Over 2,000 duplicate ballots mistakenly sent out in Madison, Wisconsin spark calls for a thorough investigation by Representative Tom Tiffany, raising concerns about election integrity.
At a Glance
- Rep. Tom Tiffany demands answers and transparency regarding the issuance of duplicate absentee ballots.
- Over 2,000 duplicate ballots were sent due to a file-merging error in Madison.
- Madison officials claim safeguards prevent double voting and emphasize transparency.
- Potential ramifications for voter trust and election credibility.
Tiffany Calls for Investigation
Representative Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin has urged an exhaustive investigation into a clerical error that resulted in over 2,000 duplicate absentee ballots being issued to voters. Tiffany sent a letter to the City of Madison Clerk, Maribeth Witzel-Behl, requesting detailed information on the incident and immediate steps taken to rectify the situation.
The letter demands transparency and accountability, highlighting past controversial election practices. According to Tiffany, this error not only endangers voter trust but also the credibility of the electoral results. Tiffany has called for an independent investigation to restore public confidence in the election system.
The error was discovered when approximately 2,000 duplicate ballots were sent due to a file-merging error during data processing. Tiffany pointed out that the issue was initially reported to affect only one ward but later confirmed to impact 2,215 voters across ten wards. This discrepancy adds to the urgency of resolving the situation transparently.
⏰It's been over 24 hours, and my office is still waiting on a response from the Madison Clerk’s Office regarding duplicate absentee ballots.
What started as a problem in 1 ward now spans at least 10.
These inconsistencies deserve answers and an independent investigation. pic.twitter.com/GAfJiYQKRH
— Rep. Tom Tiffany (@RepTiffany) September 25, 2024
Madison’s Response and Safeguards
Madison’s City Communications Director, Dylan Brogan, emphasized the city’s commitment to transparency and the safeguards in place to prevent double voting. Brogan assured, “The City of Madison really prides itself on being extremely transparent in our election administration,” and noted that each absentee ballot has unique barcodes, ensuring they can only be scanned once.
“On the day we found out a clerical error occurred, we immediately reached out to voters,” Brogan said. The City Clerk’s Office contacted voters who received duplicate ballots, instructing them to destroy one of the duplicates. The safeguards, including marking received ballots in a poll book, were reiterated to reassure the voters.
Wisconsin Republican calls for investigation into 2,000 duplicate ballots that went out in Madison https://t.co/aGGuRva83o
— Just the News (@JustTheNews) September 26, 2024
Political and Historical Context
This incident is particularly significant considering Wisconsin’s critical role in recent elections. President Biden won Wisconsin by fewer than 21,000 votes in 2020, a state recognized for its pivotal swing state status. Past occurrences like the absentee-ballot reporting mistake in Milwaukee have raised concerns, although allegations of fraud were later disproven by audits.
While Madison assures that this error was an isolated human mistake with no criminal conduct, Tiffany remains adamant about the necessity for independent scrutiny to prevent future occurrences.
Tiffany’s push for an investigation aligns with ongoing absentee voting in Wisconsin, which began last week, and in-person early voting is set to commence on Oct. 22. The city’s efforts to rectify the error swiftly and ensure one ballot per voter underscore the need for continued vigilance in election processes.
Yesterday, the City of Madison Clerk admitted to an “error” that resulted in thousands of duplicate absentee ballots being mailed.
Wisconsinites deserve transparency and answers.
How was the error discovered, what ward(s) were impacted, and who is responsible for the error? pic.twitter.com/COsXh86TLl
— Rep. Tom Tiffany (@RepTiffany) September 24, 2024
Restoring Public Confidence
City spokesperson Dylan Brogan confirmed that the error was promptly addressed, reiterating the clerk’s office’s dedication to ensuring transparent and accurate election administration. Brogan stated, “Our staff works incredibly hard to conduct elections in a professional, nonpartisan and fair manner and works to continually assess and improve our processes.”
“In closing, I would simply note that elections are conducted by humans and occasionally human error occurs. When errors occur, we own up to them, correct them as soon as possible, and are transparent about them – precisely as we have done here,” said the City of Madison in a response to Tiffany’s letter.
The City Clerk’s Office has preserved all related records as per Wisconsin’s Open Records law and City of Madison records retention policy. Despite the assurances from Madison officials, Tiffany’s demand for a thorough investigation seeks to ensure no further discrepancies arise, thereby bolstering the integrity of future elections.
Sources
1. Wisconsin Officials Apologize After Mailing Out Duplicate Ballots
2. Response to Rep. Tiffany’s Letter to the Madison Clerk’s Office
3. Absentee voting off to rough start in Wisconsin city as clerical error blamed for duped ballots
