Some Wisconsinites expresses confusion surrounding new election rules
However, opponents of the amendment are concerned about the ambiguity. Attorneys, volunteers and clerks alike are attempting to answer what this new amendment will mean for future elections. In Wisconsin, only election officials designated by law can perform tasks related to elections. However, opponents are concerned about the ambiguity of this amendment. Michael Haas, Madison’s city attorney and former counsel for the Wisconsin Elections Commission, expressed concern about how elections will be able to run without vendors being required to be residents of the county. The amendment's author, Republican State Sen. Eric Wimberger, suggested that if people want to assist in elections, they should register as officials. However the state legislature has adjourned for the year, making it difficult to clarify the new amendment legislatively.
Published : 4 weeks ago by Vanessa Kjeldsen in Politics
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - Now in Wisconsin, only election officials designated by law can perform tasks related to elections. The constitutional amendment was passed by a majority of Wisconsin voters.
However, opponents of the amendment are concerned about the ambiguity. Attorneys, volunteers and clerks alike are attempting to answer what this new amendment will mean for future elections.
In an interview before the referendum passes, the amendment’s author, Republican State Sen. Eric Wimberger said if people want to help with elections, like volunteer organizations driving voter to the polls, they should get registered as officials.
“I think all [clerks] have to do is make them election officials,” Wimberger said. “I guess the idea would be that it wouldn’t be a private organization.”
Michael Haas, Madison’s city attorney and former counsel for the Wisconsin Elections Commission said there’s a lot of people involved in administering elections that are not election officials.
“We have a lot of vendors: could be a print shop that prints the ballots, a mailing house, a trucking company that transports the voting equipment,” Haas said. “All of those things you could say are tasks in an election because we cannot put on an election unless those tasks are completed.”
Haas said he’s concerned about how elections will be able to run, especially if vendors are now required to be residents of the county like election officials are, Haas said.
“How is it possible to comply with this constitutional provision and still conduct an election,” Haas said. “Do we have to bring all of that in-house to be completed by the clerk staff?”
When asked if bringing operations in-house would be feasible, Haas quickly replied, “Not at all. Not at all.”
Wimberger said the amendment could not be “too specific” in its language.
“There’s a whole lot of intent implied in all of this and while I’m not always happy with language that can have semantic overload,” Wimberger said. “I guess you could say it’s necessary in certain circumstances.”
Wisconsin’s legislature has adjourned for the year, making it difficult to clarify the new amendment legislatively, Haas said.
In a statement, the Wisconsin Elections Commission wrote, “The six bipartisan WEC Commissioners will determine whether further action is required with regard to the two Constitutional amendments. If it is, action would take place as part of an upcoming public meeting, likely after the two amendments are made official following the certification of the election.”
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