Missing Absentee Ballots In Wisconsin Raise Election Integrity Concerns

Wisconsin election officials recently found nearly 200 absentee ballots that went uncounted after the November 2024 election. The ballots, discovered during post-election cleanup, were reported to the state election board on December 20. While officials assured that the oversight did not affect the election outcome, the discovery is troubling, raising questions about the robustness of the election process.

The City of Madison Clerk’s Office found the missing ballots in sealed carrier containers while conducting its post-election reconciliation. While the missing ballots did not change the outcome of any race, officials acknowledged the potential for this oversight to have had a different impact. As part of their response, the Clerk’s Office pledged to adopt new measures to prevent such mistakes in the future.

One of the measures being implemented is the verification of absentee ballot envelope seal numbers at polling locations on Election Day. This procedure will ensure that absentee ballots are properly accounted for, providing an extra layer of security and accountability to the voting process.

Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, who represents the city, expressed regret about the oversight. In a statement, she explained that the error was a significant departure from the high standards the city aims to uphold. Rhodes-Conway emphasized that a thorough review of election policies would take place to prevent this type of issue in the future.

This discovery of missing ballots raises broader questions about election integrity, a concern voiced by President Donald Trump after the 2020 election. While no conclusive evidence of widespread fraud was found, Trump’s advocacy for better election security remains relevant in light of incidents like this.

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