Over the past several years, election officials have been forced to adjust to rapid changes in election administration. Among other things, they had to adjust after a court ruling banned absentee ballot drop boxes, and they administered the 2020 presidential election during a pandemic.
kAmpD E96 a_ac 6=64E:@? 4J4=6 2AAC@2496D[ (:D4@?D:?’D `[g__ =@42= 4=6C<D 2C6 282:? DE66=:?8 7@C =2DE\>:?FE6 4@FCE CF=:?8D 2?5 4=2:>D E92E 6=64E:@?D 2C6 C:8865 56DA:E6 ?@ 6G:56?46 @7 H:56DAC625 7C2F5]k^Am
kAm“xE’D AC65:4E23:=:EJ E92E =@42= 6=64E:@? @77:4:2=D 4C2G6[” D2:5 &(\|25:D@? A@=:E:42= D4:6?46 AC@76DD@C q2CCJ qFC56?] “%96J H2?E E@ <?@H H92E E96 CF=6D 2C6[ H92E C6D@FC46D E96J 92G6 2?5 H96? E96 6=64E:@?D 2C6 92AA6?:?8[ 2?5 E96? E96:C ;@3 :D E@ 6I64FE6 E96>] p?5 E92E 364@>6D 2 >F49 >@C6 5:77:4F=E ;@3 :7 E9:?8D 2C6 492?8:?8]”k^Am
kAm~?6 4=6C< =:<6?65 25>:?:DE6C:?8 6=64E:@?D E@ E96 A2:? 2?5 6G6?EF2= C6H2C5 @7 8:G:?8 3:CE9] p?@E96C E@=5 E96 (:D4@?D:? $E2E6 y@FC?2= E92E 6=64E:@?D 92G6 364@>6 E96 H@CDE A2CE @7 96C ;@3] *6E 2?@E96C D2:5 A@=:4J :?DE23:=:EJ 2?5 6=64E:@? 5:DAFE6D 2C6 D:>A=J E96 ?6H ?@C>2=]k^Am
kAm“%9@D6 E92E 92G6 DE2J65 :? :E 2C6 7F==J 6IA64E:?8 E92E H96? J@F 92G6 EH@ A2CE:6D D@ 5:G:565[ @FC ;@3[ H96? :E 4@>6D E@ 6=64E:@?D[ :D 8@:?8 E@ 36 5@?6 @? D9:7E:?8 D2?5D[ 2?5 E92E’D ~z[” D2:5 {@C6?2 #26 $E@EE=6C[ E96 4=6C<\EC62DFC6C @7 y2?6DG:==6]k^Am
kAm|6282? (@=76[ E96 DE2E6’D 6>32EE=65 ?@?A2CE:D2? 6=64E:@? 25>:?:DEC2E:@?[ D2:5 =2DE >:?FE6\492?86D E@ 6=64E:@? =2HD 2C6 ?@E ?646DD2C:=J ?6H] u@C 6I2>A=6[ E96 (:D4@?D:? $FAC6>6 r@FCE CF=65 @?6 >@?E9 367@C6 E96 pF8] h AC:>2CJ E92E 23D6?E66 32==@E 5C@A 3@I6D 4@F=5 ?@ =@?86C 36 FD65]k^Am
kAm$:?46 E96?[ =:36C2=D 92G6 E2<6? 2 c\b >2;@C:EJ @? E96 4@FCE 2?5 4@F=5 @G6CEFC? E92E 2?5 @E96C CF=:?8D]k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^?6HD^DE2E6\C68:@?2=^8@G6C?>6?E\A@=:E:4D^H:D4@?D:?\G@E:?8\CF=6D\=2HDF:E^2CE:4=60bbfe64_e\af5b\``66\2c_4\e7_a22c67bbf]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm~?6 =2HDF:Ek^2m 7:=65 3J @?6 E96 ?2E:@?’D =2C86DE s6>@4C2E:4 @C82?:K2E:@?D 492==6?86D (:D4@?D:?’D C6BF:C6>6?E E92E C6EFC?65 23D6?E66 32==@ED >FDE 4@>6 H:E9 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^8@GE\2?5\A@=:E:4D^?6H\=2HDF:E\D2JD\H:D4@?D:?\4=6C<D\D9@F=5\2446AE\32==@ED\H:E9\A2CE:2=\H:E?6DD\255C6DD6D^2CE:4=605ch676de\e__3\d`6e\h6_f\5`643c5da735]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmG2=:5 H:E?6DD D:8?2EFC6k^2mj E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^8@GE\2?5\A@=:E:4D^DA=:E\H:D4@?D:?\DFAC6>6\4@FCE\CF=6D\5C@A\3@I6D\2C6\:==682=\G@E6CD\>FDE\>2:=\@C\92?5\56=:G6C^2CE:4=60dafa47hd\gfb7\d5a`\3d7e\hdd7_573dhaa]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm(:D4@?D:? $FAC6>6 r@FCE’D a_aa CF=:?8 E92E F?>2??65 23D6?E66 32==@E 5C@A 3@I6D 2C6 :==682=k^2mj 2?5 DE2E6 =2H D6EE:?8 2? g A]>] t=64E:@? s2J 5625=:?6 7@C H96? G@E6CD 42? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^8@GE\2?5\A@=:E:4D^;F586\FA9@=5D\CF=:?8\32CC:?8\4=6C<D\7C@>\7:I:?8\6CC@CD\@?\23D6?E66\32==@ED\:?\H:D4@?D:?^2CE:4=606d7g53e2\de75\d_65\ha72\ab474d`7b4gc]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm“4FC6” @C 4@CC64E 6CC@CD @? E96:C 23D6?E66 32==@EDk^2m]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^c73gf`_a\db_d\``66\g_da\7bb`c_ae5d3aQmy@D9 z2F=i $6?2E6 #6AF3=:42?D V3=2E2?E=J :8?@C65V DE2E6 =2H :? G@E6 E@ 7:C6 (:D4@?D:?VD E@A 6=64E:@? @77:4:2=k^2mk^Am
kAm}2E2=:6 |68@H[ E96 !@J?6EE6 G:==286 4=6C<[ D2:5 E96 A@E6?E:2= @7 DF556? 492?86 “5@6D?’E FAD6E >6 2D >F49 2D :E FD65 E@[ 3642FD6 :E’D 364@>6 E96 ?6H ?@C>2=] qFE :E 86ED DEC6DD7F= H96? :E 86ED 4=@D6 E@ 2? 6=64E:@?]”k^Am
kAm|68@H 25565 E92E A@=:4J :?DE23:=:EJ 92D =65 E@ >@C6 C6D:56?ED 42==:?8 96C 3642FD6 E96J 5@?’E F?56CDE2?5 E96 C2A:5=J 492?8:?8 G@E:?8 CF=6D]k^Am
kAm$:>:=2C=J[ $E@EE=6C[ E96 y2?6DG:==6 4=6C<[ D2:5 D96’D >@C6 252AE23=6 E@ 492?86D E92? D96 FD65 E@ 36[ 255:?8 E92E =2DE\>:?FE6 492?86D 2C6 DE:== 492@E:4]k^Am
kAm{@@>:?8 =2C86[ E@@[ 2C6 A@E6?E:2= 492?86D E@ (:D4@?D:?’D =68:D=2E:G6 3@F?52C:6D[ H9:49 2C6 C682C565 2D D@>6 @7 E96 >@DE 86CCJ>2?56C65 :? E96 ?2E:@?]k^Am
kAms2JD 27E6C =:36C2= yFDE:46 y2?6E !C@E2D:6H:4K ;@:?65 E96 DE2E6 $FAC6>6 r@FCE :? pF8FDE[ =:36C2=D 7:=65 EH@ =2HDF:ED 5:C64E=J H:E9 E96 DE2E6’D 9:89 4@FCE 2==68:?8 E96 4FCC6?E =68:D=2E:G6 3@F?52C:6D G:@=2E6 E96 DE2E6 r@?DE:EFE:@? 2?5 D66<:?8 ?6H >2AD]k^Am
kAmt2C=:6C E9:D >@?E9[ pDD6>3=J #6AF3=:42?D F?G6:=65 2?5 G@E65 @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^?6HD^DE2E6\C68:@?2=^8@G6C?>6?E\A@=:E:4D^H:D4@?D:?\2DD6>3=J\C65:DEC:4E:?8^2CE:4=60e_2dfebg\c5h2\``66\36_6\hfaf6ehgbhch]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm72DE\EC24<65 =68:D=2E:@?k^2m E92E H@F=5 D9:7E (:D4@?D:? 4=@D6C E@ 2 ?@?A2CE:D2? C65:DEC:4E:?8 AC@46DD >F49 =:<6 x@H2’D >@56=] pDD6>3=J $A62<6C #@3:? '@D D2:5 E96 >62DFC6 — H9:49 s6>@4C2ED D2J E96J DFAA@CE :? AC:?4:A=6 3FE @AA@D6 :? E9:D 42D6 3642FD6 E96J D2J E96 CF=6D 2C6 DE:== C:8865 :? #6AF3=:42?D’ 72G@C — 4@F=5 <66A E96 C65:DEC:4E:?8 AC@46DD @FE @7 E96 DE2E6’D =:36C2= >2;@C:EJ 9:89 4@FCE]k^Am
kAmx7 ?6H 3@F?52C:6D 2C6 @C56C65 367@C6 E96 a_ac 6=64E:@?[ (@=76 D2:5 DE2E6 @77:4:2=D H:== ?665 E@ AC@G:56 E96 (:D4@?D:? t=64E:@?D r@>>:DD:@? H:E9 2>A=6 E:>6 E@ :?AFE G@E6C 255C6DD :?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 4C62E6 5:DEC:4E\ 2?5 H2C5\DA64:7:4 32==@ED]k^Am
kAm“(96C6 J@FC 255C6DD :D[ 2?5 6I24E=J H96C6 E92E A:? 7@C J@FC 255C6DD :D A=2465 @? E96 >2A :? C6=2E:@? E@ E96 5:DEC:4E 2?5 3@F?52CJ =:?6D[ 56E6C>:?6D H92E 32==@E J@F 86E[” (@=76 D2:5] “$@ J@F >:89E ?@E 92G6 E96 D2>6 32==@E 2D J@FC ?6:893@C ?6IE 5@@C @C 24C@DD E96 DEC66E]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^5caagfb_\dab4\``66\g3a5\gbfd2`d465adQm#6AF3=:42? C65:DEC:4E:?8 AC@A@D2= ?@E BF:E6 H92E s6>@4C2E:4 =2H>2<6CD 2D<65 7@Ck^2mk^Am
kAm(@=76 D2:5 D96 5:5?’E 92G6 2? 6DE:>2E6 7@C 9@H =@?8 DF49 2 AC@46DD H@F=5 E2<6 3FE D2:5 :E 4@F=5 56A6?5 @? 9@H >F49 3@F?52C:6D F=E:>2E6=J 492?86]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 2 C62==J 4@>A=:42E65 AC@46DD 2?5 E96 DE2<6D 2C6 C62==J 9:89 — J@F 42?’E >2<6 2 >:DE2<6 W2?5 D6?5X D@>63@5J E96 HC@?8 32==@E[” (@=76 D2:5[ 255:?8 E92E 244FC24J :? E92E AC@46DD :D A2C2>@F?E]k^Am
kAm“(6 42? E2<6 E96 52E2[ 3FE E92E’D ?@E 6?@F89[” (@=76 4@?E:?F65] “(6 ?665 6?@F89 E:>6 E@ 244FC2E6=J :>A=6>6?E :E 2?5 H@C< H:E9 2== E96 =@42=D E@ >2<6 DFC6 E92E 6G6CJ D:?8=6 G@E6C :D AFE :? E96 C:89E DA@E]”k^Am
k9bmt=64E:@? 56?:2=k^9bm
kAmq6J@?5 A@E6?E:2==J 492?8:?8 =2HD[ 6=64E:@? @77:4:2=D 24C@DD E96 DE2E6 2C6 DE:== 724:?8 72==@FE @G6C v~! 4C:E:4:D> @7 E96 a_a_ 6=64E:@?[ H9:49 92D 7@4FD65 =2C86=J @? A2?56>:4\C6=2E65 492?86D >256 3J E96 3:A2CE:D2? (:D4@?D:? t=64E:@?D r@>>:DD:@? 2?5 5C:G6? 3J @?8@:?8 2?5 32D6=6DD 4=2:>D @7 7C2F5[ >@DE ?@E23=J 3J 7@C>6C !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A]k^Am
kAm%96 #6AF3=:42? 5:DECFDE @7 6=64E:@?D 42>6 E@ 2 9625 62C=:6C E9:D >@?E9 H:E9 $6?2E6 #6AF3=:42?D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^?6HD^DE2E6\C68:@?2=^8@G6C?>6?E\A@=:E:4D^>6282?\H@=76\7:C65\D6?2E6\C6AF3=:42?D\H:D4@?D:?^2CE:4=60c73gf`_a\db_d\``66\g_da\7bb`c_ae5d3a]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmG@E:?8 E@ 7:C6 (@=76k^2m] %96 DE2E6 s6A2CE>6?E @7 yFDE:46 :>>65:2E6=J DF65[ 2?5 (@=76 92D A=65865 E@ 4@?E:?F6 :? 96C C@=6 A6?5:?8 2 4@FCE 564:D:@?]k^Am
kAmq67@C6 E96 G@E6[ $6?2E6 |2;@C:EJ {6256C s6G:? {6|29:6F[ #\~@DE3FC8[ D2:5 C6;64E:?8 (@=76’D ?@>:?2E:@? C6AC6D6?E65 “E96 =24< @7 72:E9” 2>@?8 D@>6 :? (:D4@?D:?’D 6=64E:@?D[ 5F6 :? A2CE E@ 24E:@?D E2<6? 3J (@=76 2?5 E96 3:A2CE:D2? 4@>>:DD:@?]k^Am
kAm(@=76 5:D>:DD65 E92E 4=2:>]k^Am
kAm“x7 x 925 E96 23:=:EJ E@ =62G6 2?5 E2<6 2H2J 2== E96 D<6AE:4:D> 2C@F?5 E96 6=64E:@? DJDE6> :? (:D4@?D:? 2?5 >2<6 A6@A=6 2== 92G6 4@?7:56?46 :? E96 DJDE6>[ x H@F=5 5@ E92E :? 2 962CE362E[” (@=76 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“%92E D2:5[ x 5@?’E E9:?< E92E :D ECF6[” (@=76 4@?E:?F65] “x E9:?< D<6AE:4:D>[ =24< @7 ECFDE[ 72=D6 4=2:>D[ H@F=5 ;FDE 36 EC2?D76CC65 E@ 2?@E96C 6=64E:@? @77:4:2=] &?7@CEF?2E6=J x 5@?’E E9:?< E96C6’D 2 H2J 7@C >6 E@ ;FDE 23D@C3 2== @7 E92E 2?5 E2<6 :E 2H2J 7C@> @FC DE2E6]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^7e`a7ah2\d`22\``66\37_g\hbda`g43ede_QmVq@8FDVi v@G] %@?J tG6CD C6;64ED DFCAC:D6 #6AF3=:42? AC@A@D2= 7@C ?@?A2CE:D2? C65:DEC:4E:?8 AC@46DDk^2mk^Am
kAmr=6C<D 24C@DD E96 DE2E6 92G6 6IAC6DD65 DFAA@CE 7@C (@=76]k^Am
kAm“pD D@>63@5J H9@ 92D D6CG65 @? G2C:@FD 7656C2= 4@>>:EE66D[ E96 (:D4@?D:? 6=64E:@? >@56= 92D DE@@5 E9C@F89 D@>6 AC6EEJ 6IEC6>6 E6DE:?8[” $E@EE=6C D2:5] “p?5 D@ H:E9 @C H:E9@FE E96 DE23:=:EJ @7 E96 4@>>:DD:@?[ H6 92G6 366? 8:G6? C6D@FC46D E92E H6 H:== 36 ~z] qFE x H@F=5 AC676C E92E E96C6 36 2 D@=:5 DECF4EFC6 :? A=246] p?5[ J@F <?@H[ >J A6CD@?2= AC676C6?46 … :D E92E |6282? =625D E9C@F89 ?6IE J62C]”k^Am
kAm%CF>A[ H9@ 7246D >F=E:A=6 :?5:4E>6?ED[ :?4=F5:?8 7@C 9:D :?G@=G6>6?E :? E96 6G6?ED =625:?8 FA E@ E96 y2?] e[ a_a`[ :?DFCC64E:@? 2E E96 ?2E:@?’D r2A:E@=[ :D 6IA64E65 E@ 36 @? E96 32==@E 282:? ?6IE J62C :? 2 A@DD:3=6 C6>2E49 H:E9 !C6D:56?E y@6 q:56?[ H9@ 56762E65 9:> :? (:D4@?D:? 3J a`[___ G@E6D :? a_a_]k^Am
kAm%CF>A’D 72=D6 4=2:>D 23@FE E96 6=64E:@? 4@?E:?F6 E@ 5C:G6 D@>6 #6AF3=:42?D E@ C6>2:? 5:DECFDE7F= @7[ 2>@?8 @E96C E9:?8D[ E96 D64FC:EJ @7 G@E:?8 >249:?6D[ 56DA:E6 >F=E:A=6 C6G:6HD 7:?5:?8 ?@ 6G:56?46 @7 7C2F5 @C H:56DAC625 6CC@CD C6DF=E:?8 7C@> FD6 @7 E96 >249:?6 E23F=2E@CD]k^Am
kAm%92E 5@F3E 6I:DED :? ?@CE962DE6C? u=@C6?46 r@F?EJ[ H96C6 u=@C6?46 E@H? 4=6C< $96==J '2? !6>3C@@< 3682? 4@F?E:?8 32==@ED 3J 92?5 :? 255:E:@? E@ FD:?8 G@E:?8 >249:?6D E@ 2==6G:2E6 >2?J E@H? C6D:56?ED’ 4@?46C?D 23@FE E96 6=64EC@?:4 E23F=2E@CD]k^Am
kAm“t=64E:@?D 92G6 364@>6 @?6 @7 E96 H@CDE A2CED @7 E9:D ;@3[” D96 D2:5] “xE’D E96 2EE:EF56 @7 E96 A6@A=6 E92E ;FDE 5@?’E ECFDE 2?JE9:?8]”k^Am
kAmp3@FE #6AF3=:42?D’ 2EE6>AE E@ @FDE (@=76[ '2? !6>3C@@< D2:5[ “x’> G6CJ 5:D2AA@:?E65] x E9@F89E |6282? 5:5 2 G6CJ 8@@5 ;@3 H@C<:?8 H:E9 FD 4=6C<D 2?5 AC@G:5:?8 8F:52?46 2?5 :?7@C>2E:@? ]]] x 766= :E H2D F?;FDE:7:65]”k^Am
kAm%9@F89 4=6C<D 6IA64E E96 FA4@>:?8 6=64E:@? 4J4=6 E@ 36 DEC6DD7F=[ =@?8E:>6 4=6C<D H9@ 92G6 DE2J65 :? E96:C ;@3D 92G6 86?6C2==J D2:5 E96 25565 H@C<=@25 :D H@CE9 :E] $E@EE=6C =:<6?65 H@C<:?8 6=64E:@?D E@ E96 A2:? 2?5 A2J@77 @7 8:G:?8 3:CE9]k^Am
kAm“(96? J@F 7:CDE 92G6 2 323J[ :E’D E96 H@CDE E9:?8 6G6C] *@F’C6 ?6G6C 5@:?8 :E 282:? F?E:= J@F 9@=5 E92E AC64:@FD 49:=5 2?5 E96? J@F 8@[ ‘~9[ >2J36 x’== 5@ E9:D 282:?[’” D96 D2:5] “t=64E:@?D 2C6 <:?5 @7 =:<6 E92E[ H96C6 E96 @FE4@>6 2?5 E96 AC:56 E92E 4@>6D H:E9 92G:?8 2 A2CE :? DF49 2 4CF4:2= A2CE @7 @FC D@4:6EJ[ J@F DE2CE E@ D66 E96 8@@5 282:?[ 2?5 J@F <?@H E92E :E’D 2 8@@5 2?5 ?@3=6 42C66C E@ 92G6]”k^Am
An overview of elections administration in Wisconsin.
Let's take a look at how we maintain security and integrity with all of our elections.
The ins-and-outs of voter processes like registering to vote and requesting a ballot to vote absentee.
See what it is like to go to the polls and vote.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission put together the following series of instructional videos and accompanying lesson plans for use in high sch…
Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox!
Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
