Racine broke election law, Wanggaard alleges

RACINE, Wis. – Wisconsin Point out Sen. Van Wanggaard submitted a grievance with the Wisconsin Elections Fee, accusing Racine of breaking election law – on election day.

The point out senator accuses the metropolis he represents of encouraging “ballot harvesting” by suggesting that one particular person can post ballots on behalf of other people today.

Wanggaard references a January 2022 Waukesha judge’s purchase, but at Racine Metropolis Hall, the clerk claimed that purchase does not go over any municipality, Racine bundled.

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“This is the variety of garbage that would make it challenging for persons to feel that it is really a good procedure,” Wanggaard explained.

Wanggaard factors to Racine’s voting website and a often asked query that says one particular individual can submit a further person’s ballot.

“The way they present it suggests any individual can do it. Any individual can go gather another person else’s ballot and bring it in. Nope, are unable to do that,” Wanggaard said.

The January 2022 order needed the Wisconsin Elections Fee to rescind its steerage on the use of fall packing containers. The choose also interpreted the law to examine that only the voter can post their very own ballot.

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“He can say what he’d like, but I am not a politician,” said Racine Clerk Tara Coolidge.

Coolidge said Racine is not certain by that purchase, nor is any other municipality, for the reason that the get was aimed at the Wisconsin Elections Fee. She pointed to the law’s exception that lets an authorized agent to submit a ballot on a voter’s behalf.

“I unquestionably consider a lot of this could be solved with chatting about factors, as an alternative of portraying items in the media and providing views, as a substitute of perhaps seeking lawful guidance and achieving out and possessing a great partnership about that,” mentioned Coolidge.

It is unclear if the Wisconsin Elections Fee will act on Wanggaard’s grievance. The Wisconsin Supreme Court docket could hear the challenge of drop bins and even further absentee ballot issues later on this yr.