{"id":2334206,"date":"2024-08-30T10:03:02","date_gmt":"2024-08-30T14:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-threatens-legal-action-against-wisconsin-town-for-not-offering-electronic-voting-machines-to-disabled-voters-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-30T10:08:34","modified_gmt":"2024-08-30T14:08:34","slug":"doj-threatens-legal-action-against-wisconsin-town-for-not-offering-electronic-voting-machines-to-disabled-voters-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-threatens-legal-action-against-wisconsin-town-for-not-offering-electronic-voting-machines-to-disabled-voters-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ threatens legal action against Wisconsin town for not offering electronic voting machines to disabled voters &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"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\">38<\/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%2Fdoj-threatens-legal-action-against-wisconsin-town-for-not-offering-electronic-voting-machines-to-disabled-voters-washington-examiner%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=2334206&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--><p>The Department of Justice (DOJ) is threatening legal action against\u200c Thornapple, a small town in \u200cWisconsin, for \u200bnot providing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/witness-confirms-voting-machines-connected-to-internet-while-testifying-before-ga-senate-subcommittee-on-elections\/\" title=\"Witness confirms voting machines connected to internet while testifying before GA. senate subcommittee on elections\">electronic voting machines<\/a> for voters with disabilities. \u200cFollowing complaints to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, it has been\u200b established that the town&#8217;s practice of exclusively using hand-counted paper ballots violates federal accessibility laws. Disability Rights Wisconsin is advocating for\u200c the election commission to compel Thornapple to offer accessible voting options, emphasizing that all 711 residents, particularly those with disabilities, should have the ability to cast private ballots. Despite warnings from the\u2063 DOJ, \u200dThornapple continued its practice, which has led to federal investigators determining that the town \u2062did not provide necessary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pennsylvania-department-of-state-tells-counties-not-to-allow-outside-access-to-voting-systems\/\" title=\"Pennsylvania Department of State Tells Counties Not To Allow Outside Access to Voting Systems\">electronic voting systems<\/a> during elections. The DOJ stated that Thornapple could avoid legal repercussions by agreeing\u200d to a &#8220;consent decree&#8221; with the federal government.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">DOJ threatens legal action against Wisconsin town for not offering electronic voting machines to disabled voters<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1741884\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A small town in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/wisconsin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Wisconsin<\/a> could face legal action from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Department of Justice<\/a> for its refusal to offer voters with disabilities electronic voting machines instead of paper <a href=\"https:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ballots\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"ballots\">ballots<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The town of Thornapple, Wisconsin, is breaking the law by refusing to make voting machines available to voters with disabilities, according to a complaint filed with the Wisconsin Elections Commission. This comes after the Justice Department warned the town against its practice of only using hand-counted, paper ballots during the state&rsquo;s primary election earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;By ceasing to use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kari-lake-vows-to-contest-election-results\/\" title=\"Kari Lake Vows to Contest Election Results\">electronic voting equipment<\/a> and, instead, exclusively using paper ballots completed and tabulated by hand, Respondents are no longer using voting systems that are accessible for individuals with disabilities in a manner that provides the same opportunity for access and participation (including privacy and independence) as for other voters,&rdquo; the complaint said.<\/p>\n<p>Disability Rights Wisconsin is seeking for the WEC to mandate that Thornapple make accessible voting machines available. The group said it wants to ensure every voter in the town of 711 residents is capable of casting his or her own private ballot this election.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is not the situation of a machine that just isn&rsquo;t functioning that day at the polling place,&rdquo; Disability Rights Wisconsin Director of Legal and Advocacy Services Kit Kerschensteiner told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wpr.org\/news\/northern-wisconsin-town-accused-of-breaking-the-law-by-pulling-voting-machines\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Wisconsin Public Radio<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is a place that has chosen specifically, knowing that they were disenfranchising individuals with disabilities, and choosing to go ahead and do that, which we find to be unacceptable,&rdquo; she continued.<\/p>\n<p>While it is not illegal for local municipalities to remove electronic ballot counters, they are required to leave at least one available for voters with disabilities. The DOJ warned Thornapple against this practice a month before Disability Rights Wisconsin filed its complaint with the WEC.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Federal investigators determined the town failed to make &ldquo;at least one direct recording electronic voting system or other voting system equipped for individuals with disabilities available at each polling place, including during the April 2, 2024, federal primary election,&rdquo; according to a letter obtained by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.votebeat.org\/wisconsin\/2024\/08\/23\/thornapple-lawrence-rusk-county-voting-machines-disability-access-federal-lawsuit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Votebeat<\/a>. The DOJ said Thornapple could avoid legal action by entering a &ldquo;consent decree&rdquo; with the federal government.<\/p>\n<p>Thornapple residents said the town did not end the practice in the state&rsquo;s August primary. In May, Thornapple Town Board Supervisor Tom Zelm <a href=\"https:\/\/subscribe.jsonline.com\/restricted?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jsonline.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F2024%2F05%2F13%2Fwisconsin-town-under-federal-review-after-eliminating-voting-machines%2F73615195007%2F&amp;gps-source=CPROADBLOCKDH&amp;gca-cat=p&amp;slug=restricted&amp;redirect=true&amp;gnt-eid=control\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>told the<\/a> <em>Milwaukee Journal Sentinel<\/em> the town&rsquo;s decision to pull electronic voting machines was made in June 2023 but did not provide a specific reason.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Rusk County Democratic Party Chairwoman Erin Webster said the decision is tied to former President Donald Trump&rsquo;s false claims the 2020 presidential election was stolen. She pointed to a video from the town supervisor, Jack Zupan, which was posted on YouTube, in which Zupan tells Webster the electronic voting machines were being done away with because &ldquo;we believe that there was a stolen election and the computers have to go because they are full of error.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Webster also filed a complaint with the WEC prior to the disability rights group&rsquo;s complaint.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not disabled. It didn&rsquo;t affect me like that. It was more just the principle of, what are you guys doing?&rdquo; Webster said. &ldquo;Why are you not having machines here?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1741884\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1741884\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Department of Justice (DOJ) is considering legal action against a small town in Wisconsin for not providing electronic voting machines to voters with disabilities. Thornapple, Wisconsin, is allegedly violating the law by not making accessible voting machines available and relying solely on hand-counted paper ballots, as stated in a complaint submitted to the Wisconsin Elections Commission. This situation arose after the DOJ previously cautioned the town about its practice during this year&#8217;s primary elections. The complaint asserts that by exclusively using paper ballots, Thornapple is failing to offer individuals with disabilities equal access and participation opportunities compared to other voters.<\/p>\n<p>Disability Rights Wisconsin has requested that the Wisconsin Elections Commission require Thornapple to provide accessible voting machines so that all 711 residents can cast their private ballots independently. Kit Kerschensteiner, Director of Legal and Advocacy Services at Disability Rights Wisconsin, emphasized that this issue goes beyond malfunctioning equipment; it involves a deliberate choice by the town to disenfranchise disabled individuals.<\/p>\n<p>While municipalities can remove electronic ballot counters, they must ensure at least one machine remains available for disabled voters. The DOJ had warned Thornapple about this issue prior to Disability Rights Wisconsin&#8217;s complaint. Federal investigators found that during the April 2, 2024 federal primary election, Thornapple did not provide any direct recording electronic voting systems or other accessible options at polling places.<\/p>\n<p>To avoid legal repercussions, Thornapple could enter into a &#8220;consent decree&#8221; with the federal government. Residents noted that there was no change in practice during August&#8217;s primary elections. In May 2023, Town Board Supervisor Tom Zelm mentioned in an interview that their decision to eliminate electronic voting machines was made without giving specific reasons.<\/p>\n<p>Rusk County Democratic Party Chairwoman Erin Webster linked this decision to former President Donald Trump&#8217;s unfounded claims regarding election fraud in 2020. She referenced a YouTube video where Town Supervisor Jack Zupan stated they were removing electronic machines due to beliefs about errors associated with them from alleged stolen elections.<\/p>\n<p>Webster had also filed her own complaint with the WEC before Disability Rights Wisconsin took action and expressed concern over what she viewed as an unacceptable situation regarding access for all voters<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2910,"featured_media":2334207,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/electronic-voting-machine.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[7076,39747,32142,4124],"class_list":["post-2334206","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-doj","tag-electronic-voting-machines","tag-legal-action","tag-wisconsin"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/electronic-voting-machine.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2334206","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\/2910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2334206"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2334206\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2334207"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2334206"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2334206"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2334206"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}