{"id":2645367,"date":"2026-08-15T08:35:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T12:35:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/icymi-judge-shuts-down-democrats-attempt-to-rush-in-late-votes-after-candidates-drop-out\/"},"modified":"2026-08-15T08:38:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T12:38:43","slug":"icymi-judge-shuts-down-democrats-attempt-to-rush-in-late-votes-after-candidates-drop-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/icymi-judge-shuts-down-democrats-attempt-to-rush-in-late-votes-after-candidates-drop-out\/","title":{"rendered":"ICYMI: Judge Shuts Down Democrats&#8217; Attempt to Rush in Late Votes After Candidates Drop Out"},"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\">30<\/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%2Ficymi-judge-shuts-down-democrats-attempt-to-rush-in-late-votes-after-candidates-drop-out%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=2645367&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>Wisconsin Democrats unsuccessfully attempted to allow voters to re-cast absentee ballots after some candidates withdrew from the race. A Dane County judge ruled that once an absentee ballot is returned, it cannot be spoiled or replaced, preventing voters from changing their votes. The ruling was based on Wisconsin law, which states voting officials must issue a new ballot only if the original is spoiled or damaged before being returned. The case involved voters who wanted to amend their absentee ballots after the withdrawal of candidates such as Sara Rodriguez and Mandela Barnes.Previous decisions by the Wisconsin Elections Commission confirmed that spoiled ballots cannot be recast once submitted. Several Democratic candidates, including Rodriguez and Barnes, had dropped out of the governor&#8217;s race prior to the primary. the court&#8217;s decision affirms that absentee ballots are final once cast and returned, with no provision for &#8220;spoiling&#8221; them afterward.  <\/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\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Wisconsin Democrats lost a last-ditch effort to re-cast absentee ballots for voters after some of their candidates dropped out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">Dane County Circuit Judge David Conway ruled that voters cannot \u201cspoil\u201d an absentee ballot after it has been returned to their local election office, <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wpr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026cv002400-order-7-29-26.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according<\/a> to the court order filed July 29. Three Dane County plaintiffs, Joseph Alan Bins, Thomas Elert and Susan Roberts, alleged they could no longer vote for a new Democrat candidate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">Elert and Roberts alleged they would have waited to return their ballots if they knew they could not vote again, per the order.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">\u201cThe Court concludes that the unambiguous language of the statute does not allow a voter to spoil an absentee ballot after it is returned. The clerk\u2019s duty to issue a new ballot is triggered whenever a properly identified voter \u2018returns a spoiled or damaged ballot,\u2019\u201d the judge said, according to the order.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">The Wisconsin Elections Commission and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin ech did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation\u2019s request for comment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">All three plaintiffs voted for Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez in the Democratic primary for governor before Rodriguez\u2019s campaign manager mishandled her financial records, prompting her decision to drop out of the race on July 17, Politico <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/07\/17\/wisconsin-governor-race-sara-rodriguez-drops-out-01002957\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">\u201cToday I\u2019m suspending my campaign. Thank you to everyone who believed and showed up for this campaign. Let\u2019s keep fighting \u2013 together \u2013 to protect the Wisconsin we love,\u201d Rodriguez said in an X <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/saraforwi\/status\/2078129560424509931?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">post<\/a> that day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">Former Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes dropped out of the governor\u2019s race July 30 citing poor polling numbers, <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/politics\/mandela-barnes-drops-out-of-democratic-primary-race-for-wisconsin-governor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according<\/a> to PBS.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s become very clear who our nominee is going to be,\u201d Barnes said, according to the outlet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">Socialist Democratic State Assemblywoman Francesca Hong was the heavy favorite to win Tuesday\u2019s Democratic primary, but conceded on Wednesday to Democratic Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who was endorsed by outgoing Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">Former Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation CEO Missy Hughes previously withdrew from the race and endorsed Rodriguez on June 22, Wisconsin Public Radio <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wpr.org\/news\/democrat-missy-hughes-suspends-campaign-for-governor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">The Wisconsin Elections Commission previously decided to prevent already-returned absentee ballot spoiling in a 4-2 July 9 vote, <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wispolitics.com\/2026\/judge-rejects-dem-request-to-allow-voters-to-recast-absentee-ballots\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according<\/a> to WisPolitics.<\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimer\">\n<p>All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. 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( opts[inputs[i]] = document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display = 'block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src = firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id'] = firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting = jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display = 'block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wisconsin Democrats&#8217; last attempt to reissue absentee ballots failed after some candidates withdrew. Judge Conway ruled voters cannot \u201cspoil\u201d ballots once returned, per July 29 court order<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2645368,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_1153.jpeg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[84211,57156,74332],"class_list":["post-2645367","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-electionconfidence","tag-judicialruling","tag-votingrights"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_1153.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645367","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\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2645367"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645367\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2645371,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645367\/revisions\/2645371"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2645368"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2645367"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2645367"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2645367"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}