Wisconsin City Clerk Office Admits to Sending 2,200 Duplicate Ballots

Confirmation of Duplicate Ballots Sent

The City of Madison has confirmed that over 2,000 voters in Wisconsin’s capital city were sent duplicate absentee ballots, weeks before the November election. Madison city spokesperson Dylan Brogan admitted, “This was a mistake,” and added that the clerk’s office acted swiftly to rectify the situation.

Initial Announcement and Response

On September 23, the City of Madison initially reported that "around 2,000" duplicated ballots were sent to voters in the city. This prompted concerns from Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.), who sent a letter to the city clerk demanding answers about the number of duplicated ballots that were sent out.

Official Statement and Explanation

In response to Tiffany's letter, Madison City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl released a statement on September 25 confirming that 2,215 duplicate ballots were sent out in Madison. She attributed the error to a "simple data processing error" made by a city staff member. Witzel-Behl assured that no duplicate ballots have been returned and that measures have been taken to prevent a similar error in the future.

Clarification on Law Enforcement Involvement

Witzel-Behl also clarified that there was no criminal conduct involved in the incident, hence there was no reason to contact law enforcement. She acknowledged that "occasionally human errors" occur in elections and reassured that the city's staff works diligently to conduct elections in a professional, nonpartisan, and fair manner.

Previous Election Controversy

In the 2020 presidential election, election officials narrowly certified then-Democratic candidate Joe Biden as the winner over President Donald Trump in the battleground state. Two recount efforts were initiated across Wisconsin, including one involving Madison. Ultimately, the state certified Biden as the victor.

Call for Transparency and Accountability

In his letter, Tiffany referred to the 2020 election and claimed that Madison officials have a "history of controversial and legally dubious election practices." He stressed the importance of full transparency regarding the error and called for accountability from those responsible.

Rejection of Explanation and Call for Investigation

Tiffany posted a letter on social media, dated September 26, to the clerk’s office stating his rejection of her explanation for the sending of duplicated ballots. He called for an independent, third-party investigation to restore public trust.

Technical Explanation of the Error

City spokesman Brogan explained that the mistake occurred when two identical files were merged, resulting in a list with double the names and addresses. Up to 2,000 duplicate ballots in one ward were mailed before the error was detected and corrected. The clerk’s office has been contacting voters individually to inform them of the error and caution them to submit only one ballot.

Current Status of Absentee Ballots

As of September 23, Madison had sent 27,421 absentee ballots and none had been returned, according to the state elections commission. Brogan confirmed that none of the duplicate ballots had been returned since then.

Bottom Line

This incident highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in the electoral process. It also underscores the potential for human error in large-scale operations such as elections. What are your thoughts on this matter? Do you think an independent, third-party investigation is necessary to restore public trust? Share this article with your friends and let us know your views. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing which is everyday at 6pm.