The legislature has received thousands of
messages containing concerns and complaints about how the
Wisconsin presidential election was conducted. While I have a
great deal of faith in our elections laws, procedures, and
officials, I have a solemn duty to fully investigate these
allegations and ensure that all our laws were upheld.
Everyone deserves to know that their vote
counted and wasn’t made irrelevant by fraud or abuse.
The Assembly Committee on Campaigns and
Elections, on which I serve, has the power and responsibility to
investigate in detail how the election was carried out, bringing
election officials and voters forward to testify (under subpoena
if necessary) regarding any irregularities or illegal actions
they witnessed. I am in full support of such a thorough
investigation, as it is the only way we can assure the public
that the election was or was not conducted in a fair and legal
manner.
I expect this investigation to begin soon
after November 17, the deadline for Wisconsin counties to
complete their official vote counts and report them to the
state. Under Wisconsin law, a recount may also be requested at
this point by a campaign that came within one percent of winning
the election.
In the future, there may also be a request
by the legislature for
a detailed programmatic audit of our state elections procedures
by the non-partisan Legislative Audit
Bureau. I will be speaking with my colleagues on the
Legislature’s Joint Audit Committee about the potential options
for such an audit as we
move forward with our committee investigation.
If you personally witnessed or
experienced
anything irregular or illegal throughout the elections process,
please contact the legislature by emailing your
name, address, and phone number to
election.complaints@legis.wi.gov . While I
appreciate any thoughts and concerns you wish to express to me
about the election in general, please only use this email
address if you believe you directly witnessed criminal
or inappropriate behavior. Feel free to let us know if
you'd be willing to testify before the committee on this topic,
as well. Thank you.
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