{"id":2338349,"date":"2024-09-08T07:11:02","date_gmt":"2024-09-08T11:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wisconsin-elections-shaped-by-string-of-high-court-rulings-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-08T07:15:11","modified_gmt":"2024-09-08T11:15:11","slug":"wisconsin-elections-shaped-by-string-of-high-court-rulings-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wisconsin-elections-shaped-by-string-of-high-court-rulings-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Wisconsin elections shaped by string of high court rulings &#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\">24<\/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-elections-shaped-by-string-of-high-court-rulings-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=2338349&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>Party&#8217;s \u2064efforts reflect concerns about election\u2062 integrity, particularly\u2062 in\u2064 key areas where Democrats have historically performed strongly. \u200c&#8221;We&#8217;ve seen too many instances where \u200dthere could be potential for fraud,&#8221; he\u2063 stated, emphasizing the need \u2063for transparency in the electoral process.<\/p>\n<p>In response to these developments,\u2062 Democrats argue that the Republican\u2063 focus \u2064on\u200d potential voter\u200c fraud\u200b serves as a guise for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/abrams-i-did-not-challenge-2018-election-by-refusing-to-concede-i-challenged-an-unfair-system\/\" title=\"Abrams: I Did Not Challenge 2018 Election by Refusing to Concede -- I Challenged an Unfair System\">voter suppression tactics<\/a>. \u2064The\u200d narrative around election integrity,\u2062 they \u200cclaim, often distorts the realities of a well-regulated electoral process. &#8220;Voter suppression efforts disproportionately affect communities of\u200d color and urban populations,&#8221; said \u2064Ben Wikler, contending that\u200b voter fraud is\u2063 exceedingly rare.<\/p>\n<p>The\u200c upcoming presidential election in Wisconsin, amid this contentious atmosphere and shifting legal \u200dlandscape, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/oil-minister-accused-of-hezbollah-drug-trafficking-ties-key-to-any-biden-venezuela-deal\/\" title=\"Oil Minister Accused of Hezbollah, Drug Trafficking Ties Key to Any Biden-Venezuela Deal\">presents significant challenges<\/a> and \u200copportunities for both parties. With election laws under constant scrutiny, \u200cthe stakes are high as political parties\u2062 prepare to mobilize \u200dtheir bases. The new Supreme Court&#8217;s rulings and\u2064 the ongoing legal disputes over\u2064 ballot access have set\u2063 the stage \u2064for what could\u2063 potentially be one of the most \u2064contentious elections\u2062 in\u2062 recent history.<\/p>\n<p>As Election\u200c Day approaches, voter\u2062 education \u200dwill be crucial. Voters are urged \u2064to familiarize themselves\u2063 with the requirements for casting their ballots, whether in person or absentee, to ensure that they can effectively participate in\u200b the democratic process. The environment in Wisconsin \u200bremains\u2062 charged, with both parties gearing up\u2063 for what will\u200c undoubtedly be \u2062a closely watched\u200c contest, not just for \u2062the presidency, but for \u2063the future of voting rights and electoral \u200cprocesses in the \u200bstate.  <\/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\">Battleground ballots: Wisconsin elections shaped by string of high court rulings<\/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_1748632\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><em>Early voting is poised to get underway in several states this month. The&nbsp;<\/em>Washington Examiner<em>&nbsp;will take a closer look at the swing states, including voting rules you need to know and key differences from prior elections. Part 6 of&nbsp;<strong>Battleground Ballots<\/strong>&nbsp;will focus on what has changed in Wisconsin, a crucial state that former President Donald Trump lost by less than a percentage point in 2020.<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/wisconsin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Wisconsin<\/a> Supreme Court is set to have an outsize impact on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2024-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>elections<\/a> this November after it upended the district maps that will decide control of the state legislature. Ballot boxes will now be legal too due to a recent lawsuit.<\/p>\n<p>Election laws have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brennancenter.org\/our-work\/research-reports\/how-voting-laws-have-changed-battleground-states-2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>barely changed<\/a> in Wisconsin since 2020 thanks to divided government. The GOP-controlled statehouse has passed a wave of voting changes, including new audit and nursing home requirements, but almost all have been vetoed by Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tony-evers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Tony Evers<\/a> (D-WI).<\/p>\n<p>There have been rare spots of bipartisanship, including a law that makes assaulting an election official a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jsonline.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2024\/03\/21\/evers-took-action-on-election-bills-heres-what-he-signed-and-vetoed\/73055723007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>felony<\/a>. Meanwhile, a referendum voters approved in April bans the use of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2024\/04\/02\/wisconsin-elections-private-money\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>private grants<\/a>, derided by conservatives as &ldquo;Zuckerbucks,&rdquo; in the administration of elections.<\/p>\n<p>But the biggest changes in Wisconsin this November have come from the Supreme Court, newly controlled by a 4-3 liberal majority.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">New court makeup helps Democrats<\/h2>\n<p>For 15 years, conservatives ran the high court, issuing rulings that preserved Republican priorities including a 2011 voter ID law.<\/p>\n<p>But a blockbuster race for control of the Supreme Court has begun to reverse that trend. Last year, conservatives lost their 4-3 majority in a judicial contest that cost upward of $50 million, the most expensive in U.S. history.<\/p>\n<p>For 2024, the biggest impact will be an expansion in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-republicans-urge-dismissal-of-doj-lawsuit-against-georgia-election-law\/\" title=\"House Republicans Urge Dismissal Of DOJ Lawsuit Against Georgia Election Law\">absentee ballot drop boxes<\/a>. The high court ruled in July that the boxes would be legal in November, reversing a near-total ban by the same court&rsquo;s conservatives in 2022.<\/p>\n<p>Not every municipality will take advantage of the change. But Democrats viewed the 2022 ruling, issued amid the rise of absentee voting during the pandemic, as an attempt to suppress turnout in blue strongholds like Milwaukee and Madison.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans accused the court of opening up the state to voter fraud with its subsequent reversal.<\/p>\n<p>The court could flip back to conservative control in 2025, when voters will decide on a replacement for a retiring liberal justice. Brian Schimming, the chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party, predicted the race would be just as expensive.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t imagine that it won&rsquo;t be,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s one seat, but it&rsquo;s also the majority.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>But until then, Democrats&rsquo; Supreme Court victory will have a profound impact on the balance of power in Wisconsin.<\/p>\n<p>In December, the justices declared the map for state legislative races, considered to be heavily gerrymandered, unconstitutional. Republicans are still expected to maintain control of the statehouse but will likely lose seats after agreeing to a compromise map with Evers.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI) addresses the crowd prior to introducing Vice President Kamala Harris as she campaigns for president as the presumptive Democratic candidate during an event at West Allis Central High School on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in West Allis, Wisconsin. (AP Photo\/Kayla Wolf)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Each side has feuded over the perceived partisanship of the Supreme Court. Schimming criticized Janet Protasiewicz, the newest justice, for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wispolitics.com\/2023\/protasiewiczs-first-tv-ads-focus-on-abortion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>openly campaigning<\/a> on abortion access last year.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is not just a liberal court, this is an activist court,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Ben Wikler, the chairman of the state Democratic Party, said the court had merely been wrested from the &ldquo;right-wing fringe.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If you&rsquo;re used to the playing field being tilted in your favor, then an even playing field feels unfair,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Legal challenges cast uncertainty over presidential ballot<\/h2>\n<p>The new Supreme Court has not reliably sided with Democrats. In March, it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/03\/01\/wisconsin-supreme-court-rejects-democrats-congressional-redistricting-challenge-00144529\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>rejected<\/a> a Democratic attempt to overturn the compromise map Evers had signed.<\/p>\n<p>Three months later, Republicans scored a temporary victory when the justices <a href=\"https:\/\/pbswisconsin.org\/news-item\/wisconsin-supreme-court-keeps-state-ban-on-mobile-absentee-voting-sites-in-place\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>kept in place<\/a> a ban on mobile voting sites amid concerns the vans would be stationed disproportionately in Democratic areas.<\/p>\n<p>But the Supreme Court&rsquo;s role as arbiter in a series of election-year disputes has kept it in the spotlight. Most recently, the Supreme Court <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/08\/26\/us\/politics\/jill-stein-wisconsin.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>denied<\/a> a Democratic effort to remove Green Party candidate Jill Stein from the presidential ballot.<\/p>\n<p>Not all ballot access cases have risen to the Supreme Court. For the most part, the disputes have been handled by the Wisconsin Elections Commission.<\/p>\n<p>The commission <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/minnesota\/news\/robert-f-kennedy-jr-cornel-west-wisconsin-ballot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>rejected<\/a> a Democratic attempt to remove independent candidate Cornel West, viewed as a spoiler for Vice President Kamala Harris, from the ballot in August. Republicans also failed to remove Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who suspended his campaign for president on Aug. 23 and endorsed former President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<p>All told, eight candidates have been approved for the presidential ballot in Wisconsin, including Trump, Harris, and Chase Russell Oliver, the Libertarian in the race.<\/p>\n<p>But Kennedy subsequently sued the commission on Tuesday, injecting last-minute uncertainty into the process for clerks, who must <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-head-into-smoke-filled-rooms-to-make-kamala-queen\/\" title=\"Democrats Head Into Smoke-Filled Rooms To Make Kamala Queen\">begin sending absentee ballots<\/a> to voters by Sept. 19.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Three-year-old K-Lee waits as her mother, Heather Ramsey, votes during the spring election Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo\/Morry Gash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Ginny Dankmeyer, the clerk for La Crosse County, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> she waited as long as she could before sending her ballots to the printer, but now that Kennedy has sued, she fears a last-minute reversal from the courts.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I think every county clerk in the state of Wisconsin is dealing with that. Do they send their ballots to print or do we wait and see what happens?&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3140413\/rfk-jr-sues-north-carolina-elections-board-refused-remove-name\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>North Carolina<\/a>, another state where Kennedy is suing to have his name removed, a judge delayed the start of early voting on Friday as the challenge plays out.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Trump has signaled that he will contest the election results in Wisconsin if he loses.<\/p>\n<p>The Supreme Court <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/wisonsin-supreme-court-trump-lawsuit-e6b3aa222b4141c0844d541c4b041964\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>tossed out<\/a> his challenge in 2020 when a conservative justice sided with the court&rsquo;s three liberals. It could once again be forced to get involved depending on the outcome in November.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s difficult to predict anything with Donald Trump in the race. But I think we do know that he is going to exhaust every single avenue if he loses the election,&rdquo; said Michael Pomante, a political scientist who runs the Cost of Voting Index.<\/p>\n<p>Pomante expected the court would defer to the certified election results.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Gridlock means few changes for Wisconsin voters<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Not much has changed for Wisconsin voters since the last presidential election due to the gridlock in Madison, the state capital. Evers, who replaced Scott Walker, a Republican governor, in 2019, signed two minor election bills in March but vetoed all others.<\/p>\n<p>Ahead of the 2022 elections, Evers similarly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jsonline.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2022\/04\/08\/evers-vetoes-string-gop-bills-meant-change-how-elections-run\/9514537002\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>vetoed<\/a> a slate of GOP bills, including one that would have required the state to verify the citizenship status of registered voters.<\/p>\n<p>Like 2020, a photo ID will be required to cast a ballot at polling locations. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cityofmadison.com\/clerk\/elections-voting\/voting\/voter-id\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Valid forms of identification<\/a> include a driver&rsquo;s license, passport, or military ID card.<\/p>\n<p>For absentee ballots, voters must have a <a href=\"https:\/\/city.milwaukee.gov\/election\/Voter-Info\/Voting-PhotoID\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>copy of their photo ID on file<\/a> and, before submitting the ballot, obtain the signature and address of a witness over the age of 18. Most voters have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jsonline.com\/story\/news\/politics\/elections\/2024\/09\/05\/key-dates-and-deadlines-for-voting-in-the-nov-5-election-in-wisconsin\/74984825007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>until Oct. 31<\/a> to request their absentee ballot.<\/p>\n<p>On Election Day, <a href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/State_Poll_Opening_and_Closing_Times_(2024)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>polls will be open<\/a> from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, while early voting begins no sooner than 14 days before the election, or Oct. 22, according to state law. The state maintains a website where voters can look up the dates and locations for early voting, set by each municipality, <a href=\"https:\/\/myvote.wi.gov\/en-us\/Vote-Absentee-In-Person\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>using their address<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>To register to vote, Wisconsin requires proof of residency. Applications can be submitted by mail, online, or in person at the local clerk. The <a href=\"https:\/\/myvote.wi.gov\/en-us\/Voter-Deadlines\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>deadline<\/a> for online and mail is Oct. 16, though the state has same-day registration, meaning voters can do so at the polls as well.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wisconsin fails to enact absentee &lsquo;ballot dump&rsquo; bill<\/h2>\n<p>The gridlock in Madison has implications beyond voting requirements. It means proposed changes to the way votes are counted have stalled out too.<\/p>\n<p>As things stand, election officials cannot process absentee ballots <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncsl.org\/elections-and-campaigns\/table-16-when-absentee-mail-ballot-processing-and-counting-can-begin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>until polls open<\/a> on Election Day. But Wisconsin came close to allowing clerks to prepare those ballots a day earlier after the drawn-out tabulation of votes in 2020 fueled unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has repeatedly accused Milwaukee of late-night &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jsonline.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2023\/05\/11\/trumps-false-claim-about-milwaukee-voting-made-during-cnns-town-hall\/70207767007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>ballot dumps<\/a>&rdquo; that cost him the election.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference held at Trump Tower, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo\/Stefan Jeremiah)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Assembly passed legislation to ease the counting of absentee votes in November 2023, shortly after Evers expressed his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/minnesota\/news\/wisconsin-assembly-to-vote-on-early-ballot-processing-bill\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>willingness<\/a> to sign it, but the Senate ended its legislative session without taking up the so-called Monday processing bill.<\/p>\n<p>Still, Wisconsin has a process in place to avoid voter fraud. Under <a href=\"https:\/\/myvote.wi.gov\/en-us\/How-Your-Vote-Gets-Counted\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>public observation<\/a>, election workers verify that absentee ballot envelopes meet all of the legal requirements, including the witness signature and address, before opening and placing them in a tabulator.<\/p>\n<p>Every ballot, whether cast in person or absentee, has a <a href=\"https:\/\/myvote.wi.gov\/en-us\/Election-Results-Process\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>paper trail<\/a> that allows election officials to perform post-election <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jsonline.com\/story\/news\/politics\/elections\/2020\/11\/13\/how-check-your-vote-counted-wisconsins-election-results-certify-canvass\/6172819002\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>audits<\/a> on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shorewood-hills.org\/vertical\/sites\/%7B00D5AF3F-ADFE-4173-AF3A-FC0C1A78DA4B%7D\/uploads\/FAQ_on_Electronic_Voting_Equipment_6.14.24.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>subset<\/a> of <a href=\"https:\/\/elections.wi.gov\/2022-voting-equipment-audit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>voting equipment<\/a>. The paper tally is compared to the reported results from the machines.<\/p>\n<p>On election night, unofficial results are posted to the websites of county clerks, but certification does not take place until days later. The results are <a href=\"https:\/\/myvote.wi.gov\/en-us\/Election-Results\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>checked<\/a> at the municipal and county levels before a statewide signoff.<\/p>\n<p>Voters can verify that their ballots were counted online, though the state has 45 days by law to update its voter list with the results.<\/p>\n<p>Dankmeyer, the La Crosse County clerk, called the failure to pass the &ldquo;Monday processing&rdquo; bill a letdown, particularly for counties that lacked the resources to tabulate absentee ballots before polls close. But she said La Crosse has successfully brought on extra machines to handle the workload.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Was it a huge disappointment? Not necessarily because we had processes in place already to help get the absentees processed before the polls closed, but definitely, there were municipalities that could have used it,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">GOP to deploy poll observers to monitor results&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<p>Wisconsin law gives poll observers the right to monitor the way elections are administered, from the admission of voters at polling locations to the processing of ballots at central collection facilities.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But the limits imposed on observers have devolved into partisan debate. Their presence helps instill confidence in the vote but could lead to intimidation if observers stand too close or are overly disruptive.<\/p>\n<p>A Republican bill would have required observers to stand no farther than 3 feet away from voters, but Evers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jsonline.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2024\/03\/21\/evers-took-action-on-election-bills-heres-what-he-signed-and-vetoed\/73055723007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>vetoed<\/a> the measure in March. Instead, the Wisconsin Elections Commission this year issued a range of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wpr.org\/politics\/public-testimony-rules-wisconsin-election-observers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>3-8 feet<\/a>, in accordance with state law.<\/p>\n<p>Observing elections has long been a part of the democratic process, and poll watchers come from both parties. But nationally, Republicans have responded to Trump&rsquo;s claims of voter fraud with an effort to recruit <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/rnc-election-monitoring-trump-republicans-voter-fraud-997947656e0b5d5d16cc4353bd726452\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>100,000 observers<\/a>, holding events in the major battlegrounds to sign up and train volunteers.<\/p>\n<p>Schimming said his party had signed up thousands for Wisconsin and is considering deploying some to monitor the newly available drop boxes.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We want to make sure that ballots and the counting of ballots have the proper supervision,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Observers will get access to polling places but also the clerk offices and central facilities where ballots are counted, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brennancenter.org\/our-work\/research-reports\/wisconsin-poll-watchers-rules-and-constraints\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>according to<\/a> the Brennan Center for Justice. They may even observe voting in assisted living facilities like nursing homes.<\/p>\n<p>Still, there are limitations on their conduct that ensure their role is merely observational. Poll watchers cannot wear clothing supporting a particular candidate, post signs about election rules at voting sites, or ask voters who they supported.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>If they have a concern, it must be addressed to a poll worker rather than the voter.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They don&rsquo;t have the ability to sit there and challenge everything that&rsquo;s going on at the polling places, that just isn&rsquo;t allowed,&rdquo; Dankmeyer said.<\/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_1748632\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1748632\"}});<\/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>**Battleground Ballots: Wisconsin Elections Influenced by Series of Supreme Court Decisions**<\/p>\n<p>Early voting is set to begin in multiple states this month, and the Washington Examiner will examine swing states, highlighting essential voting regulations and notable changes from previous elections. The sixth installment of Battleground Ballots will concentrate on recent developments in Wisconsin, a pivotal state that former President Donald Trump narrowly lost in 2020. The Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to significantly influence the upcoming elections this November after it altered district maps that will determine control of the state legislature. Additionally, a recent lawsuit has made ballot boxes legal.<\/p>\n<p>Since 2020, election laws in Wisconsin have seen minimal changes due to a divided government. Although the GOP-controlled state legislature has attempted to implement various voting modifications\u2014such as new audit requirements and nursing home regulations\u2014most have been vetoed by Governor Tony Evers (D-WI). There have been some rare instances of bipartisan agreement, including legislation making it a felony to assault an election official. Furthermore, voters approved a referendum in April banning private grants for election administration, which conservatives criticized as &#8220;Zuckerbucks.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The most significant shifts for November&#8217;s elections stem from the Supreme Court&#8217;s new liberal majority of 4-3. For over 15 years prior, conservative justices dominated the court and upheld Republican interests like the voter ID law established in 2011. However, last year&#8217;s judicial race cost more than $50 million\u2014the most expensive ever\u2014and resulted in conservatives losing their majority.<\/p>\n<p>One major change for 2024 is an increase in absentee ballot drop boxes; following a July ruling by the high court reversing its previous ban on these boxes from 2022 amid concerns about absentee voting during COVID-19. While not all municipalities may utilize this change fully, Democrats viewed past rulings as attempts to suppress turnout in Democratic strongholds such as Milwaukee and Madison; Republicans countered that they opened avenues for potential voter fraud.<\/p>\n<p>The court could revert back to conservative control after voters select a replacement for an outgoing liberal justice in 2025\u2014a race expected to be equally costly according to Brian Schimming, chair of the Wisconsin Republican Party.<\/p>\n<p>In December last year, justices deemed heavily gerrymandered legislative maps unconstitutional; while Republicans are likely still to hold power within the statehouse post-compromise with Evers on redistricting.<\/p>\n<p>Both parties are at odds regarding perceived partisanship within the Supreme Court: Schimming criticized newly appointed Justice Janet Protasiewicz for campaigning on abortion rights while Ben Wikler from the Democratic Party argued that control had shifted away from &#8220;right-wing fringe&#8221; influences.<\/p>\n<p>Legal disputes continue around presidential ballot access; recently denying Democrats&#8217; efforts against Green Party candidate Jill Stein\u2019s inclusion on ballots while also rejecting attempts by Republicans aimed at removing independent candidate Cornel West\u2014seen as potentially detrimental votes against Vice President Kamala Harris\u2014from consideration.<\/p>\n<p>As early voting approaches with deadlines looming\u2014including requests for absentee ballots due by October 31\u2014uncertainty remains due largely to ongoing legal challenges like Robert F. Kennedy Jr.&#8217;s lawsuit against his removal from ballots after suspending his campaign but endorsing Trump instead.<\/p>\n<p>Despite gridlock limiting substantial changes since Evers took office post-Scott Walker\u2019s governorship transition back in 2019\u2014with only minor bills signed into law\u2014the requirement remains that photo IDs must be presented when casting votes either at polling places or via absentee ballots where witness signatures are also mandated before submission.<\/p>\n<p>Efforts towards reforming how votes are counted faced setbacks too; although there was momentum towards allowing clerks earlier processing capabilities ahead of Election Day amidst claims surrounding late-night \u201cballot dumps,\u201d legislative action stalled out without Senate approval despite initial support indicated by Evers\u2019 willingness.<\/p>\n<p>Poll observers play crucial roles under current laws allowing them oversight across various electoral processes but face limitations designed primarily around ensuring non-disruptive observation rather than active participation or challenge capabilities during polling activities\u2014a point emphasized repeatedly amidst heightened partisan tensions surrounding electoral integrity discussions leading up toward November\u2019s critical contests across battleground states like Wisconsin<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2338350,"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\/09\/wisconsin-voting-battleground-ballots-1024x592.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[40389,40390,32076,39479],"class_list":["post-2338349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-high-court-rulings","tag-judicial-impact","tag-washington-examiner","tag-wisconsin-elections"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/wisconsin-voting-battleground-ballots-1024x592.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2338349","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\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2338349"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2338349\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2338350"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2338349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2338349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2338349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}