Wisconsin Governor to sign amended bill that will allow clerks to begin processing ballots a day early | Hope Karnopp/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Governor Tony Evers is expected to sign a bill allowing clerks in Wisconsin to begin processing absentee ballots a day early, following bipartisan support in the Republican-controlled Assembly. The legislation aims to address concerns about late processing leading to voter confusion and conspiracy theories. The bill, which mandates Monday processing for central count communities (those processing all absentee ballots in one location), also includes provisions for clerks to periodically report ballot counts and for circuit courts to promptly inform the Wisconsin Elections Commission about voters deemed ineligible. Some proposed amendments, such as prohibiting early running of ballots through voting equipment, were removed in favor of increased efficiency, according to clerks. Read Article

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker assigns impeachment articles against elections chief Meagan Wolfe to committee | Molly Beck Jessie Opoien/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has referred impeachment articles against Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe to the Assembly Committee on Government Accountability and Oversight, following a campaign by a group threatening Vos with recall or primary challenges if he didn’t advance the articles. This move comes after Vos initially favored a legislative process to hire a new administrator. The ads targeting Wolfe, which falsely claim she implemented policies decided by the agency’s panel of commissioners and should be removed, were launched by the Wisconsin Election Committee, Inc., a group led by individuals with connections to past challenges against Vos and promoting false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. Read Article

Wisconsin judge rules that GOP-controlled Senate’s vote to fire top elections official had no effect | Harm Venhuizen/Associated Press

A Dane County judge ruled that the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Senate’s vote to remove the state’s nonpartisan top elections official, Administrator Meagan Wolfe, last month was legally ineffective, and lawmakers are barred from ousting her during an ongoing lawsuit. Wolfe will continue to serve as the head of the Wisconsin Elections Commission while a decision is pending on whether elections commissioners are legally obligated to appoint someone for the Senate to confirm. This ruling comes after Senate Republicans voted in September to remove Wolfe, a move contested by Democrats and nonpartisan attorneys who argued that the Senate lacked the authority for such a vote at that time. The judge’s decision follows a change in stance by Republican legislative leaders, who now assert that their vote to fire Wolfe was merely symbolic and held no legal weight. Read Article

Wisconsin: Few Republicans have confidence in elections. It’s a long road for one group trying to change that | Christine Fernando/Associated Press

Election officials in rural Wisconsin counties like Oconto are grappling with the spread of election conspiracy theories, driven in part by false claims of a stolen election by former President Trump. Kim Pytleski, a lifelong Republican and clerk in Oconto County, has encountered skepticism about the election process, even facing the label of “Republican in Name Only” for defending it. Efforts to combat misinformation include community events and conversations, with groups like Keep Our Republic holding town hall-style forums to restore faith in elections. However, the deep partisan divide and persistent spread of false claims present significant challenges in restoring trust in the electoral process. Read Article

Wisconsin Senate Republicans signal they could remove Democrat on Elections Commission | Hope Karnopp/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Wisconsin Senate Republicans are indicating they may remove Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ appointee, Joseph Czarnezki, from the state’s elections commission, just weeks after they voted to remove the commission’s administrator. The committee vote against confirming Czarnezki’s appointment was 3-2, with all Republicans opposing and all Democrats supporting him. This move comes after a focus on the commission’s decision to keep WEC administrator Meagan Wolfe in place after her term expired in June, a move that is currently being challenged in court by Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul. Czarnezki’s hearing follows the recent Senate vote to fire Wolfe, which is also under legal challenge. Read Article

Wisconsin legislation to protect election workers moves forward | Anya van Wagtendonk/Wisconsin Public Radio

A bipartisan set of voting-related bills is under consideration, with public testimony held five months ahead of the 2024 elections. The proposals aim to enhance protections for election workers, making attacks on them a felony and providing whistleblower safeguards. Additionally, a bill suggests implementing a text message notification system for absentee voters, updating them on the status of their ballots. The proposed measures come in response to increased harassment and threats against election workers, particularly after the 2020 presidential election, and aim to ensure their safety and job security. While supported by various organizations, including the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Counties Association, and the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, the ACLU of Wisconsin has expressed concerns over the whistleblower protection component. Read Article

Wisconsin Republicans propose impeaching top elections official after disputed vote to fire her | CBS

A group of Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin has introduced a resolution to impeach the state’s top elections official, Meagan Wolfe, who is accused by conspiracy theorists of being part of an alleged plot to rig the 2020 election in favor of President Joe Biden. The lawmakers, who have promoted claims of election fraud, criticize Wolfe for decisions made by the bipartisan elections commission, of which she is the nonpartisan administrator. This comes after the GOP-controlled state Senate voted to oust Wolfe last week, a move Democrats argue was illegitimate. Wolfe has maintained that the allegations against her are false and that the facts have been provided for years, while various reviews have affirmed the fairness and accuracy of the 2020 election results in Wisconsin. Read Article

Wisconsin Senate Republicans fire elections chief Meagan Wolfe, setting the stage for a legal fight heading into the 2024 elections | Molly Beck/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

In a party-line vote, Senate Republicans in Wisconsin voted to remove the state’s top election official, Meagan Wolfe, from her position as the administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission. This decision has ignited a legal battle over the authority to oversee voting in the state as the 2024 presidential election approaches. The move follows lingering outrage within the GOP over the 2020 election and a baseless campaign by former President Donald Trump to undermine its legitimacy. Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul has filed a lawsuit to block the removal, while Wolfe plans to stay in her position pending court decisions. Critics argue that this move is relitigating the 2020 election and may undermine faith in the electoral system. Read Article

Wisconsin enate elections committee votes against keeping elections chief Meagan Wolfe | Molly Beck/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Republicans in control of the Wisconsin state Legislature have taken a step towards removing the state’s top election official, Meagan Wolfe, in a move that has sparked a legal battle. The Senate Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections, and Consumer Protection voted 3-1 against Wolfe’s reappointment, a decision contested by Democrats and deemed legally dubious by the Democratic Attorney General and nonpartisan attorneys. The dispute stems from a failure to secure enough votes to reappoint Wolfe in June, with Democrats citing a recent Supreme Court ruling that allows appointed officers to remain in their positions until they are removed. Republican leaders, under pressure from the base over the 2020 election, continue to push for Wolfe’s removal. The full state Senate could vote on her firing as early as Thursday, though even if passed, legal challenges are expected. Read Article

Wisconsin voters caught in the middle as misinformation takes on education | Alice Herman/The Guardian

In Wisconsin, two distinct groups of activists are engaged in campaigns concerning the state’s election system. One, led by former Republican state senator Kathy Bernier, seeks to restore trust in election administration and results, while the other, North of 29, rejects the 2020 election results and spreads false claims of widespread voter fraud, advocating for a return to hand-counting ballots. The persistent misinformation regarding elections, driven by political polarization and prominent figures, has created an environment where both groups can draw in voters, leading to concerns among voting rights advocates about the trend toward hand-counting ballots based on conspiracy theories. Read Article

Wisconsin’s nonpartisan elections director has bipartisan support. She may be driven out anyway. | Zach Montellaro/Politico

Wisconsin Republicans are seeking to remove the state’s nonpartisan elections director, Meagan Wolfe, ahead of the upcoming presidential primary, raising concerns about election integrity. The state Senate is holding a hearing to remove Wolfe, with Democrats alleging that Republicans are retaliating against her for decisions made by the Wisconsin Elections Commission in 2020. This highlights the ongoing impact of election misinformation in Wisconsin, a key swing state, even years after former President Donald Trump’s false claims of a stolen election in 2020. Read Article

Wisconsin: Election conspiracists testify at disputed confirmation hearing for Elections Commission administrator | Henry Redman/Wisconsin Examiner

A Wisconsin Senate elections committee hearing on the disputed confirmation of the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) Administrator Meagan Wolfe turned into a platform for election conspiracy theories and attacks against Wolfe. Wolfe’s four-year term expired at the end of June, but the three Democratic appointees on the WEC abstained from voting on her renomination, preventing the vote from receiving the four votes traditionally required for a motion to pass the body. While the dispute is likely to be decided in court, the hearing brought prominent election deniers and conspiracy theorists to testify against Wolfe’s reappointment, with little pushback from the committee chair, Sen. Dan Knodl (R-Germantown). Read Article

Wisconsin elections administrator won’t appear before Senate committee | Anya van Wagtendonk/Wisconsin Public Radio

Wisconsin’s top election official, Meagan Wolfe, will not appear before a Senate committee hearing about her future in the job following new guidance from the state Department of Justice. This comes amid an ongoing dispute between the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission and the GOP-led Legislature over Wolfe’s future. A hearing was scheduled to discuss Wolfe’s position, which if attended, could lead to official confirmation proceedings and a potential firing. However, Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul has stated that state law does not allow for such proceedings, allowing Wolfe to remain in her post indefinitely. The situation highlights the legal ambiguity around her tenure and its implications for upcoming elections. Read Article

Wisconsin elections chief Meagan Wolfe calls her position ‘untenable’ in commission’s dispute with senators | Molly Beck/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The reappointment of Meagan Wolfe, the administrator of Wisconsin’s elections agency, has become contentious as Republican lawmakers who control the state Senate indicated they are moving forward with her reappointment, potentially resulting in the removal of a key election official ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Wolfe has faced criticism from portions of the Republican base since 2020, and the commission remains split on how to respond to Senate Republicans’ efforts to force Wolfe to undergo nomination proceedings despite a lack of nomination from commissioners. This disagreement has led to uncertainty about her future in the role, with a hearing scheduled and debates about her appearance before the Senate committee. Read Article

Wisconsin elections officials approve redesign of absentee ballot envelopes | Tyler Katzenberger/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The Wisconsin Elections Commission has unanimously approved a new design for absentee ballot envelopes, aimed at making it easier for voters to read and complete the envelopes in future elections. The updated design introduces colors to the envelope scheme, moves the clerk’s initial field to the top, and introduces a numbered three-step process for voters to follow. Envelopes come in different colors based on their purpose, making it clearer for both voters and officials. The design was based on feedback from voters and local election officials, and the change is expected to reduce errors and increase the security of the voting process. The new envelopes will be used from the February 2024 spring primary onwards. Read Article

Wisconsin: Fighting election denial one community at a time | Henry Redman/Wisconsin Examiner

Former Republican state Sen. Kathy Bernier and Keep Our Republic, a nonprofit organization, held an event at the Chippewa County Courthouse to restore voters’ trust in Wisconsin’s election systems and counter election misinformation. The event aimed to provide accurate information about the state’s election administration to community leaders and local election officials, so they can respond accurately to voter concerns and questions. Bernier, who has been pushing back against 2020 election conspiracies, hopes that by providing facts and information about the election system, it will help address concerns about election integrity and misinformation that have arisen since the 2020 election. Read Article

How a Wisconsin official became ‘a scapegoat’ for voter fraud falsehoods | Alice Herman/The Guardian

The future of Meagan Wolfe, Wisconsin’s top election administrator, is uncertain as her reappointment has turned into a political showdown with Republicans in the state. Wolfe, a respected and experienced elections official, has been targeted by right-wing conspiracy theories about her role in the 2020 election. False claims that the election was stolen have been pointed at the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC), with Wolfe being blamed as a conspirator to deliver the presidency to Democrats. Her reappointment has become a contentious issue, with right-wing activists and public figures opposing it, leading to concerns about the continued distrust in Wisconsin’s elections as the state approaches another presidential election year. Despite her record of successfully running clean elections during a difficult time in 2020, the attacks on Wolfe persist, and the situation has become a worrying trend for elections experts. Read Article

Wisconsin’s Election Office In Limbo After GOP Tries To Force Out Its Director | Cameron Joseph/Bolts

The job of Wisconsin’s top election official, Meagan Wolfe, is in jeopardy due to a conspiracy-fueled attempt by Republicans to remove her from office. She is widely respected for her nonpartisan management of the Wisconsin Election Commission, but right-wing conspiracy theorists and Republican lawmakers have targeted her, spreading false claims about the 2020 election and blaming her. With her term expiration in July, Democrats blocked a procedural step to confirm her for another term, leaving the situation unstable. The state’s readiness for the 2024 elections could be compromised, and the case will likely be decided in the state supreme court, adding more uncertainty to the process. Read Article

Wisconsin’s top election official interviewed by Federal authorities in 2020 probe | Molly Beck/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Meagan Wolfe, the administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, was interviewed by federal authorities investigating former President Donald Trump’s efforts to subvert the 2020 election leading up to the January 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection. Wolfe’s interview was part of the ongoing probe conducted by Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is gathering information from officials in battleground states where Trump’s attempts to overturn his election loss were most intense. The investigation aims to understand the events surrounding the insurrection and disinformation campaigns about Wisconsin’s election system that led to unsuccessful Republican efforts to implement new voting restrictions and dismantle the state elections agency. Trump confirmed he is a target of the investigation, and Smith has given him a week to appear before a grand jury. Reasd Article

Wisconsin GOP lawmakers introduce bill to add watermarks to absentee ballots. Clerks say it would create problems. | Hope Karnopp/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin have introduced a bill that would require watermarks on absentee ballots, citing the need to curb public distrust in absentee ballots and restore trust in the election process. However, election clerks argue that the measure would create more problems without solving any. They note that watermarked ballots would pose challenges such as determining the number of watermarked ballots to purchase, ensuring accurate counting by machines, and potential recount and audit problems. Clerks also point out that watermarks could interfere with machine reading and that photocopies of watermarked ballots can still be made. Another bill with bipartisan support is also being considered, which would require military voters to provide their Department of Defense number when requesting an absentee ballot. Election clerks generally support this measure as it adds an additional level of security without significant issues. Read Article

Wisconsin: Battle over top elections official could have ripple effects for 2024 | Harm Venhuizen/Associated Press

The future of Meagan Wolfe, the administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, is in question as Republicans in the state Legislature call for her resignation, accusing her of being part of a plan to rig the 2020 election in favor of President Joe Biden. Despite multiple reports and reviews confirming the fairness and accuracy of the election, Republicans have targeted Wolfe, prompting Democratic election commissioners to seek a workaround to keep her in office beyond her term’s expiration. The outcome of this dispute could have implications for the 2024 presidential contest in Wisconsin, a key battleground state where margins are typically narrow. Read Article

Wisconsin Republicans try to force vote on reappointment of nonpartisan election leader | Scott Bauer/Associated Press

Republicans in control of the Wisconsin Senate have made a surprise move to force a vote on firing the state’s nonpartisan top elections official, Meagan Wolfe, before the 2024 presidential election. Democrats walked out of the Senate chamber in protest, objecting to the unscheduled vote taking place late in the evening. The Republican action is an attempt to circumvent the Wisconsin Elections Commission, which had tried to block the Senate from voting on Wolfe’s confirmation. Democrats fear that the Senate will reject her confirmation, effectively firing her. Wolfe, who has defended her decisions and fought against false claims of election fraud, has served as the state’s elections administrator since 2018 and is highly regarded in the field. Read Article

Wisconsin Elections Commission deadlocks on administrator Meagan Wolfe reappointment | Molly Beck/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The Wisconsin state elections commission failed to reach an agreement on whether to reappoint Wisconsin Elections Commission administrator Meagan Wolfe, leaving the future of the state’s top election official uncertain. The commission, consisting of three Democrats and three Republicans, faced a deadlock on the issue, with Democrats abstaining from the vote in an attempt to ensure that Wolfe’s reappointment would be subject to a confirmation vote by the Republican-controlled state Senate. The partisan impasse leaves the leadership of Wisconsin’s election agency in turmoil less than a year before the next presidential election, as Republicans push for Wolfe’s ouster based on unfounded claims about the 2020 presidential election. The situation raises uncertainty about Wolfe’s position and the effective administration of future elections in the state. Read Article

Wisconsin elections fight takes a turn with Senate move to force vote on top administrator Meagan Wolfe | Molly Beck Jessie Opoien/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Wisconsin Republican state senators have passed a resolution to initiate confirmation hearings for Meagan Wolfe, the administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, potentially leading to her removal from office. The surprise move comes after members of the bipartisan state elections commission were deadlocked on reappointing Wolfe, and Democrats abstained from voting to prevent her from undergoing a Senate confirmation process. The maneuver by Republican senators allows them to take up Wolfe’s nomination and send it to the Senate’s elections committee, even though she has not been officially nominated for a new term. Read Article

Wisconsin’s top elections official for 2024 uncertain as incumbent’s term nears end | Harm Venhuizen/Associated Press

The oversight of Wisconsin’s 2024 presidential election remains uncertain as the term of the state’s top nonpartisan elections official, Meagan Wolfe, comes to an end. Republicans, who control the state Legislature, have clashed with Wolfe over conspiracy theories and may have an opportunity to remove her from office and appoint their own candidate. However, a recent state Supreme Court ruling suggests that Wolfe could potentially circumvent the Republicans and stay in office. The situation in Wisconsin is unfolding against the backdrop of a highly contested battleground state, with both parties vying for an advantage. The departure of election officials across the country due to the challenges and threats they faced during the 2020 election cycle has further complicated the situation. Read Article

Wisconsin: Attacks on election workers would be a felony under proposal being considered in legislature | Anya van Wagtendonk/Wisconsin Public Radio

A bipartisan proposal circulating through Wisconsin’s state Capitol aims to protect election workers by limiting public access to their identifying information and imposing harsher penalties for attacks on them. The bill would exempt many records containing personal details about poll workers from public access and make physically harming an election official or worker a felony offense. It would also extend whistleblower protection to election workers who report concerns about election fraud or irregularities. The proposal comes in response to the increase in harassment and threats faced by election workers during the 2020 election. Read Article

Wisconsin Republicans Sowed Distrust Over Elections. Now They May Push Out the State’s Top Election Official. | Megan O’Matz/ProPublica

Meagan Wolfe, the election administrator in Wisconsin, is facing an uncertain future as her reappointment hangs in the balance. Wolfe’s tenure has been marred by controversy and threats due to the conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 election. Republicans, who have been critical of the election results, may determine her fate and potentially reset the state’s election dynamics. Wolfe’s potential removal could lead to the appointment of a partisan or election denier, affecting oversight of voting operations in the crucial state for the 2024 presidential race. While election denialism has been rejected in courts and at the polls, it continues to pose a threat. Read Article

Wisconsin: After years of conspiracism, Assembly elections committee finds new spirit of bipartisanship | Henry Redman/Wisconsin Examiner

The Wisconsin Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections, under new chair Rep. Scott Krug, held a public hearing on bipartisan bills aimed at improving the state’s election systems. This marks a change from the committee’s previous leadership, which often fueled partisanship and spread false information about election administration. One bill discussed, AB 299, faced dissent as it proposed changes to the absentee ballot process for military voters, requiring them to provide their Department of Defense identification numbers. Critics argued that this could disenfranchise voters without such numbers and raised concerns about the security of email ballot returns. Verified Voting, a nonpartisan organization, warned that introducing electronic return methods could sow distrust in elections. Other bills discussed included measures to prevent polling place closures, reimburse municipalities for special election costs, and require the archiving of live-streamed election results. Read Article

Wisconsin fake electors trial set to start weeks before 2024 election | Molly Beck/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

A trial in a Wisconsin lawsuit over the actions of 10 Republicans who posed as electors for Donald Trump in the 2020 election will take place in September 2024, just weeks before the next presidential election. Two Wisconsin presidential electors filed the lawsuit seeking to penalize the group of Republicans who falsely represented themselves as members of the Electoral College. The plaintiffs are also seeking damages and want the defendants barred from becoming electors in the future. The lawsuit claims that the Republicans engaged in a conspiracy to defraud voters and played a role in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. The defendants are accused of violating laws governing Electoral College meetings and acting as if they held public offices they did not. The trial will determine the outcome of the case, which has implications for future elections. Read Article

Wisconsin: As voting has gotten harder, organizers have found ways to help | Matt Mencarini/Wisconsin Watch

Despite Wisconsin’s consistently high overall voter turnout, there is a growing concern about declining participation among Black, Hispanic, and lower-income voters. Factors such as closed polling locations and underfunding of elections contribute to this decline. The Cost of Voting Index indicates a link between increased voting difficulty and reduced participation, although the impact varies across different groups. Interestingly, when voting becomes more challenging, it motivates Black voters to come to the polls. The presence of community organizers and local organizations plays a vital role in mobilizing voters and building trust. Governor Tony Evers has proposed various voting-related changes to improve accessibility, such as automatic voter registration, but these proposals face opposition from Republicans. BLOC, an organization dedicated to political engagement and voter education, prioritizes community involvement and plays an active role beyond elections. Read Article