NOW
TO
ELECTION NEWS
AND A
% CONTROVERSY OVER
VOTING
ROLLS.
% NEARLY A
QUARTER
MILLION
% WISCONSIN
VOTERS
THIS
FALL
GOT
% LETTERS
ASKING WHETHER
THEY
HAD
% MOVED UNDER
PROVISIONS OF
THE
% NATIONAL
ELECTION
REGISTRATION
% INFORMATION
CENTER,
OR
ERIC.
% IF
THOSE
VOTERS DON'T
RESPOND,
% THEY GET
REMOVED
FROM
THE
VOTING
% ROLLS.
% THE STATE
ELECTIONS COMMISSION
% PLANS TO PURGE
THE
UNRESPONSIVE
% VOTERS
AFTER
APRIL,
2021.
% BUT A
LAWSUIT
FILED
LAST
MONTH
% SEEKS
TO
REMOVE
THE
VOTERS
30
% DAYS
AFTER
RECEIPT OF
THE
% MAILING.
% IN
THE
MIDST
OF
ALL
OF
THIS,
THE
% COMMISSION IS
ASKING
THE
STATE
% LEGISLATURE TO
ESTABLISH
% SPECIFIC
PROCEDURES
OR
GRANT
% ELECTION
OFFICIAL RULE-MAKING% AUTHORITY T
O
DECIDE.
% THESE LEGAL
QUESTIONS
AROUND
% VOTER
ELIGIBILITY
COME
LESS
THAN% A YEAR FROM
THE
PRESIDENTIAL% ELECTION
THAT
HAS
WISCONSIN
% PEGGED
AS
THE
MOST
IMPORTANT
% ELECTORATE IN
THE
NATION.
% THE CHAIR OF
THE
WISCONSIN
% ELECTIONS
COMMISSION
IS
DEAN
% KNUDSON
AND
HE
JOINS
US
NOW.
% >>
GLAD TO
B
E
HERE.
% >>
SO,
AGAIN,
THE
ELECTIONS
% COMMISSION
WOULD
MAINTAIN THE
% VOTERS
UNTIL AFTER
THE
2021
% ELECTION.
% WHY
SO
LONG?
% >>
WELL,
THE
2015
LAW
THA
T
MADE
% WISCONSIN A MEMBER OF
ERIC
% PROVIDED
NO
SPECIFIC DIRECTION
% OR AUTHORITY TO
THE
COMMISSION
% FOR
HOW
WE
WOULD
HANDLE
THESE
% VOTERS THAT ARE
IDENTIFIED
AS
% POSSIBLY
MOVED.
% THE
MOVERS'
LIST HAS
BEEN
NOW
% HANDLED
B
Y
ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY% SET
BY
THE
ELECTIONS
COMMISSION.
% WE'VE
DECIDED
THAT
THIS
YEAR
WE
% SENT
THESE
OVER
200,000
% POSTCARDS.
% IF ANYONE
RECEIVED ONE OF
THOSE,% THEY SHOULD
GO
TO
MYVOTEWI
GOF
F
% AND
REVIEW
AND
CORRECT
THEIR
% REGISTRATION AS
NEEDED.
% BUT
WITHOUT ANY
STATUTORY
% DIRECTION
OR
AUTHORITY,
WE'VE% COME UP
WITH A
SYSTEM WHERE
% AFTER
THAT
MAILING
IS
RECEIVED,
% THESE VOTERS
WILL
STILL
BE
ABLE
% TO COME
TO
THE
POLLS,
BUT
WHEN
% THEY
ARRIVE
TO
VOTE,
THEIR
SPOT% ON
THE
POLL
LIST WILL
BE
% DEMARCATED
THAT
SAYS
THEY'RE
ON
% THAT
MOVERS'
LIST.
% THEY'LL B
E
ASKED DID
YOU
AND
% TOLD
THAT
BY
SIGNING
THAT
POLL
% LIST THAT THEY
ARE
AFFIRMING
% THAT THEY HAVE
NOT
MOVED
AND
% THEY
STILL
LIVE AT
THAT
ADDRESS.
% WE
FEEL
THIS
COMPLIES
WITH ALL
% STATE
LAWS.
% VERY CONFIDENT IN
THAT.
% AND
I
THINK IT
WILL
PROVIDE
% UNIFORMITY ACROSS THE
STATE,
% WHICH IS
SOMETHING
WE DIDN'T
% HAVE IN
2017
WHEN
SOME
LOCAL
% OFFICIALS USED
THEIR
LOCAL
% CONTROL AND
PREROGATIVE TO
WANT
% TO
REACTIVATE
THE
VOTERS
THAT
% HAD
BEEN
INACTIVATED ON
THE
% MOVERS'
LIST.% >>
MEANWHILE,
THIS
LAWSUIT
% AGAINST THE
COMMISSION
WOULD
% DEACTIVATE SUCH
VOTERS
AFTER
30
% DAYS.
% IS
THERE
SOMETHING WRONG WITH
% THAT, IN YOUR
MIND?
% >>
WELL,
I'M
PRETTY CONFIDENT
% THAT
THE
LAWSUIT
--
THAT
!
--
THAT
THE
% COMMISSION HAS
FOLLOWED
THE
LAW.
% THE
WILL
LAWSUIT CLAIMS
THAT
THE
% COMMISSION HAS
THE
AUTHORITY AND
% THE
MANDATE
TO
INACTIVATE, BUT
% WE
DON'T
FIND
EITHER
OF
THOSE
IN
% THE
STATUTES.
% FOR
FOUR-YEAR VOTER
MAINTENANCE,
% SECTIONS
ONE
AND
TWO OF
THE
LAW
% YOU
REFERENCED DEAL
WITH
THAT
% AND
SPECIFICALLY
SAY
THAT
THERE% WILL
BE A
MAILING
AFTER
30
DAYS,
% THEY'RE
INACTIVATED.
% SECTION
THREE
DOESN'T
MENTION
% THE
ELECTIONS COMMISSION AT
ALL.
% IT ONLY
GIVES
THAT
AUTHORITY TO
% THE LOCAL
CLERKS
T
O
DO
IN
% ACTIVATION.
% SO
BECAUSE WE
TRIED
TO DO
IT
% THAT
WAY
IN
2017,
IT
WOULDN'T
% HOLD
UP.
% WE
NEED
SOMETHING
THAT'S
% UNIFORM.
% AND
WE
REALLY
NEED
GUIDANCE FROM
% THE
LEGISLATURE.% >>
WELL,
MEANWHILE, THE
GROUP
% THAT'S
FILED
THE
LAWSUIT SAYS
% THAT THE
ELECTIONS
COMMISSION IS
% PUTTING
WISCONSIN'S
ELECTION
% INTEGRITY
AT
RISK.
% IS WHAT
YOU'RE
DOING
LIKELY
TO
% LEAD
TO
FRAUDULENT
VOTING?
% >>
SO
EVERYONE THAT'S
ON
THAT
% LIST
IS A
REGISTERED VOTER.
% WHEN
THEY
ARRIVE
AT
THE
POLL,
% THEY
WON'T
VOTE UNLESS
HE
THEY
% AFFIRM AND
SWEAR
BY
SIGNING
THAT
% POLL
LIST
THAT
THEY
STILL
LIVE% AT
THAT
ADDRESS
WHERE
THEY'RE
% REGISTERED.
% IN MOST
CASES,
THEY
ACTUALLY DID
% MOVE.
% AND
I
N
2017,
WE
FOUND
THAT
THE
% FALSE
POSITIVE
MATCH
RATE
RAN
% AROUND
6%
TO
7%.
% THIS
TIME,
WE
EXPECT MAYBE IT
% WILL
BE DOWN
TO
3%
OR SOMETHING% IN THAT NEIGHBORHOO
D.
% TIME WILL
TELL.
% SO
FAR,
SINCE
THE
MAILING WENT
% OUT,
ABOUT A
HALF A
PERCENT HAVE
% GONE IN
AND
SAID,
HEY,
WE
DO
% ACTUALLY
STILL
LIVE
HERE.
% WE
WERE A
FALSE
POSITIVE
MATCH% ON
THE
ERIC
LIST
MATCH.
% THIS
IS
WHY IT
WOULD
BE
SO
% HELPFUL TO
HAVE
SPECIFIC
% STATUTORY
GUIDELINES AND
% AUTHORITY, WHICH
WE
DON'T
HAVE.
% THIS
ISN'T
THE ONLY
AREA,
% FREDERICA.
% THE
2015
LAW
ALSO
DIDN'T
DEAL
% WITH ANOTHER
PART
OF
ERIC,
WHICH
% DEALS
WITH
WHEN
ERIC
FINDS
THAT% A
VOTER MAY HAVE
VOTED
IN
TWO
% DIFFERENT STATES IN
THE
SAME
% ELECTION,
THE
2015
LAW
WAS
% COMPLETELY SILENT ON
THAT AS
% WELL.
% THE
ELECTIONS COMMISSION
HAS
% DECIDED THAT
WHEN
WE
GET
% EVIDENCE
THAT
THAT MAY HAVE
% HAPPENED,
WE'RE
GOING
TO
LOOK
% THROUGH THAT EVIDENCE
AND
MAKE
% CRIMINAL REFERRALS WHEN
THE
% EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THAT.
% WE
WILL
NOT
TOLERATE VOTER
FRAUD
% IN
WISCONSIN.% >> HAVEN'T
YOU
HEARD
FROM
THE
% LEGISLATURE ON
THIS
AND
THEY'VE
% SAID,
YEAH, GO
AHEAD
AND
FOLLOW
% THE STATUTE
THAT
THE
LAWSUIT
% CITES?%>>
WELL,
I
RECEIVED A
LETTER
% YESTERDAY FROM
THE
TWO
ORIGINAL
% CO-AUTHORS OF THE
2015
BILL,
TWO
% STATE
SENATORS,
SAYING
THAT,
% WELL, YOU
SHOULD
FOLLOW
THE
% SECTION OF THE
LAW
THAT
DEALS
% WITH THE
FOUR-YEAR LIST
% MAINTENANCE.
% THIS
ISN'T
FOUR-YEAR
LIST
% MAINTENANCE.
% AND
SO
WE
REALLY
D
O
NEED TO
HAVE
% THE
LEGISLATURE
GET INVOLVED.
% IN ABSENCE OF
THAT,
I
WELCOME
% PERSONALLY --
NOT
SPEAKING FOR
% THE
COMMISSION, BUT
PERSONALLY
% AS
ONE
MEMBER OF THE
COMMISSION,
% I
WELCOME THE
LAWSUIT
IF
IT
WILL
% HELP
BRING
CLARITY.
% BUT
I
SUSPECT IT
WILL
NOT
% BECAUSE I
THINK
THE
JUDGE
WILL
% LOOK AT
THE
LETTER OF
THE
LAW
% AND SAY YOU
HAVE
NO
AUTHORITY
% RIGHT
NOW
TO
DO
THAT IN
% ACTIVATION.%>> ALL RIGHT.
% WE
NEED
TO
LEAVE
IT
THERE.
% THERE
IS A
COURT
HEARING
ON
THIS
% NEXT
FRIDAY.
% DEAN
KNUDSON,
THANKS VERY
MUCH
%
FOR
JOINING
US.
% >>
THANKS FOR
HAVING
ME.
% >>
A
S
MENTIONED, A
LAWSUIT
FILED
% AGAINST THE
ELECTIONS
COMMISSION
% LAST MONTH
SEEKS
TO
REMOVE
% UNRESPONSIVE VOTERS 30
DAYS
% AFTER
RECEIPT OF
THE
MAILING.
% THE
LAWSUIT
WAS
FILED
BY
THE
% WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW
AND
% LIBERTY.
% RICK
ESENBERG
IS
THE
PRESIDENT
% AND
GENERAL
COUNSEL OF THE
% INSTITUTE.
% HE JAINS
!
JOINS
US FROM UK MA.
% WHY DID
YOU
FILE A
LAWSUIT
% AGAINST
VOTERS
WHO
DON'T
ACT
% AFTER 30
DAYS?
% >> THIS
IS
REALLY
ABOUT
% FOLLOWING THE
LAW.
% THE
LEGISLATURE
HAS
DECIDED
THAT
% IT'S IMPORTANT
FOR
OUR
VOTER
% ROLLS TO
BE
ACCURATE,
BOTH
FOR
% PURPOSES
OF
EFFICIENT ELECTION
% ADMINISTRATION
FOR
THE
% PREVENTION
AND
THE
POSSIBILITY
% OF FRAUD.
% SO
IT
HAS
TOLD
THE
WISCONSIN
% ELECTION
COMMISSION
THAT
IF
IT
% HAS RELIABLE
EVIDENCE
THAT
% SOMEONE
HAS
MOVED
FROM
THE
% ADDRESS
AT
WHICH
THEY'RE
% REGISTERED, THAT
THERE'S A
% PROCEDURE TO BE
FOLLOWED.
% THESE
INDIVIDUALS
ARE TO
BE
SENT% A
POSTCARD.
% IF
THEY
DON'T
RETURN
THE
% POSTCARD
WITHIN
30
DAYS,
THEIR
% REGISTRATION
IS
DEACTIVATED.
% THIS DOESN'T
MEAN
THEY
CAN'T
% VOTE,
BECAUSE HERE IN
WISCONSIN,% OF
COURSE, YOU HAVE
SAME-DAY
% REGISTRATION.
% AND
SO
IF
SOMEONE
GOES
TO
T
HE
% POLLS TO
VOTE
AND
THEY'RE
NOT
% REGISTERED,
THEY
CAN
REREGISTER% AND
CAST
THEIR
BALLOT.% >> S
O
THE
ELECTIONS
COMMISSION,
% AS WE
KNOW,
WANTED
TO
GIVE
THESE
% PEOPLE UNTIL
APRIL,
2021.
% WHAT'S THE DANGER OF
KEEPING
% VOTERS ACTIVE
EVEN
IF THEY
HAVE
% TO
REREGISTER
AT
THE
POLLS?
% >>
WELL,
I
THINK THERE ARE
TWO
% THINGS.
% FIRST OF
ALL,
THE
DETERMINATION
% OF
HOW
YOU
SHOULD
GO
ABOUT
% MAINTAINING THE
ROLLS
AND
WHEN
% YOU
SHOULD
DEACTIVATE
SOMEONE'S
% REGISTRATION
IS A
DETERMINATION
% FOR THE
LEGISLATURE.
% AND
THE
LEGISLATURE HAS
PASSED A
% LAW
WHICH
SPECIFIES THIS
PERIOD
% OF REMOVAL
FOR
FAILURE
TO
RETURN% A
POSTCARD.
% IF
WE
DON'T
LIKE
THAT,% ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENCIES
LIKE
THE
% ELECTION
COMMISSION CAN'T
SIMPLY
% IGNORE
THAT.
% THEY
WOULD
HAVE TO GO
T
O
THE
% LEGISLATURE AND
ASK
THEM
TO
% CHANGE THE LAW.
% SO
THE
FIRST
CONCERN IS
RULE
OF
% LAW.
% NOW, I
THINK
THE REASON
THAT
THE
% LEGISLATURE HAS
DONE
THIS
IS
% THAT
OVER
TIME
-
AND THIS IS
% NOT A PROBLEM ONLY IN
WISCONSIN,
% BUT
NATIONALLY
-
OUR
VOTER
% ROLLS
HAVE
BECOME
QUITE
% INACCURATE.%YOU
KNOW, THERE ARE
ESTIMATES
% THAT ONE
IN
EIGHT
REGISTRATIONS
% ARE
OUTDATED.
% THIS CREATES
PROBLEMS
WITH
% ELECTION
ADMINISTRATION, AND
IT
% ALSO
CREATES
THE
POTENTIAL FOR
% FRAUD,
IN
THE
SENSE
THAT THERE
% ARE
MANY
PEOPLE WHO ARE
LISTED
% AS
BEING
REGISTERED
AT A
% PARTICULAR ADDRESS
WHO
CAN
% REQUEST
ABSENTEE
BALLOTS
OR
% ABSENTEE
BALLOTS CAN
BE
% REQUESTED IN
THEIR
NAME.
% SO OUR
LEGISLATURE HAS
% DETERMINED THAT WE
OUGHT
T
O
DO
% WHAT WE
CAN,
TAKE
REASONABLE% STEPS
TO ENSURE
THAT
THE
ROLLS
% ARE
ACCURATE.% >>
LET
ME
TALK
ABOUT
THAT
% STATUTE
FOR A
MINUTE,
WHICH
YOU
% CITE,
WHICH
SAYS IF
THE
ELECTOR
% NO LONGER
RESIDES
IN
THE
% MUNICIPALITY OR
FAILS
TO
APPLY
% FOR
THE
CONTINUATION
OF
% REGISTRATION WITHIN 30
DAYS OF
% THE
DATE
THE
NOTICE IS
MAILED,
% THE
CLERK
OR BOARD
OF
ELECTION
% COMMISSIONERS SHALL
CHANGE
THE
% REGISTRATION FROM
ELIGIBLE
TO
% INELIGIBLE STATUS.
% BUT
THE
COMMISSION
TELLS
ME
THAT
% THAT
STATUTE
APPLIES
TO
% MUNICIPAL CLERKS
AND
DOESN'T
% DEFINE RELIABLE
INFORMATION
% ABOUT ADDRESS
CHANGES.
% WHAT ABOUT
THAT?
% >> THERE ARE
TWO
ISSUES.
% ONE
IS
THE
APPLICABILITY OF THE
% STATUTE.
% NOW,
THE
LEGISLATURE
ENACTED
AND
% DEPUTIZED
THE
WISCONSIN
ELECTION
% COMMISSION
TO
MAINTAIN A
% STATEWIDE
REGISTRATION
LIST A
% NUMBER OF
YEARS
AGO.
% AND IT
IS
NONSENSICAL
TO
SUPPOSE
% THAT
THE
LEGISLATURE, HAVING
% GIVEN
THIS
RESPONSIBILITY TO
THE
% WISCONSIN
ELECTION
COMMISSION,
% DOESN'T INTEND
THAT
THE
ELECTION
% COMMISSION COMPLY WITH
ALL
THE
% VARIOUS
OBLIGATIONS THAT
ARE
% IMPOSED
O
N
ELECTION
OFFICIALS
IN
% MAINTAINING THAT
ROLL.
% SO
ESSENTIALLY
FOR
T
HE
ELECTION
% COMMISSION TO SAY
THAT
THE
LAW
% DOESN'T APPLY
TO
THEM
MEANS
THAT% THEY HAVE SOMEHOW
EXES
EMPTIED
% THEMSELVES FROM EVERYTHING THAT
% THE
STATUTE
SAYS
ABOUT
HOW
THOSE
% ROLLS
ARE TO
BE
MAINTAINED.% >>
LET'S
JUST
CUT
IN
HERE A
% MINUTE
AND
ASK WHAT YOU
THINK
OF
% HAVING
THE
LEGISLATURE WEIGH IN
% ON
THIS
NOW
AND
OFFER
GUIDANCE
% ON
SPECIFIC PROCEDURES
AS
THE
% ELECTIONS COMMISSION IS NOW
% SEEKING IN
THE
MIDST
OF
ALL
OF
% THIS.%>> RIGHT.%IN
THE
MIDST
OF
ALL
THIS
THE
% ELECTION COMMISSION HAS
INFORMED
% THE COURT THAT
THEY'RE
GOING TO
% ASK THE
LEGISLATURE
FOR
% GUIDANCE.
% THE
LEGISLATURE PROVIDED
THAT
% GUIDANCE
AND
TOLD
THEM
THE
LAW
% COULDN'T BE
CLEARER,
THAT
THEY
% OUGHT TO FOLLOW
THE
LAW
AS
IT'S
% BEEN
WRITTEN UNTIL
SUCH
TIME
AS
% THE
LEGISLATURE
CHANGED
IT.
% I DON'T THINK
IT'S
WRONG
TO
% IMPOSE
SOME
OBLIGATION
ON
VOTERS
% TO RESPOND
TO A
NOTIFICATION
% LIKE THIS.
% AND,
AGAIN,
IF
THEY
DON'T
% RESPOND IN
THE
NOTIFICATION,
% BECAUSE WE
HAVE
SAME-DAY
% REGISTRATION,
THEY WON'T BE
% DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO
VOTE.
% THEY'LL
SIMPLY
HAVE
TO
% REREGISTER
AT
THE
POLLS.
% BECAUSE WE
HAVE
PHOTO
I.D.
EVERY
% VOTER WILL
HAVE
THE
% DOCUMENTATION
TO