsin voters forced to choose between health, democracy
4 years, 9 months ago

Wisconsin voters forced to choose between health, democracy

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — If Wisconsin was a test case for voting in the age of the coronavirus, it did not go well for many voters. “We have moved forward with an election, but we have not moved forward with democracy in the state of Wisconsin,” warned Neil Albrecht, executive director of Milwaukee’s election commission. Sanders didn’t say a word about …

Wisconsin voters defy pandemic to cast ballots: ‘It would be a dishonor not to’
4 years, 9 months ago

Wisconsin voters defy pandemic to cast ballots: ‘It would be a dishonor not to’

LA Times  

Voters line up Tuesday at Riverside High School in Milwaukee, where only five of 180 polling sites were open for Wisconsin’s primary election. “I would betray that legacy by staying home,” said the former South Carolinian, who waited 2½ hours with his wife to cast their ballots at the city’s Riverside University High School. “It would be a dishonor not …

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