Wisconsin election officials in Madison are launching an investigation after nearly 200 absentee ballots went uncounted in November’s election. While the uncounted ballots did not impact any results, the Wisconsin Elections Commission is looking into whether Madison City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl violated state law or abused her discretion.
During a recent meeting, commissioners expressed shock and frustration at the failure to count the ballots, with Chair Ann Jacobs criticizing Witzel-Behl’s lack of leadership and prompt action. The commission voted to authorize depositions of city employees, including Witzel-Behl, to gather more information about what happened.
The investigation revealed that 67 unprocessed absentee ballots were found in a security cart on the day election results were canvassed, and an additional 125 uncounted ballots were discovered in a sealed courier bag a few weeks later. The city clerk’s office did not notify county canvassers or the elections commission of the discoveries until late December.
Investigators also found holes in protocols, such as absentee ballot logs not listing the number of courier bags for each ward and a lack of procedures for confirming the number of absentee ballots received with the number counted.
Four Madison voters whose ballots were not counted have filed claims for $175,000 each from the city and Dane County, signaling a potential lawsuit.
The commission plans to call for changes to state election policy following the investigation, with a focus on preventing similar issues during future elections. City officials have expressed a commitment to uncovering the truth and addressing the problems identified in Madison’s election process.
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