AR18: Resolution Text

AR18,,44 How Wolfe mishandled the return of absentee ballot applications paralleled her maladministration of absentee ballot returns. In the Teigen case, the Wisconsin Supreme Court addressed the delivery of absentee ballots and emphasized that Wisconsin law did not allow agents or anyone other than the elector to submit an elector’s absentee ballot directly to a clerk’s office. Similarly, Wisconsin law did not permit a family member or agent to submit an elector’s absentee ballot application directly to a clerk’s office, as Administrator Wolfe allowed.

AR18,,45 The court noted that the guidance provided by Administrator Wolfe in the March 2020 memo was contrary to Wis. Stat. § 6.87 (4) (b) 1., similar to the situation with absentee ballot applications. Wis. Stat. § 6.86 (1) (a) 2. required a person-to-person exchange between the elector submitting an absentee ballot application and the clerk or the clerk’s authorized representative. The court reaffirmed that absentee ballots could only be returned through two authorized methods: mailing by the voter to the municipal clerk or personal delivery by the voter to the municipal clerk. Therefore, Administrator Wolfe’s memos advising otherwise conflicted with the law and were rightly void.

AR18,,46 Article 9. Administrator Wolfe’s Inadequate Absentee Ballot Request Web Page and Violation of Wisconsin Election Law

AR18,,47 Administrator Wolfe’s absentee ballot request web page potentially facilitated ballot maladministration and contradicts Wisconsin election law requirements.

AR18,,48 On July 26, 2022, Harry Wait, the President of HOT Government, made absentee ballot requests on behalf of Wisconsin House Speaker Robin Vos, Racine Mayor Cory Mason, and several other registered Wisconsin voters. Mr. Wait intended to demonstrate the ease with which one person could request absentee ballots using the names of other voters without any intention of actually casting these ballots. Mr. Wait openly confessed to this practice in emails to various authorities, drawing state and national attention to the flaws in the WisVote system’s absentee ballot mailing process.

AR18,,49 Wisconsin Statute § 6.86 outlines six “methods for obtaining an absentee ballot,” all of which require “proof of identification,” with a few exceptions. Following Mr. Wait’s public disclosure of absentee ballot requests on behalf of others, the WEC sent confirmation postcards to voters who had requested absentee ballots to new addresses. This action by WEC tacitly acknowledges the flaws in the WisVote absentee ballot request process.

AR18,,50 Had Administrator Wolfe mandated that WisVote request proof of identification, as required by law, Mr. Wait would not have been able to obtain absentee ballots in other people’s names, and WEC would not have needed to send out confirmation cards. The underlying issue lies in mailing absentee ballots without prior proof of identification, which underscores the importance of such verification in preventing voter fraud.

AR18,,51 WEC currently provides an online form on its web page, allowing voters to submit their names, addresses, and birth dates to request an absentee ballot. However, Wis. Stat. § 6.86 specifies six methods to obtain an absentee ballot, none of which state that WisVote’s absentee ballot form is a lawful method for application. Wis. Stat. § 6.86 also requires voters to direct their absentee ballot requests to their municipal clerk, not WEC.

AR18,,52 The Wisconsin Supreme Court has previously ruled that Administrator Wolfe lacked the authority to establish a law allowing citizens to use ballot drop boxes to return their absentee ballots. Wis. Stat. § 6.86 allows an absent elector to make a written application to their municipal clerk for an official ballot but does not grant WEC the authority to serve as an intermediary in the absentee ballot application process. Administrator Wolfe apparently established WEC’s absentee voting application method, potentially enabling absentee voters to circumvent Wisconsin’s proof of identification requirement.

AR18,,53 When Mr. Wait submitted absentee ballot requests using others’ names, none of these requests were legitimate because WEC lacked the legal authority to establish the WisVote absentee ballot request form. Consequently, WEC now seeks charges against Mr. Wait for conduct made possible only due to Administrator Wolfe’s maladministration.

AR18,,54 Article 10. Administrator Wolfe’s Maladministration of Addressing Accessibility Issues at Racine’s Mobile Polling Place

AR18,,55 Administrator Wolfe failed to address accessibility concerns at Racine’s mobile polling place, which was funded by Zuckerberg/CTCL and used in two elections.

AR18,,56 On March 24, 2022, members of HOT Government, Sandy Weidner, and Sandra Morris, lodged a complaint with the WEC regarding the Racine mobile polling location—a converted recreational vehicle (RV) purchased by the city with funding from Zuckerberg/CTCL. The complaint highlighted that the RV did not provide full accessibility to every disabled person, a requirement mandated by Wis. Stat. § 5.25 (4) (a), which states that “Each polling place shall be accessible to all individuals with disabilities.”

AR18,,57 In response to the complaint, Racine Clerk Tara Coolidge contended that a bell had been placed outside the mobile polling location’s door, which could be used by voters physically unable to enter the RV. Racine suggested that the bell constituted a “reasonable accommodation” for those unable to access the vehicle. However, the law governing handicap accessibility at polling places is categorical and cannot be met merely by placing a bell outside the entrance. The law explicitly states, “Each polling place shall be accessible to all individuals with disabilities.”

AR18,,58 Additionally, WEC requires a Polling Place Accessibility Survey to be conducted for each new polling place, a requirement that had not been fulfilled for Racine’s RV. Upon discovering Racine’s failure to submit such a survey, Administrator Wolfe committed maladministration by not instructing Racine to cease using the mobile polling location until WEC could ascertain whether the mobile unit complied with the accessibility requirements, as mandated by law.

AR18,,59 Despite being aware of the RV’s lack of handicap accessibility and the complaint filed on March 24, 2022, Administrator Wolfe did not take any action. Administrator Wolfe’s failure to address this issue allowed Racine to employ its converted RV/mobile polling place in two elections for partisan purposes. The RV became a tool for partisan politics, favoring certain voters over others and making it easier for the preferred voters to cast their ballots.

AR18,,60 Article 11. Administrator Wolfe’s Maladministration of CTCL Grants from the September 2020 Election Preparedness Report

AR18,,61 On September 1, 2020, Administrator Wolfe released a 125-page report titled “How Wisconsin is Prepared for the November 3, 2020 Election.” She compiled this report in response to inquiries from legislators and WEC commissioners. While preparing this report, Wolfe requested election preparation plans specifically from the cities of Green Bay, Madison, and Milwaukee.

AR18,,62 It is important to note that these three cities, Green Bay, Madison, and Milwaukee, held particular significance because they were among the five Wisconsin cities that received approximately 86 percent of the substantial funding provided by Mark Zuckerberg and the Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) to support the administration of Wisconsin’s elections. The publicly stated purpose of this funding was to safeguard Wisconsin voters from the spread of COVID-19. However, the actual allocation of funds, such as Green Bay’s use of less than 1 percent for personal protective equipment (PPE), raised questions about the true intent behind these expenditures. Furthermore, the lack of transparency in the financial reporting of the other “Zuckerberg Five” cities has contributed to suspicions that these funds were used to promote voter turnout among specific demographic groups favored by partisan actors like Mark Zuckerberg, David Plouffe, David Becker, the mayors of the “Zuckerberg Five” cities, and the Biden campaign.

AR18,,63 The central issue with Administrator Wolfe’s maladministration of the “How Wisconsin is Prepared for the November 3, 2020 Election” report does not revolve around its contents but rather its omissions. Rather than disclosing the CTCL grants to the legislature, Administrator Wolfe conspicuously removed any references to Zuckerberg, CTCL, CTCL grants, CTCL partners, and their employees from her report on election preparedness.

AR18,,64 During a subsequent Assembly committee hearing, Administrator Wolfe claimed that she became aware of the CTCL funding only when a city (though unnamed in her statements, it is clearly Green Bay based on her email exchanges) submitted an addendum to a report on August 30, 2020. However, this claim does not align with the facts, as she had received emails from CTCL and its partners at least six weeks before publishing her report on September 1, 2020.

AR18,,65 Furthermore, it is highly improbable that Administrator Wolfe remained unaware of CTCL’s grants until late August, as news of the $6.3 million in CTCL grants awarded to the “Zuckerberg Five” cities was widely covered by radio, television, and print news sources in early July. For Wolfe to assert that she first learned of CTCL’s grants after compiling her “How Wisconsin is Prepared for the November 3, 2020 Election” report strains credibility. Additionally, she could have easily added an addendum regarding CTCL grants to her report after its initial submission, following the example set by the City of Green Bay.

AR18,,66 Article 12. Administrator Wolfe’s Maladministration of Reporting CTCL and the “Zuckerberg Five” Clerks for Unauthorized Creation of Absentee Voter Instructions

AR18,,67 Wisconsin Statute § 6.869 clearly stipulates that the WEC is responsible for prescribing uniform instructions to be provided by municipalities to absentee electors. This statute underscores the importance of standardized absentee voting instructions across the state. However, a substantial number of emails—approximately 80—reveal communications between CTCL, the Center for Civic Design (CCD), the clerks of the “Zuckerberg Five” cities, and Milwaukee Election Commission Executive Director Woodall-Vogg regarding the development and printing of absentee ballot instructions in both English and Spanish.

AR18,,68 The actions taken by municipal election officials to create their own absentee ballot instructions stand in violation of Wis. Stat. § 6.869, as the statute exclusively grants the authority to WEC to establish uniform absentee voting instructions.

AR18,,69 In one email from CTCL’s Whitney May, the “Zuckerberg Five” city clerks were solicited for their feedback on ballot instructions and envelopes. On August 18, 2020, Administrator Wolfe updated Uniform Instructions for Absentee Voters. In this communication, Wolfe made it explicitly clear that these instructions would be utilized for all absentee voters, commencing with the absentee ballots that clerks would send out for the November 3rd General Election, following WEC’s directive, which is evident maladministration.

AR18,,70 On the very same day that Wolfe disseminated her uniform instructions for absentee voters, CTCL’s Whitney May corresponded with the clerks of the “Zuckerberg Five” cities. May’s email indicated CTCL’s intention to halt an operation due to WEC’s desire for statewide conformity in format and their plans to embark on new envelope design work in the following year. This communication raises questions regarding how May was privy to WEC’s intentions and the fact that they were supplying uniform absentee ballot instructions. Notably, May’s email did not mention that the creation of their own absentee ballot instructions by CTCL, CCD, and the clerks of the “Zuckerberg Five” cities potentially violated Wis. Stat. § 6.869.

AR18,,71 In an additional incident, Madison Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl sent an email on September 17, 2020, to Whitney May and the other clerks of the “Zuckerberg Five,” including an attachment containing Spanish-language absentee ballot instructions. It’s imperative to note that Wis. Stat. § 6.869 does not differentiate between English and Spanish absentee ballot instructions; it unequivocally states that the commission shall prescribe uniform instructions for municipalities to provide to absentee electors. Wolfe’s memo from August 18, 2020, left no room for ambiguity—it mandated the use of uniform absentee ballot instructions for absentee voters, which should be applied regardless of language.

AR18,,72 The discrepancy between Wolfe’s memo and Witzel-Behl’s actions, sending Spanish absentee ballot instructions, necessitates an investigation into whether any of the “Zuckerberg Five” cities distributed their versions of absentee ballot instructions in Spanish, potentially contravening Wis. Stat. § 6.869.

AR18,,73 This situation exemplifies how CTCL and its partners influenced Wisconsin election officials leading up to the 2020 election. Even though the “Zuckerberg Five” clerks ultimately did not send out their versions of absentee ballot instructions, the act of creating them likely violated state law. What is certain is that Administrator Wolfe did not hold CTCL, CCD, the “Zuckerberg Five” clerks, or Milwaukee Election Commission’s Claire Woodall-Vogg accountable for producing their own absentee ballot instructions in apparent violation of Wis. Stat. § 6.869.

AR18,,74 Article 13. Administrator Wolfe’s Maladministration in Establishing a Systematic Program for the Removal of Incompetent Individuals from the Voter Roll

AR18,,75 Wisconsin law dictates that individuals whose voting rights have been legally terminated by a court due to incompetence are ineligible to vote. However, this legal provision is not self-executing. To ensure the proper functioning of this process, it is incumbent upon the Administrator of the WEC to institute a system that enables municipal clerks to promptly identify cases of adjudication for incompetence, allowing for the removal of the affected individuals from the voter roll. Establishing and maintaining such a system is a legal obligation that falls within the purview of the Administrator’s role.

AR18,,76 In the maladministration of the Administrator’s fulfillment of this duty, there exists a substantial risk that the legislative intent to exclude from the voter roll those individuals who have been declared incompetent to vote will remain unfulfilled. Administrator Wolfe’s failure to initiate and sustain such a system represents a significant deficiency in her execution of one of the fundamental responsibilities inherent in her position.

AR18,,77 Article 14. Administrator Wolfe’s Unlawful Failure to Remove Names from the Wisconsin Voter Roll

AR18,,78 In Wisconsin, the law distinguishes between two categories of voters: “eligible” and “ineligible.” “Eligible” voters are those who meet the qualifications to register and have their names placed on the voter roll, while “ineligible” voters are not permitted to be listed on this roll. These designations are consistent with the statutes’ language and align with the legislative intent and the reasonable expectations of Wisconsin’s citizens.

AR18,,79 Regrettably, Administrator Wolfe has initiated maladministration with a systematic replacement of “eligible” and “ineligible” with “active” and “inactive.” These non-statutory designations, although seemingly harmless, have resulted in consequences that have compromised both the integrity and the public trust in our voter roll. Under Administrator Wolfe’s leadership, names are never removed from the voter roll, even in cases of individuals who have passed away. Rather than designating these deceased individuals as “ineligible” voters, as the statute would dictate, Administrator Wolfe categorizes them as “inactive” voters, allowing their names to persist on the voter roll.

AR18,,80 One of Administrator Wolfe’s past justifications for this practice was a reference to HAVA (Help America Vote Act), which requires states to maintain historical records of all those who have voted. However, her explanation lacks completeness, as there is no requirement to retain the names of deceased “historical” voters on the voter roll.

AR18,,81 At best, this practice of retaining deceased individuals on the voter roll needlessly complicates the list, making it more challenging for auditors and others interested in assessing its accuracy. At worst, it provides a reservoir of names that can be “activated” two weeks before an election and “deactivated” two weeks after, by anyone with access to the WisVote system. This process operates in a manner that conceals the identities of both the “activator” and the “deactivator.” Consequently, it fosters suspicions of potential fraud or, at the very least, creates a fertile ground for such suspicions.

AR18,,82 In sum, Administrator Wolfe’s oversight of this problematic system is unacceptable to the people of Wisconsin and raises serious concerns about the integrity of our voter roll.

AR18,,83 Article 15. Administrator Wolfe’s Promotion of an Unlawful Voter Registration Form

AR18,,84 On September 5, 2023, the Circuit Court for Waukesha County, presided over by the Honorable Michael P. Maxwell, issued a summary judgment in favor of a concerned citizen who contested the use of the WEC’s voter registration form. The court’s decision was based on two primary grounds: firstly, that the form did not conform to state law requirements, and secondly, that WEC had never engaged in the statutory rule-making process of the additional information requested on the form, which was not mandated by Wisconsin law. Throughout this relevant period, it remains undisputed that Administrator Wolfe actively promoted this maladministration and encouraged clerks to accept it. Administrator Wolfe was likely aware and should have certainly been aware, that the disputed form solicited more information from citizens than what was authorized by Wisconsin law.

AR18,,85 As emphasized by the Circuit Court, “WEC was granted authority by the State Legislature to administer Wisconsin’s election laws and was subsequently tasked with using that authority to prescribe the voter registration forms permissible for use in our state. WEC, however, has failed in this fundamental duty by permitting the use of the National Form in Wisconsin, despite never officially prescribing its use.”

AR18,,86 Administrator Wolfe, in her capacity as Wisconsin’s “chief elections official,” has exhibited reluctance or incapacity to fulfill this fundamental responsibility, much like several others detailed herein. Her mismanagement of WEC has transformed the agency into one requiring substantial reform or, possibly, dissolution, as was the case with its predecessor, GAB. The crucial initial step toward achieving either goal is the impeachment of Administrator Wolfe.

AR18,,87 Resolved by the assembly, That per Article VII, section 1, of the Wisconsin Constitution and Wis. Stat. § 17.06 (1), the Assembly hereby initiates proceedings for the impeachment of Meagan Wolfe, the Administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, based on allegations of maladministration in office.

AR18,,88 (end)