By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
PulseReporterPulseReporter
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Tech
  • Travel
  • Investigations
Reading: Wisconsin Elections Fee alleges former Madison clerk broke legal guidelines
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
PulseReporterPulseReporter
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Tech
  • Travel
  • Investigations
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
PulseReporter > Blog > Investigations > Wisconsin Elections Fee alleges former Madison clerk broke legal guidelines
Investigations

Wisconsin Elections Fee alleges former Madison clerk broke legal guidelines

Pulse Reporter
Last updated: July 9, 2025 9:57 pm
Pulse Reporter 18 hours ago
Share
Wisconsin Elections Fee alleges former Madison clerk broke legal guidelines
SHARE


Contents
Former clerk violated legal guidelines, gave contradictory statementsDraft findings embody a number of orders for Madison compliance

Studying Time: 4 minutes

Former Madison Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl violated a number of state legal guidelines when her workplace did not depend almost 200 absentee ballots within the 2024 presidential election, based on a draft report launched Wednesday by the Wisconsin Elections Fee. 

The fee cited a scarcity of management within the clerk’s workplace, referring each to Witzel-Behl and the deputy clerk who assumed management throughout her trip shortly after the election.

Witzel-Behl, who was placed on go away by town after the error after which resigned, broke state regulation by failing to oversee absentee poll dealing with, neglecting post-election processes, and by not coaching ballot staff to verify the baggage used to move ballots, the fee concluded.

“There isn’t a proof that the Metropolis Clerk took any steps to research the uncounted ballots as soon as they had been dropped at her consideration,” the fee wrote. “The proof demonstrates that the Metropolis Clerk started her trip on November 13 after which had little to do with the supervision of her workplace till nearly a month later.”

The draft report follows a months-long investigation into the 193 ballots that went lacking on Election Day. The ballots had been discovered over the following a number of weeks — a few of them earlier than remaining certification of outcomes — however had been by no means counted. Fee Chair Ann Jacobs, a Democrat, collectively led the investigation alongside Republican commissioner and former Chair Don Millis.

For months, Madison election officers have been saying that the ballots that went uncounted had been delivered to 2 polling websites however weren’t unopened. However the fee discovered no proof the poll baggage had been ever delivered. A chief inspector at one web site testified he was assured there was no unopened bag within the provide cart despatched to his ward.

The errors have already prompted vital adjustments in Madison’s election processes. Officers have overhauled poll monitoring procedures, which Madison and Dane County leaders say ought to stop a repeat of the 2024 mistake.

Nonetheless, the fee emphasised “it’s important that the general public understands what has occurred, in order that municipalities all through the state can overview their very own processes and make sure that they too don’t discover themselves on this very unlucky scenario.”

The fee’s sharp criticism prolonged past Witzel-Behl, noting that “the workers of the Metropolis Clerk’s workplace did not take any motion concerning these ballots.”

Deputy Clerk Jim Verbick mentioned that his post-election involvement was “minimal” and that he didn’t suppose it was his job to do something concerning the lacking ballots, the fee’s findings state.

“Nevertheless, he didn’t try to talk to the Metropolis Clerk concerning the matter,” the overview continues. “There was no one who took accountability for these ballots. It was at all times another person’s job.”

Madison Interim Clerk Mike Haas mentioned in a press release that town is reviewing WEC’s report and that he hopes that it could present classes that stop comparable errors sooner or later. He didn’t reply to a request for additional remark.

Former clerk violated legal guidelines, gave contradictory statements

The report targeted on lapses in coaching by the clerk’s workplace. For instance, it mentioned, Witzel-Behl saved absentee ballots in inexperienced courier baggage, however didn’t point out that in ballot employee coaching, and the baggage weren’t labeled as carrying absentee ballots. She additionally failed to coach ballot staff that absentee ballots is also saved in crimson safety carts, which the fee mentioned contributed to the ballots going uncounted. That lack of coaching broke state regulation, the fee said.

The fee additionally discovered that Witzel-Behl violated a regulation requiring her to oversee absentee poll dealing with. In her deposition, she “couldn’t reply primary questions on absentee poll dealing with procedures in her workplace.”

The fee’s report highlights contradictions between Witzel-Behl’s actions in workplace and deposition testimony. Though she claimed to not know concerning the uncounted ballots till December, the fee mentioned she messaged an election employee in late November with directions on find out how to deal with the primary batch of uncounted ballots.

Upon studying of the lacking ballots in November, the fee mentioned, Witzel-Behl ought to have alerted town lawyer, the County Board of Canvassers and the fee and instantly investigated her workplace’s procedures — however she didn’t.

The fee additionally alleged she violated legal guidelines by printing pollbooks too early, failing to supervise ballot staff and inadequately making ready for town’s overview of election outcomes.

Draft findings embody a number of orders for Madison compliance

The report lists draft suggestions that the commissioners will vote on at their July 17 assembly. These embody requiring the Madison Clerk’s Workplace to create a plan detailing which worker oversees which process; printing pollbooks no sooner than the Thursday earlier than every election; clearly labeling and monitoring the baggage carrying absentee ballots; checking all poll baggage and drop containers earlier than town finalizes election outcomes; and explaining the way it’s going to adjust to every of the orders.

Witzel-Behl’s workplace printed pollbooks for the 2 affected wards on Oct. 23 — almost two weeks earlier than Election Day — regardless of state steering to print them as near the election as doable.

Had they been printed later, absentee voters whose ballots had already been returned would have been marked mechanically, alerting ballot staff that these ballots had been in hand however not but counted. 

However printing pollbooks no sooner than the Thursday earlier than an election might be difficult, mentioned Claire Woodall, who was previously Milwaukee’s prime election official. Cities like Madison and Milwaukee should print tens of hundreds of pollbook pages, typically utilizing personal printers, and distribute them to chief inspectors.

“It looks as if you’re speeding a course of” with the Thursday requirement, Woodall mentioned. “The very last thing you need is for voters to point out up at 7 a.m. and uncover you don’t have the proper pollbook.”

Alexander Shur is a reporter for Votebeat primarily based in Wisconsin. Contact Shur at ashur@votebeat.org.

Votebeat is a nonprofit information group reporting on voting entry and election administration throughout the U.S. Join Votebeat Wisconsin’s free e-newsletter right here.

Creative Commons License

Republish our articles without cost, on-line or in print, beneath a Artistic Commons license.

You Might Also Like

Wisconsin US Senate race: Eric Hovde concedes defeat

Bogs’ carbon seize holds local weather resolution, however many are drained

Staffing woes, low Medicaid charges

Immigration officers wrongfully instructed Wisconsin man to go away the US

‘Equal to 18 million automobiles’: Environmental teams warn EU deforestation legislation delay will gas the local weather disaster

Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Previous Article Imagiyo AI picture generator | Mashable Imagiyo AI picture generator | Mashable
Next Article Hulu Docuseries Value Your Time Hulu Docuseries Value Your Time
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Weekly Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

More News

My favourite Bose QuietComfort headphones are majorly discounted for Prime Day. I take advantage of all of them day.
My favourite Bose QuietComfort headphones are majorly discounted for Prime Day. I take advantage of all of them day.
3 minutes ago
A luxurious resort in NYC is providing an in-house ‘Pup Psychic’ this summer time, with packages beginning at 0
A luxurious resort in NYC is providing an in-house ‘Pup Psychic’ this summer time, with packages beginning at $340
17 minutes ago
Kate Walsh Wears Revealing Paris Style Week Gown
Kate Walsh Wears Revealing Paris Style Week Gown
26 minutes ago
Worker AI agent adoption: Maximizing good points whereas navigating challenges
Worker AI agent adoption: Maximizing good points whereas navigating challenges
1 hour ago
23 Wild BTS Issues I Discovered About What It's Truly Like To Turn out to be A Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader In accordance To "America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders" On Netflix
23 Wild BTS Issues I Discovered About What It's Truly Like To Turn out to be A Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader In accordance To "America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders" On Netflix
1 hour ago

About Us

about us

PulseReporter connects with and influences 20 million readers globally, establishing us as the leading destination for cutting-edge insights in entertainment, lifestyle, money, tech, travel, and investigative journalism.

Categories

  • Entertainment
  • Investigations
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Tech
  • Travel

Trending

  • My favourite Bose QuietComfort headphones are majorly discounted for Prime Day. I take advantage of all of them day.
  • A luxurious resort in NYC is providing an in-house ‘Pup Psychic’ this summer time, with packages beginning at $340
  • Kate Walsh Wears Revealing Paris Style Week Gown

Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Service
  • Disclaimer
2024 © Pulse Reporter. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account