Milwaukee Official Calls For Investigation Into Absentee Ballots

MILWAUKEE, WI — A Milwaukee official is seeking a probe of the city's absentee ballot process before the fall election, citing ballots never received by voters or ballots arriving too late. Many city voters voted by absentee ballot in order to avoid physical contact amid the new coronavirus pandemic.

Alderwoman Milele Coggs requested the investigation by the city Inspector General on Saturday after issues with the April 7 election. Officials have asked the U.S. Postal Service to investigate why so many absentee ballots were not delivered on time.

The Inspector General said they will look into the Election Commission's administration of the processes, as applicable to state rules and regulations.

Coggs said she wants the investigation done in time to make improvements before the fall general election.

"We need to strengthen our absentee voting process for residents and make sure we do not have a repeat of the same issues this fall," she said, according to the release.

See the full statement below:

Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs has requested a city Inspector General investigation of the city Election Commission’s absentee ballot process during the spring primary election.

Alderwoman Coggs, chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee, formally requested the investigation (to be ordered by the City Clerk) on Saturday, April 11 after several issues arose related to absentee ballots requested by citizens for the April 7 election.

Thousands of absentee ballots that were requested by residents either never arrived in the mail or arrived too late to be properly turned in and counted. City officials have asked for a U.S. Postal Service investigation of absentee ballots to seek answers as to why so many were not delivered to residents or arrived too late.

According to the Inspector General, the review will examine the Election Commission's administration of the Absentee Ballot processes as prescribed by the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC); Wis. Stat. §§ 6.22; § 6.24; 6.86(1)(b),(3)(a); §§6.84(1), 6.875; § 7.15(1))(cm); and all other applicable rules and regulations.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and stay home order prompted tens of thousands of Milwaukee voters to request absentee ballots, in order to avoid in-person voting on April 7.

Alderwoman Coggs said she wants the Inspector General investigation conducted to determine what happened with the Election Commission’s absentee ballot process and suggestions for ways that it can be improved in time for the 2020 fall General Election.

“We need to strengthen our absentee voting process for residents and make sure we do not have a repeat of the same issues this fall,” she said.