{"id":934987,"date":"2021-10-28T22:58:39","date_gmt":"2021-10-29T02:58:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=934987"},"modified":"2021-10-28T22:58:41","modified_gmt":"2021-10-29T02:58:41","slug":"racine-county-sheriff-absentee-ballot-voting-election-statute-not-just-broken-but-shattered-by-wisconsin-elections-commission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/racine-county-sheriff-absentee-ballot-voting-election-statute-not-just-broken-but-shattered-by-wisconsin-elections-commission\/","title":{"rendered":"Racine County Sheriff: Absentee Ballot Voting Election Statute &#039;Not Just Broken, But Shattered&#039; by Wisconsin Elections Commission"},"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\">34<\/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%2Fracine-county-sheriff-absentee-ballot-voting-election-statute-not-just-broken-but-shattered-by-wisconsin-elections-commission%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=934987&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><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/nursing-home-dining-hall-masks-ap-640x335-1.jpg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p class=\"subheading\">Racine County, Wisconsin, Sheriff Christopher Schmaling <a href=\"https:\/\/www.racinecounty.com\/departments\/sheriff-s-office\">said<\/a> at a news conference on Thursday the state election statute that governs absentee voting in residential care facilities \u201cwas not just broken, but shattered, by members of the WEC, the Wisconsin Election Commission,\u201d in the 2020 election.<\/p>\n<p>Schmaling said that his office prepared a PowerPoint presentation with a detailed timeline of an investigation into a complaint filed by a local resident that a nursing home \u201ctook advantage\u201d of her late mother when filing an absentee ballot for her in 2020 \u201cso our citizens can better understand how our election law was broken.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<p>NewsTalk 1130 WISN <a href=\"https:\/\/newstalk1130.iheart.com\/featured\/common-sense-central\/content\/2021-10-28-investigators-present-evidence-wec-committed-felony-election-fraud\/?fbclid=IwAR135CbEAPvVgbxXj0NOKUBEgjwM0cjEGH5xGYkptfPoe7A7Kg4uzh-XXKI\">reported:<\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"26\">\n<p>Schmaling said WEC commissioners and staff who prohibited legally-required special voting deputies from entering nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic and instead told nursing home staff members to assist residents in voting committed a Class I felony, which is punishable by a maximum sentence of three years, six months in prison and $10,000 in fines.<\/p>\n<p>Wisconsin Statute 6.875 explicitly provides that special voting deputies are the only people authorized to assist in voting in nursing homes and that \u201cno individual who is employed or retained, or within the two years preceding appointment has been employed or retained, at a qualified retirement home or residential care facility in the municipality, or any member of the individual\u2019s immediate family\u2026may be appointed to serve as a deputy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On March 10, 2020, WEC requested that Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers suspend the requirement that special voting deputies be deployed to nursing homes. The Governor\u2019s Office informed WEC that the Governor does not have the power to suspend voting laws, even during a public health emergency.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThis isn\u2019t your typical investigation. It\u2019s complex,\u201d Schmaling explained.<\/p>\n<p>Citizens attended the the press conference \u201cto put a face on the election law that was broken,\u201d Schmaling noted.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know how or who they voted for. I didn\u2019t ask, because it doesn\u2019t matter. . . The purpose of this presentation today is not political. It\u2019s not about Democrats. It\u2019s not about Republicans. It\u2019s about integrity, it\u2019s about accountability in the election process,\u201d Schmaling added.<\/p>\n<p>Shortly after the press conference, Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) tweeted:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" readability=\"12.487534626039\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Following the LAB report, what Sheriff Schmaling has uncovered + disclosed might only be tip of the iceberg of fraud in the 2020 election.<br \/>The Legislature must be given the time, resources, and cooperation of election officials to conduct a complete investigation of allegations. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/GNLBNwSJ6n\">https:\/\/t.co\/GNLBNwSJ6n<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SenRonJohnson\/status\/1453786176326971395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 28, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Fox 6 News <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox6now.com\/news\/wisconsin-election-law-violations-racine-county-sheriff-reveals-findings?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=ncl_amplify&amp;utm_campaign=20211028-icymi_wisconsin_election_law_violations_racine_county_sheriff_reveals_findings&amp;utm_content=ncl-UdQQtaBmXn&amp;_nlid=UdQQtaBmXn&amp;_nsid=b558538b-e5c6-4d63-9990-0d480806ef53\">reported<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"12\">\n<p>Racine County Sgt. Michael Luell investigated the issue and found the Ridgewood Care Facility had an unusual surge in voting activity in 2020. Luell reported eight of 42 families of residents at Ridgewood Care Facility said their loved ones didn\u2019t have the cognitive ability to vote and yet did.<\/p>\n<p>The investigation only related to this one nursing home. But Sheriff Schmaling said he expects Thursday\u2019s announcement will lead to others across the state coming forward.<\/p>\n<p>Schmaling is calling on Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul to launch an immediate investigation.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Schmaling added that he believes the absentee ballot statute was likely violated statewide, not just in Racine County.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>Assembly Speaker Robin Vos called on WEC Administator Meagan Wolfe to resign in light of the report. Vos <a href=\"https:\/\/journaltimes.com\/news\/local\/govt-and-politics\/updated-wisconsin-doj-responds-to-racine-county-sheriffs-election-fraud-allegations\/article_4a44331c-0ad9-50aa-bac6-ab181e23c9e8.html\">said<\/a> in a statement released late Thursday:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"10\">\n<p>People\u2019s trust in Wisconsin\u2019s elections has been tested. Many Wisconsinites feel elections are not safe and secure, and now the Racine County Sheriff\u2019s investigation found clear violations and law-breaking within the Wisconsin Elections Commission.&nbsp;Clearly there is a severe mismanagement of WEC, and a new administrator is needed. I am calling for the resignation of Meagan Wolfe as Elections Commission Administrator.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Wolfe responded by saying she would not resign in a <a href=\"https:\/\/urbanmilwaukee.com\/pressrelease\/statement-from-wec-administrator-meagan-wolfe\/\">statement<\/a> released by the WEC:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<blockquote readability=\"11.114599686028\">\n<p>As Wisconsin\u2019s nonpartisan chief election official, I have a statutory obligation to rise above political attempts to undermine our elections.Facts about how our elections are run in a secure, fair, and legal manner are available on our website at <a href=\"https:\/\/elections.wi.gov\/2020-ElectionQuestions.\">https:\/\/elections.wi.gov\/2020-ElectionQuestions<\/a>. Despite the current political firestorm, I will continue to apply my full focus on the important work of serving all Wisconsin\u2019s voters and local election officials. It would be irresponsible to spend any energy engaging a blatantly partisan and coordinated attempt to baselessly challenge the integrity of democracy in our great state.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Earlier in the day, Wolfe <a href=\"https:\/\/journaltimes.com\/news\/local\/govt-and-politics\/updated-wisconsin-doj-responds-to-racine-county-sheriffs-election-fraud-allegations\/article_4a44331c-0ad9-50aa-bac6-ab181e23c9e8.html\">offered the defense<\/a> that the decision made by the WEC to \u201csuspend\u201d the Wisconsin SVD law was made in a public meeting:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"7.2\">\n<p>The discussion about Special Voting Deputy access during the COVID-19 pandemic is over 18 months old and has occurred entirely in public meetings. Information about the topic is available on the WEC website here:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/elections.wi.gov\/node\/7537\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/elections.wi.gov\/node\/7537<\/a>.&nbsp;Agency staff cannot speak on behalf of our Commissioners without their guidance to do so.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>In his presentation Thursday, Sheriff Schmaling outlined the details of the governing state law, Wisconsin Statute 6.785, \u201cAbsentee Voting in Residential Care Facilities:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The law provides the exclusive means of absentee voting in facilities<\/li>\n<li>Special Voting Deputies (SVDs) shall be dispatched to the facilities<\/li>\n<li>No employee of a may be an SVD<\/li>\n<li>SVDs shall witness the vote and may assist<\/li>\n<li>SVDs can not accept absentee ballots not issued by an SVD<\/li>\n<li>No individual other than an SVD or relative may assist with residential absentee ballots<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In a detailed timeline, Schmaling noted that the WEC improperly \u201csuspended\u201d this law on March 12, 2020 and again on June 24, 2020 , an act for which they have no statutory authority.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B4\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>On March 10, 2020 \u201cthe Wisconsin Elections Commission (\u201cWEC\u201d) sent a letter to the Governor\u2019s Office asking to \u201csuspend\u201d the Special Voting Deputies (\u201cSVD\u201d) law \u2013 Wis. Stat. sec. 6.875.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The following day, on March 11, 2020, the \u201cGovernor\u2019s Office stated they did not have the power to suspend the SVD law.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Despite that response from the governor\u2019s office, one day later, on March 12, 2020 , the WEC issued a directive \u201csuspending\u201d the SVD law.<\/p>\n<p>On May 26, 2020, the underlying \u201cSafer at Home Order\u201d expired, but the following month, on June 24, 2020, the \u201cWEC extended its directive \u2018suspending\u2019&nbsp; the SVD law.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Then, on September 22, 2020, complainant \u201cJudy\u2019s mother, Shirley, voted absentee while she was a resident at the Ridgewood Care Center, which is a residential care facility.\u201d Three days later, on September 25, 2020, \u201d&nbsp;WEC extended its directive \u2018suspending\u2019 the SVD law.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Weeks later, on&nbsp; October 9, 2020, \u201cJudy\u2019s mother, Shirley, died\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On November 3, 2020, election day, \u201cShirley\u2019s vote is counted.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On November 24, 2020, \u201cJudy filed an affidavit with the WEC stating she believed the staff at Ridgewood Care Facility \u2018took advantage. of Shirley\u2019s \u201cdiminished mental capacity and filled out ballot(s) in her name.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On December 8, 2020, \u201cJudy\u2019s complaint is referred to the Racine DA\u2019s Office who requested an investigation by RASO [the Racine County Sheriff\u2019s Office].\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On December 18, 2020 investigators for the Racine County Sheriff\u2019s Office found:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Executive Director of the Ridgewood Care Facility&nbsp; stated he \u201choped\u201d his staff was \u201chonest\u201d while marking the voting ballot for the residents.<\/li>\n<li>The Director of Recreational Therapy stated that if a resident could only point to the ballot, her staff would fill in the appropriate dot.<\/li>\n<li>The Director of Recreational Therapy was \u201cconfident\u201d Shirley wanted to vote, but then admitted she did not have contact with Shirley, her staff would have contact with the residents.<\/li>\n<li>The Activities Aid stated if the resident did not want to vote, she would come back later.<\/li>\n<li>The Activities Aid stated she would leave the news channel on for a few days and then come back and see if the resident wanted to vote.<\/li>\n<li>The Activities Aid stated she would keep the ballots in her desk drawer when she was waiting for the residents to decide to vote.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Then on February 11, 2021 the Legislative Council released a report that \u201cState law does not empower the WEC to waive SVD\u2019s and there is no exemption for a pandemic.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Racine County, Wisconsin, Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said at a news conference on Thursday the state election statute that governs absentee voting in residential care facilities \u201cwas not just broken, but &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-934987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/934987","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\/52"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=934987"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/934987\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=934987"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=934987"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=934987"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}