In Madison, Wisconsin, the city’s mayor announced on Wednesday that the municipal clerk has been placed on leave pending an investigation into the omission of nearly 200 absentee ballots during the November election.
Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway stated the investigation was necessary to restore confidence in the clerk’s office, led by Maribeth Witzel-Behl, whom she suspended to ensure accuracy in the upcoming elections.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission is also looking into possible legal breaches by Witzel-Behl, despite the uncounted ballots not impacting any election outcomes.
Four residents have lodged claims for $175,000 each, the first move towards legal action against the city and Dane County.
During her suspension, Witzel-Behl will continue to receive her $152,300 salary, as confirmed by the mayor’s spokesperson.
The incident precedes the critical April 1st general election, featuring a key Supreme Court race that could sway the court’s ideological stance.
To manage the situation, City Attorney Michael Haas steps in as interim clerk, bringing experience from his previous roles with the state elections commission.
Reactions from legislative leaders remain muted, as questions about the suspension’s impact on election integrity go unanswered.
Election commission investigators revealed that 67 absentee ballots were discovered post-election in a courier bag, having been overlooked.
Despite Witzel-Behl’s directive to report this to the elections commission, the information was not relayed.
Another 125 ballots unearthed in December further complicate matters, though reporting lapses occurred due to assumptions about past responses. It was only on December 18 that the commission was briefed on either incident, after a reconciliation process aligned poll workers’ reports with voter counts.
On the same day, the elections commission passed a memo reinforcing best practices for ballot handling in future elections.
These guidelines aim to avoid repeat errors by ensuring thorough documentation, verifying material returns from polling stations, checking equipment for missed ballots, and promptly reporting discrepancies.
Commission Chair Ann Jacobs highlighted that while these protocols are standard, the memo consolidates them to enhance clarity and reinforce adherence.
