{"id":2123512,"date":"2023-12-13T03:02:02","date_gmt":"2023-12-13T08:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wisconsin-election-bill-trades-security-for-speed-lawmaker-says\/"},"modified":"2023-12-13T03:12:37","modified_gmt":"2023-12-13T08:12:37","slug":"wisconsin-election-bill-trades-security-for-speed-lawmaker-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wisconsin-election-bill-trades-security-for-speed-lawmaker-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Wisconsin election bill prioritizes speed over security, lawmaker claims"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwisconsin-election-bill-trades-security-for-speed-lawmaker-says%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2123512&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div class=\"article-content\">\n<h2>Wisconsin Absentee Ballot\u200d Processing Bill Sacrifices Security for Speed, Says Election Integrity Advocate<\/h2>\n<p>Proponents of a Wisconsin absentee ballot processing bill claim it will solve the problem of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-lose-because-theyre-fake-populists-with-no-real-policy-plans\/\" title=\"Republicans Lose Because They\u2019re Fake Populists With No Real Policy Plans\">delayed vote counting<\/a> on election nights. However, a Wisconsin state election integrity advocate argues that the bill prioritizes speed \u2062over \u2062security.<\/p>\n<p>State \u200dRep. Janel Brandtjen, R-Menomonee Falls, criticizes Senate Bill 685, which proposes allowing local election clerks to\u200b <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-long-will-votes-take-to-count-in-key-states\/\" title=\"How Long Will Votes Take To Count In Key States?\">start processing absentee ballots<\/a> the day\u200c before an election. She believes that the bill is being falsely presented as a bipartisan solution to the slow \u200dvote returns experienced \u200bin Milwaukee.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThe idea that\u2019s being presented is not truthful,\u201d Brandtjen said. \u201cThis bill \u2062trades speed for security. It will lead to many more \u200bcentral counts\u200c in the state of Wisconsin, with almost no chain \u200cof custody on those ballots.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The bill \u200dwas discussed in a hearing held by the Senate Committee on \u200cShared\u200c Revenue, Elections, and Consumer Protection. While the bill includes other election law provisions, opponents are particularly concerned about the\u2062 ballot processing aspect.<\/p>\n<p>The Assembly version of the bill, AB 567, was \u2063passed last month with Brandtjen and a few Republicans voting against it. They warned\u200b that the proposal\u200c could compromise election integrity and\u2062 assist election cheats.<\/p>\n<p>However, the bill&#8217;s authors argue that it will actually address concerns \u2062about\u200b fair elections that arose \u200dduring the highly contested 2020 presidential election.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Clerks would be\u2064 able to verify voter eligibility and prepare absentee ballots for the Election Day count on the Monday before elections. However, the counting of early voting ballots would still be prohibited \u2062until after the \u2062polls close\u200c in Wisconsin.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Chuck DeVore, in an\u2062 article for \u2063The Federalist, supports the bill as a way to tackle the\u200b challenges faced in \u200bthe 2020 election and ensure a resilient \u200cand responsive electoral system in Wisconsin. He believes that passing SB 685 could \u2064set a precedent for other states dealing with similar issues and improve \u200cpublic faith in the election process.<\/p>\n<p>Brandtjen points out that\u200d current Wisconsin law allows the counting of absentee ballots after the polls open \u2062on Election Day in municipalities \u2064with specific ordinances. She argues that the bill will actually create more central count operations in\u2064 municipalities across the state, raising concerns about chain of custody, transparency, and monitoring.<\/p>\n<p>Critics worry that giving elections officials a \u200done-day head start on processing ballots could enable dishonest counters to share information \u200babout\u200b the tally with parties and candidates. In a state like Wisconsin, where same-day voter registration is allowed, this insider information could potentially impact the outcome of an election\u2062 unfairly.<\/p>\n<p>Brandtjen highlights\u2062 a case involving Kimberly Zapata, a former deputy director\u2064 of the \u2062Milwaukee Election Commission, who\u2062 was charged with fraud \u2062after sending falsely obtained military absentee ballots to \u200bBrandtjen&#8217;s home. Zapata claimed she did it to expose security flaws in Wisconsin&#8217;s elections \u2062system. The case is still ongoing.<\/p>\n<p>In the 2020 presidential election, Milwaukee elections administrator Claire Woodall-Vogg announced a large batch of votes in the early hours of November 4, \u200btipping the \u200bscales \u2063in favor of Joe Biden.\u2062 This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-york-city-to-hand-out-flyers-to-warn-immigrants-away-from-city\/\" title=\"NYC to distribute flyers warning immigrants to stay away.\">announcement drew criticism<\/a> and suspicion from some, including Ryan Chew, who was\u2063 involved in the &#8220;Zuckerbucks&#8221; scandal. The scandal revealed that leftist activists had influenced election offices in\u2062 Democrat-heavy cities, including Milwaukee,\u2063 through grants funded by Mark Zuckerberg.<\/p>\n<p>Brandtjen is concerned that Senate Bill 685 could increase security risks in the election system. She \u200dquestions whether \u2064the bill sacrifices security\u2063 for the sake of speed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"> <\/p>\n<h2> What are the concerns raised by opponents\u2062 of \u200dthe bill regarding the compromise\u200d of security and potential fraud or manipulation of absentee ballots?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  \u2062 Lient election system. He points out that the bill does not compromise security, but instead provides a more efficient process for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-rnc-sues-key-pennsylvania-county-for-absentee-ballot-transparency\/\" title=\"Exclusive \u2014 RNC Sues Key Pennsylvania County for Absentee Ballot Transparency\">counting absentee ballots<\/a> while maintaining the integrity of the election.<\/p>\n<p>DeVore argues that \u2064the delayed \u200bvote counting in Milwaukee\u2064 during the\u200c 2020 election \u2064raised concerns\u2064 about the accuracy and transparency\u200d of the process. By allowing local election clerks \u200bto start processing absentee ballots the day before an election, the bill aims to streamline and expedite the vote counting process,\u2064 thereby addressing the issues that were\u2063 observed in \u200bthe previous election.<\/p>\n<p>However, critics of the bill, like Brandtjen, believe that this trade-off between speed and security \u2062is not worth it. They argue\u200b that the bill increases \u200cthe risk \u200dof compromising the chain of custody for the absentee ballots, which can lead to potential fraud or manipulation of the results. They\u200c also express concerns that the increased central counting of ballots could make it easier for unauthorized individuals\u200b to gain access to the ballots and tamper with them.<\/p>\n<p>At the\u2062 heart of this debate is the question of \u2062how to balance\u2064 the\u2063 need for efficient and \u2064timely vote counting with the imperative \u2064of ensuring the legitimacy and security of the \u200belection process. The proponents of the bill argue that the current system, which allows absentee\u2063 ballots to be counted only on Election \u200dDay, contributes to delays and potential errors due to\u2063 the \u2062large volume \u2064of ballots to be processed within\u200b a limited\u200d time frame. They contend \u200dthat \u2062by starting \u2063the processing earlier, clerks can have more time for\u200c verification and preparation, thus reducing the likelihood of mistakes or inconsistencies.<\/p>\n<p>On the\u200d other hand, opponents of the bill \u200dinsist that security\u2064 should be \u2064the\u200c top priority, and any potential compromises to it are unacceptable. \u2063They argue that the current system, although it may be slower, provides a stronger guarantee of ballot integrity, as the \u200bballots are securely stored until the time of counting.<\/p>\n<p>The debate surrounding the Wisconsin absentee ballot \u2064processing bill is emblematic \u200bof the\u200d broader\u200b discussions on election integrity and the \u2063best methods to\u2062 balance efficiency and security in the electoral process. As election \u200csystems across the\u2063 country continue \u2062to evolve, policymakers\u2064 must carefully consider the potential\u2064 trade-offs and\u200d implications of any proposed \u2062changes to ensure\u2062 the\u2064 integrity and \u2064fairness\u200c of the\u200d democratic process.<\/p>\n<p>Sources:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>https:\/\/madison.com<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-johnson-indicates-preference-for-leaving-office-after-current-term\/\" title=\"Sen. Johnson Indicates Preference for Leaving Office After Current Term\">\/wsj\/news\/local\/govt-<\/a>and-politics\/wisconsin-absentee-ballot-processing-bill-sacrifices-security-for-speed-says-election-integrity-advocate\/article_6a317f3d-2b88-5276-a5dd-afd04597bb5e.html<\/li>\n<li>https:\/\/www.wispolitics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ABFinal052621.pdf<\/li>\n<li>https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2021\/07\/06\/wisconsins-absentee-ballot-proposal-is-about-securing-the-elections-not-quick-results\/<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ballots earlier, could lead to potential vulnerabilities in the election process. Brandtjen argues that prioritizing speed over security could compromise the integrity of the results. Despite claims of efficiency, critics argue that this bill may not be the ideal solution to address delays in vote counting on election night<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":656,"featured_media":2123513,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2123512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2123512","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/656"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2123512"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2123512\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2123513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2123512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2123512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2123512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}