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Wisconsin Elections Commission Opens Madison Ballot Probe, Orders 23 Votes Excluded

The order underscores strict enforcement of the 8 p.m. absentee receipt rule over local discretion.

Overview

  • The commission opened an investigation into Madison after election workers counted 23 absentee ballots delivered to polling places after the 8 p.m. cutoff.
  • Commissioners voted 5-1 to proceed and directed the city to remove the ballots from the certified totals.
  • Madison’s clerk said the ballots were in city custody before the cutoff and reached four sites late because a final courier run finished after polls closed.
  • The clerk said she acted after consulting the city attorney, while commissioners split on principle as Don Millis warned against excusing errors and Mark Thomsen argued the votes should count.
  • The city must finalize revised results by May 15, even though the clerk says the voters did nothing wrong.