TOWN OF SUMMIT — Voters within the city of Summit gained’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 discovered 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 turned conscious that every one in-person and absentee ballots for the city contained candidates for the improper district within the Wisconsin Meeting. Summit is within the 74th District, which has a contested Republican major, however the ballots embody the candidates for the 73rd District, which has a contested Democratic major.
Summit has historically voted within the 73rd District, however new legislative maps adopted earlier this 12 months 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 gained’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 improper Meeting candidates have been circulating for weeks and voting gear has been programmed and examined with the wrong data.
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 major 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 discovered of a mistake involving ballots within the city of Summit,” Wolfe mentioned. “… Our understanding is the city of Summit voters don’t must do something. They don’t want to alter 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 resolve 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 except some sort of criticism have been filed, Wolfe mentioned. Until that occurs, it’s a native choice, she mentioned.
Scott Harbridge, one of many Republican candidates working 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 instructed that they might work out how you can proceed,” Harbridge mentioned. “I’m involved as a result of if the race is shut and the outcomes are launched, how would you may 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 end 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 will likely be completely reviewed and any procedures which can be recognized that would get rid of this sort of error sooner or later will likely 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 coated 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].
