TOWN OF SUMMIT — Voters within the city of Summit received’t have a say about who strikes on to the November election within the Wisconsin Meeting race.
On Tuesday, Aug. 13, the Douglas County Clerk’s Workplace realized a couple of mistake involving the ballots within the city of Summit, which has about 700 registered voters.
Shortly after the polls opened Tuesday, the clerk grew to become conscious that each one in-person and absentee ballots for the city contained candidates for the incorrect district within the Wisconsin Meeting. Summit is within the 74th District, which has a contested Republican main, however the ballots embody the candidates for the 73rd District, which has a contested Democratic main.
Summit has historically voted within the 73rd District, however new legislative maps adopted earlier this yr shifted Summit into the 74th District.
All different races on the poll and all different ballots are appropriate, County Clerk Kaci Lundgren mentioned.
Lundgren mentioned corrected ballots received’t be issued as a result of there’s not sufficient time to print new ballots and have them delivered in sooner or later. The ballots containing the incorrect Meeting candidates have been circulating for weeks and voting gear has been programmed and examined with the incorrect info.
After Election Day, Lundgren mentioned Wisconsin legislation will seemingly forestall Summit’s votes in Meeting District 73 from being counted and it’s unlikely that Summit voters is not going to get an opportunity to vote within the District 74 main race.
Wisconsin Elections Fee Administrator Meagan Wolfe addressed the difficulty Tuesday throughout media availability.
“This morning, the Douglas County Clerk’s Workplace reported to us that they realized of a mistake involving ballots within the city of Summit,” Wolfe mentioned. “… Our understanding is the city of Summit voters don’t have to do something. They don’t want to vary their voting plans. They need to proceed to the polls as regular.”
Wolfe mentioned will probably be as much as the Douglas County and Summit clerks and boards of canvassers to determine how the votes within the Meeting race are thought of. She mentioned state legislation doesn’t present a roadmap to find out what occurs when errors like this are made.
The fee’s authority wouldn’t come into play until some type of criticism had been filed, Wolfe mentioned. Until that occurs, it’s a native determination, she mentioned.
Scott Harbridge, one of many Republican candidates operating for the 74th District, mentioned he was contacted by the county clerk and Wisconsin Elections Fee in regards to the error.
“I used to be advised that they’d work out proceed,” Harbridge mentioned. “I’m involved as a result of if the race is shut and the outcomes are launched, how would you will have a good election for the township of Summit at a later date realizing the vote counts?”
Harbridge mentioned he hopes a particular election can be held if the result of Tuesday’s election is shut.
Lundgren mentioned the County Clerk’s Workplace sincerely regrets the error, and voters are inspired to name her workplace with questions.
“My workplace is dedicated to transparency and accuracy,” Lundgren mentioned. “Our protocols might be completely reviewed and any procedures which can be recognized that might remove any such error sooner or later might be carried out.”
This story was up to date at 5:25 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13 with feedback from the Wisconsin Election Fee administrator. It was initially posted at 3:46 p.m. Tuesday.
Shelley Nelson is a reporter with the Duluth Media Group since 1997, and has lined Superior and Douglas County communities and authorities for the Duluth Information Tribune from 1999 to 2006, and the Superior Telegram since 2006. Contact her at 715-395-5022 or [email protected].
