BECAUSE AS OF THIS WEEK, THERE
ARE NO VOTING DISTRICT MAPS.
ZAC SCHULTZ EXPLAINS THE
IMPLICATIONS.
>> WITH THE OF A PEN, GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS ENDED THE FUTURE OF
REPUBLICAN SUPERMAJORITY IN THE
LEGISLATURE, GIVING DEMOCRATS A
PATH BACK TO THE MAJORITY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WITH THE THREAT OF A NEW
LIBERAL MAJORITY ON THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT CHOOSING
MAPS EVEN MORE FAVORABLE TO
DEMOCRATS.
ANALYSIS OF THE NEW MAP SHOWS
WHILE DEMOCRATS HAVE A CHANCE AT
WINNING THE ASSEMBLY THIS FALL,
IT WILL LIKELY TAKE FOUR YEARS
TO HAVE A SHOT AT THE STATE
SENATE, SIMPLY BECAUSE ONLY HALF
THE SEATS ARE UP EACH ELECTION.
BUT EVERS SAYS A MORE BALANCED
LEGISLATURE COULD MEAN IT MIGHT
BE POSSIBLE TO FIND COMPROMISE
ON ISSUES LIKE EXPANDING
MEDICAID.
>> I HAVE TO BELIEVE THERE IS AT
LEAST ONE REPUBLICAN IN THE
HOUSE OR THE SENATE THAT AGREES
WITH US ON THAT, AND MAYBE WE
CAN FIND A SOLUTION.
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> YOU'RE WATCHING "HERE AND
NOW" 2024 ELECTION COVERAGE.
>> FOLKS, IT'S A NEW DAY IN
WISCONSIN.
>> NEW VOTING MAPS ARE
OFFICIALLY SIGNED INTO LAW.
AND THE U.S. SENATE RACE FINALLY
HAS A REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," NEW
MAPS AND A NEW SENATE CANDIDATE
HAS THE STATE REVVING UP FOR THE
NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.
THE STATE OF THE TRIBES ADDRESS
LOOKS AT VICTORIES AND
CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR 11 TRIBAL
NATIONS IN WISCONSIN.
WHAT EARLY ABSENTEE BALLOT
COUNTING WOULD MEAN FOR
COMMUNITIES OF ALL SIZES.
AND HOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
COULD BE USED IN POLITICAL ADS.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR FEBRUARY
23.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> WISCONSIN ELECTORAL POLITICS
ARE CHANGING COURSE BECAUSE AS
OF THIS WEEK, THERE ARE NEW
VOTING DISTRICT MAPS.
SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER, ZAC
SCHULTZ, EXPLAINS THE
IMPLICATIONS.
>> WITH THE STROKE OF A PEN,
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS ENDED THE
FUTURE OF A REPUBLICAN
SUPERMAJORITY IN THE LEGISLATURE
AND GAVE DEMOCRATS A PATH BACK
TO THE MAJORITY.
>> THIS WILL BECOME ACT 94.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WITH THE THREAT OF A NEW
LIBERAL MAJORITY ON THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT CHOOSING
MAPS EVEN MORE FAVORABLE TO
DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS IN THE
LEGISLATURE TOOK THE GOVERNOR AT
HIS WORD WHEN HE SAID HE WOULD
SIGN HIS PROPOSED MAPS INTO LAW.
FEARING A TRICK AND A FEDERAL
LAWSUIT, DEMOCRATS IN THE
ASSEMBLY AND SENATE LARGELY
VOTED AGAINST THE MAPS AND SOME
ENCOURAGED THE GOVERNOR TO VETO
HIS OWN MAPS AND WAIT FOR THE
SUPREME COURT.
EVERS SAYS HE TALKED WITH THOSE
WITH CONCERNS BUT NEVER
CONSIDERED A VETO.
>> LAST WEEK, REPUBLICANS PASSED
THE MAPS I SUBMITTED TO THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT AND
THOSE ARE THE EXACT MAPS BEFORE
ME TODAY.
THEY'RE MY MAPS, NOTHING MORE
AND NOTHING LESS.
TO ME, THE DECISION TO ENACT
THESE MAPS BOILS DOWN TO THIS: I
MADE A PROMISE TO THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN THAT I WOULD ALWAYS
TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND
KEEPING THAT PROMISE TO ME
MATTERS MOST EVEN IF MEMBERS OF
MY OWN PARTY DISAGREE WITH ME.
>> Reporter: AFTER THE
SIGNING, DEMOCRATS CELEBRATED
THE NEW MAPS BUT REPUBLICANS
PROMISED THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO
WIN LEGISLATIVE MAJORITIES IN
THE FALL.
>> UNDER THESE MAPS, WE'LL SEE
MORE COMPETITIVE CONTESTED RACES
BY MAKING IT MORE LIKELY THE
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS WILL FIT
FOR ONE PARTY'S CONTROL TO
ANOTHER WHEN VOTERS' PREFERENCES
CHANGE.
EVERY VOTE MATTERS AND THAT'S
ALSO GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY.
>> I WAS A HUNDRED PERCENT, IF
NOT MORE, THAT THE GOVERNOR
SHOULD DO WHAT HE DID.
I'M REALLY PROUD OF HIM.
>> TOLD HIM CULLEN IS A FORMER
DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR AND
LONG AGO SERVED IN REPUBLICAN
GOVERNOR TOMI THOMPSON'S
ADMINISTRATION.
HE REMEMBERS THE DAYS WHEN
BIPARTISANSHIP WAS THE NORM AND
SAYS FAIR MAPS WILL HELP BRING
THAT ERA BACK.
>> IT JUST DOES ONE SIMPLE
THING: IT MEANS THE VOTES IN
NOVEMBER MATTER AGAIN.
ALL THAT'S MATTERED FOR THE LAST
13 YEARS WAS THE PRIMARY VOTES
AND HOW DO YOU AVOID A PRIMARY?
YOU STICK WITH YOUR BASE,
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
YOU DON'T WORK TOGETHER.
IF YOU WORK TOGETHER, YOU GET
CALLED A COMPROMISER OR A
MODERATE OR SOMETHING, YOU WILL
GET A PRIMARY.
>> Reporter: MOST ANALYSIS OF
THE NEW MAP SHOWS WHILE
úDEMOCRATS HAVE A CHANCE AT
WINNING THE ASSEMBLY THIS FALL,
IT WILL LIKELY TAKE FOUR YEARS
TO HAVE A SHOT AT THE STATE
SENATE SIMPLY BECAUSE ONLY HALF
THE SEATS ARE UP EACH ELECTION.
BUT EVERS SAYS A MORE BALANCED
LEGISLATURE COULD MEAN IT MIGHT
BE POSSIBLE TO FIND COMPROMISE
ON ISSUES LIKE EXPANDING
MEDICAID.
>> I HAVE TO BELIEVE THERE IS AT
LEAST ONE REPUBLICAN IN THE
HOUSE OR THE SENATE THAT AGREES
WITH US ON THAT AND MAYBE WE CAN
FIND A SOLUTION.
>> Reporter: REPORTING FROM
MADISON, I'M ZAC SCHULTZ FOR
"HERE AND NOW."
>> NEXT UP, THE STATE SUPREME
COURT CONSIDERATION OF A LAWSUIT
OVER CONGRESSIONAL MAPS.
MEANWHILE, IN THE STATEWIDE
ELECTION FOR U.S. SENATE,
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE ERIC HOVDE
ANNOUNCED HIS RUN THIS WEEK.
STEVEN POTTER HAS MORE ON THAT
RACE.
>> Reporter: REPUBLICAN AND
MILLIONAIRE REAL ESTATE
DEVELOPER, ERIC HOVDE, SAYS
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS
HE'S RUNNING FOR THE U.S.
SENATE.
>> I PROMISE YOU I'M GOING TO GO
AFTER IN FIXING OUR ECONOMIC
ISSUES.
WE HAVE TO SECURE OUR SOUTHERN
BORDER, AND IMMEDIATELY, AND END
THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS THAT IS
GOING ON RIGHT NOW TODAY.
>> Reporter: 59-YEAR OLD
MADISON NATIVE, HOVDE IS LOOKING
TO UNSEAT DEMOCRATIC TAMMY
BALDWIN WHO IS SEEKING HER THIRD
TERM IN OFFICE.
THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME HOVDE
HAS CHALLENGED BALDWIN.
HE LOST IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION
IN 2012.
BALD REIN CALLS HIM AN OUTSIDER.
>> CALIFORNIA BANK
MULTIMILLIONAIRE IS GOING TO
ENTER THE RACE.
IT SEEMS TO BE THE PLAYBOOK
THESE DAYS.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR A LOT OF
TALK ABOUT HIM IN WASHINGTON,
D.C..
NOT AS MUCH HERE IN WISCONSIN.
>> Reporter: NATIONALLY, THIS
RACE IS ONE TO WATCH AS
DEMOCRATS TRY TO HOLD ONTO A
VERY THIN MAJORITY IN THE
SENATE.
FOR "HERE AND NOW" I'M STEVEN
POTTER.
>> ALSO THIS WEEK AT THE
CAPITOL, THE STATE OF THE TRIBES
ADDRESS WAS DELIVERED BEFORE THE
FULL LEGISLATURE.
FOREST COUNTY POTTAWATOMIE JAMES
CRAWFORD DESCRIBED ACCESS TO
NUTRITIOUS FOOD, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, GOOD JOBS AND
HEALTHCARE.
>> THE RECOGNITION OF TRIBAL
SOVEREIGNTY IS ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT TENETS OF NATIVE
PEOPLES.
TRIBES HAVE BEEN GOVERNING HOW
THEIR OWN PEOPLE LIVE, ACT AND
RULE FOR COUNTLESS GENERATIONS.
AND EACH TRIBE IN WISCONSIN IS
ITS OWN SOVEREIGN NATION AND HAS
ITS OWN DISTINCT CHALLENGES AND
OPPORTUNITIES.
TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY IS NOT
SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN GRANTED;
BUT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE ALWAYS
INHERENTLY HELD.
THIS INHERENT SOVEREIGNTY IS
WHAT TRIBES CONTINUOUSLY WORK TO
PRESERVE, PROTECT AND ENHANCE
FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
THE PERSPECTIVES BROUGHT BY
WISCONSIN TRIBES AND
COLLABORATION WITH THE STATE
HAVE ACCOMPLISHED POSITIVE
THINGS FOR ALL OF US.
FOR EXAMPLE, HEALTHCARE.
HEALTHCARE IS ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT AND COSTLY SERVICES
THAT TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS PROVIDE
TO BOTH THEIR PEOPLE AND THE
GREATER COMMUNITY.
AND BECAUSE OF TRIBAL HEALTH
CENTERS -- AND BECAUSE TRIBAL
HEALTH CENTERS SERVE LARGE
POPULATIONS THAT ARE MEDICAID
ELIGIBLE, THEIR CONTINUED
OPERATION IS ESSENTIAL.
>> TRIBAL NATIONS IN WISCONSIN
WANT TO BUILD AN ADOLESCENT
RECOVERY AND WELLNESS CENTER IN
ONEIDA COUNTY ABOUT AN HOUR
NORTH OF WAUSAU.
THE YOUTH RECOVERY CENTER WOULD
BE A 36-BED RESIDENTIAL FACILITY
FOR TEENS AGED 13 TO 17 WITH
SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER.
BOARD MEMBERS OF THE TOWN OF
CASHEN WHERE IT WOULD BE LOCATED
OPPOSE IT, CITING SAFETY AND
REDUCED PROPERTY VALUES, AMONG
OTHER CONCERNS.
THE RECOVERY CENTER HAS BEEN ON
HOLD BECAUSE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
OPPOSITION.
MEANWHILE, THE OPIOID CRISIS HAS
OVERTAKEN NATIVE AMERICAN
COMMUNITIES IN WISCONSIN WHERE
OVERDOSE DEATHS ARE THREE TIMES
THE STATE RATE.
THE MENOMINEE TRIBAL CHAIR
SAYING OUR NATION IS IN CRISIS.
THE GREAT LAKES CENTER TRIBAL
COUNCIL IS BUILDING THE CENTER.
WE SAT DOWN WITH ITS C.E.O.,
BRIAN BAINBRIDGE, FOLLOWING THE
STATE OF THE TRIBES ADDRESS.
SO DESCRIBE FOR US WHAT THAT
OPIOID CRISIS LOOKS LIKE AMONG
TRIBAL NATIONS IN WISCONSIN.
>> WELL, THE OPIOID CRISIS LOOKS
LIKE ANY OTHER COMMUNITY
THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN.
NOT JUST TRIBAL.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND THE
TRIBES ARE SEEING THE CRISIS AND
NEEDING TO REACT.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE A PLACE, SAFE PLACE, SAFE
SPACE WHERE WE CAN HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE OUR KIDS,
SAVE OTHER PEOPLE'S KIDS
THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE STATE.
AND SO AS THE FACILITY IS
PLANNED, YOU KNOW, OVER 20 YEARS
IN THE MAKING, THE THOUGHT AND
MOVING FORWARD AND THE NEED, YOU
KNOW, IT'S -- IT'S REALLY ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE SOMEONE
HAS A GOOD PLACE TO GO AND, YOU
KNOW, IT'S -- WITH JUST ABOUT
ANY TYPE OF TRAUMA OR INCIDENT,
THERE'S A BACKGROUND, THERE'S A
STORY TO THAT, FOR EACH
INDIVIDUAL.
WE NEED TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE
THEY'RE COMFORTABLE TELLING THAT
STORY IN ORDER TO MOVE THEM
FORWARD.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE
CONCERNS ON THE PART OF THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT?
>> WELL, I RESPECT THEIR
CONCERN, AND EVEN THROUGH --
FROM THE BEGINNING AFTER WE
PURCHASED THE -- THE TRIBES
PURCHASED THE LAND, THAT WAS THE
FIRST THING I DID WAS REACH OUT
TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THE
TOWN BOARD AND SAID, HEY, I WANT
TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WHAT WE'RE
PLANNING ON DOING HERE WITH THIS
PROJECT AND EVEN INVITED THE
CHAIR TO MY OFFICE.
SHE SHOWED UP AND WE TALKED
ABOUT IT.
I HAD CONCEPTUAL DRAWINGS OF THE
FACILITY BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME
FEARS OF THINKING IT WAS A
DETENTION CENTER OR JUVENILE
PRISON-TYPE SETTING AND THE
PURPOSE, IT'S FOR INDIVIDUALS
THAT REALLY WANT TO BE IN A
PLACE AND GET TO A PLACE OF
WELLNESS.
AND IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE
INSTITUTIONAL, BECAUSE THAT'S
NOT CONDUCIVE TO HEALING.
YOU KNOW, THE STIGMA IS ALREADY
THERE AND WHEN SOMEONE IS GOING
THROUGH IT, HAVING A PROBLEM
WITH SUBSTANCE USE OR EVEN
MENTAL HEALTH, WE REALLY WANT TO
DE-STIGMATIZE THAT AND KEEP
THOSE ELEMENTS OUT OF THE
PROPERTY.
SO, YOU KNOW, MOVING THINGS
FORWARD AND EXPLAINING THAT
JUST, TOO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
CONCERNS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
OF MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THAT
UNDERSTANDING OF REALLY WHAT THE
PROJECT IS AND EFFORTS THAT THE
TRIBES ARE PUTTING FORTH, NOT
ONLY FOR OUR TRIBAL MEMBER
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, BUT FOR
NON-TRIBAL AS WELL.
IF THERE'S A NEED AND IT'S ONLY
36-BED WITH VERY LIMITED
RESOURCES AND FACILITIES WITHIN
THE STATE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
IF THERE'S -- IF THERE'S A PLACE
AND SOMEONE HAS A NEED, NO
MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU
COME FROM, THAT WE'RE GOING TO
TY TO HELP.
AND WE WANT TO DO THAT IN A WAY
TO REALLY SET THE GOLD STANDARD.
>> DID IT SURPRISE YOU, THE
OPPOSITION?
>> IT DID A LITTLE BIT, BUT WITH
ANYTHING, ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT,
WITHOUT ALL THE INFORMATION, YOU
KNOW, PEOPLE SPECULATE AND THAT
GOES THROUGH THE COMMUNITY, AND
I WANTED TO GET AHEAD OF THAT.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO
THINGS AS WE DEVELOP TO BRING
RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY WITH
UPGRADED BROADBAND.
WE'LL NEED THAT FOR A FACILITY.
UPGRADES IN THE POWER.
AND UPGRADING THE ROADS.
THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT
BENEFIT EVERYBODY WITHIN THAT
TOWNSHIP, THAT COMMUNITY.
>> WHEN A CHILD COMES OUT OF
THIS RECOVERY AND WELLNESS
CENTER, WHAT IS THE HOPE FOR
THAT PERSON?
>> THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE PERSON AND LET
THEM KNOW IT'S OKAY TO BE
VULNERABLE FOR A SECOND, BUT GET
PAST THAT VULNERABLE POINT TO BE
ABLE TO FUNCTION AND DO GOOD.
AND AS WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM
INSIDE THE FACILITY, WE'RE ALSO
PREPARING FOR THAT TRUE
WRAP-AROUND SERVICE.
SO WHEN I SAY WHAT IS OUR HOPE,
YOU KNOW, THAT IS TRULY WHAT WE
HOPE FOR, IS TO GIVE A PERSON
OPPORTUNITY TO DEFINE THEIR OWN
SUCCESS AND WHAT THAT MEANS.
>> IN MORE ELECTION NEWS, THEY
SHOULD JUST COUNT THEIR BALLOTS
FASTER.
THAT'S THE SENTIMENT OF THE
WISCONSIN SENATE MAJORITY LEADER
IN EXPLAINING HOW HIS CHAMBER
DOES NOT HAVE THE VOTES TO PASS
A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW
MUNICIPALITIES TO COUNT ABSENTEE
BALLOTS THE DAY BEFORE AN
ELECTION AND REQUIRE IT IN
MILWAUKEE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE
PANDEMIC, EARLY ABSENTEE VOTING
HAS BEEN ON THE RISE, LEAVING
ELECTION CLERKS SOMETIMES
SWAMPED WITH OPENING ENVELOPES
WELL INTO THE NIGHT.
THAT CAN CAUSE SWINGS IN RESULTS
LIKE WHAT HAPPENED IN 2020 WHEN
DONALD TRUMP FALSELY CLAIMED
VOTE DUMPING IN MILWAUKEE.
FOR AN ELECTION CLERK'S TAKE ON
THIS, WE TURN TO LEAST LISA TOLLEFSON.
WHAT KIND OF INCREASES HAVE YOU
SEEN IN ABSENTEE VOTING?
>> SO IN 2020, WE HAD 60% OF OUR
POPULATION VOTED ABSENTEE.
PRIOR TO THAT, IT WAS 20 TO 25%.
IT HAS NOT GONE DOWN TO THAT
RATE OF 20, 25%.
I'M EXPECTING TO SEE A LOT MORE
IN THIS COMING UP ELECTION AND
IN NOVEMBER.
WE MIGHT NOT REACH 60%, BUT IT'S
GOING TO BE DEFINITELY HIGHER
THAN IN THE PAST.
>> SO WHAT DO THOSE KINDS OF
NUMBERS MEAN ON ELECTION DAY AS
FAR AS COUNTING THE RESULTS?
>> SO ABSENTEE BALLOTS TAKE A
LOT MORE TIME TO PROCESS.
YOU'RE HAVING TWO PEOPLE REVIEW
EVERYTHING.
YOU HAVE TO OPEN IT, YOU HAVE TO
LOG IT.
THERE'S A WHOLE PROCESS THAT'S
AN EXTRA STEP THROUGHOUT, AND
ALL OF THAT TAKES TIME, AND YOU
DON'T WANT ANYONE TO RUSH.
YOU WANT THEM TO BE ACCURATE AS
POSSIBLE.
WHEN PEOPLE COME IN TO VOTE IN
PERSON, THEY'RE DOING ALL THAT
WORK FOR YOU.
THEY SIGN THE POLL BOOK, THEY
GIVE THEM A NUMBER, THEY GET
THEIR BALLOT, THEY PUT IT IN THE
MACHINE.
ON ELECTION DAY, IF WE'RE DOING
YOUR ABSENTEES, YOU HAVE TWO
PEOPLE DOING ALL THAT WORK FOR
THAT VOTER.
IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME.
>> AND SO KIND OF THE INCREASE
AND THE CRUSH OF THIS IS NOT
JUST DIFFICULT FOR LOCATIONS
LIKE MILWAUKEE?
>> NO.
IT INCREASES FOR EVERYONE.
EVERYONE EITHER HAS MORE POLL
WORKERS ON.
WE HAVE MUNICIPALITIES BUY EXTRA
MACHINES JUST TO HANDLE THAT
EXTRA VOLUME TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY COULD GET THEM PROCESSED.
YOU CAN'T EXPECT SOMETHING THAT
TAKES LONGER TO DO IN THE SAME
AMOUNT OF TIME THAT YOU ALREADY
HAVE.
YOU CAN'T DOUBLE YOUR TIME.
IT DOESN'T WORK.
>> WHAT WOULD IT MEAN, THEN, TO
BE ABLE TO BE COUNT ABSENTEE
BALLOTS THE DAY BEFORE THE
ELECTION?
>> SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF
ADVANTAGES, IS THAT YOU CAN GET
THOSE BALLOTS DONE AND YOU CAN
TAKE YOUR TIME TO MAKE SURE
EVERYTHING'S PROCESSED AND
DOUBLE-CHECKED.
THEN ALL YOU WOULD HAVE LEFT TO
DO ARE THE REMAINING OR JUST THE
ONES THAT COME IN ON ELECTION
DAY AND THEN YOU CAN FOCUS ON
TAKING CARE OF THOSE VOTERS THAT
COME INTO THE POLLS ON ELECTION
DAY.
BUT THE RESULTS COMING IN SOONER
IS THE BIGGEST PLUS.
IF YOU CAN GET EVERYTHING DONE
AS CLOSE TO 8:00 AS POSSIBLE,
ALL THE RESULTS COME IN EARLY,
THERE'S NOT AS MUCH CONFUSION
AND IT'S A LOT CLEARER AS TO THE
RESULTS BEFORE THOSE MANY, MANY
PEOPLE GO TO BED BEFORE IT'S
FINISHED ON ELECTION NIGHT.
>> CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW THERE
WOULD BE ANY ISSUE WITH ELECTION
INTEGRITY IF THESE BALLOTS WERE
COUNTED THE DAY BEFORE?
>> THERE ARE SO MANY SECURITY
IECES IN THIS, AND IN OUR WHOLE
SYSTEM, WE LOCK EVERYTHING DOWN.
THERE ARE SECURITY SEALS.
EVERYTHING HAS A CHECK AND
BALANCE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE
SYSTEM.
IT'S IN OUR SYSTEM.
IT'S IN PLACE WITH THIS NEW
BILL.
THIS WOULD -- I DON'T SEE THAT
AS BEING THE ISSUE.
EVERY BALLOT, EVERY ABSENTEE
BALLOT IS TRACKED THE ENTIRE WAY
THROUGH THE SYSTEM, WHEN IT'S
ISSUED, WHEN IT'S MAILED, WHEN
IT'S RECEIVED, WHEN IT'S
COUNTED.
EVERYTHING IS TRACKED.
>> SO INTERESTINGLY, THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF WISCONSIN IS
NOW ENCOURAGING EARLY ABSENTEE
VOTING, CALLING IT BANKING YOUR
VOTE.
DO YOU EXPECT THERE TO BE EVEN
MORE INTEREST IN THIS FOR THE
NOVEMBER ELECTION BECAUSE OF
>> ABSOLUTELY. THAT?-
I AM DEFINITELY ORDERING MORE
ABSENTEE BALLOTS SO WE'RE READY
TO GO.
>> WHAT ELSE ARE CLERKS KIND OF
DEALING WITH THIS ELECTION
CYCLE?
>> WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL
DIFFERENT THINGS.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT A.I..
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE GET SOME --
THAT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
COULD GET SOME MESSAGING THAT
COULD BE CONFUSING.
WE ARE LOOKING AT SAFETY
PROTOCOLS WE'VE NEVER LOOKED AT
BEFORE TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING
IS SAFE FOR OUR VOTERS AND OUR
POLL WORKERS.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN THE
BACKGROUND WE ARE PREPPING FOR
TO MAKE SURE WE'RE READY.
>> WHAT ARE THOSE KIND OF SAFETY
PROTOCOLS THAT YOU'VE NEVER DONE
BEFORE THAT YOU'RE NOW DOING?
>> LOTS OF CONTINGENCY PLANS.
LOTS OF CONTINGENCY PLANS.
AND SOME OF THEM, I DON'T LIKE
TO TALK ABOUT SO EVERYONE KNOWS
WHAT THEY ARE, BUT MAKING SURE
THAT IF WE NEED TO MOVE, IF WE
NEED TO SECURE SOMETHING
DIFFERENTLY, THERE'S -- THERE'S
PIECES THERE THAT WE ARE
DEFINITELY PREPPING FOR TO MAKE
SURE WE'RE READY.
>> WHAT ABOUT STAFFING?
IS THAT AN ISSUE?
I MEAN, IT'S AN ISSUE FOR
EVERYONE EVERYWHERE.
RIGHT?
BUT IS IT AN ISSUE FOR YOU AND
OTHER CLERKS?
>> I DON'T SEE IT RIGHT NOW, BUT
I HAVE A FEELING AS WE GO CLOSER
TO NOVEMBER AND WE SEE A LOT
MORE ABSENTEE BALLOTS, WE'RE
GOING TO NEED MORE STAFF.
AND EVERYWHERE, WE'RE HAVING
TROUBLE HIRING.
WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO STEP
FORWARD TO HELP.
SO ANYONE TO THINK ABOUT IT,
MORE ABSENTEE MEANS MORE WORK,
MORE CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT
NEED TO GO THROUGH EVERY ONE OF
THOSE ABSENTEE BALLOTS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, WE WISH YOU AND OTHERS
LUCK.
LISA TOLLEFSON, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IS THAT THE CANDIDATE'S
ACTUAL VOICE AND IMAGE ON THE
AIR OR ON-LINE, OR ONE GENERATED
BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE?
IN AN EFFORT TO DECEIVE VOTERS?
THIS ELECTION SEASON, IT COULD
BE HARD TO TELL.
THE RECENT RELEASE OF OPEN
A.I.'S LATEST TEXT-TO-VIDEO
FEATURE CALLED SORA MAKES HYPER
REALISTIC YET COMPLEX
ARTIFICIALLY GENERATED VIDEOS.
THE IMAGES ARE POTENTIALLY
IMPOSSIBLE TO DISCERN AS FAKE.
THAT'S WHY STATES INCLUDING
WISCONSIN ARE MOVING TO ENACT
LAWS AROUND THE USE OF A.I. IN
CAMPAIGNS.
A BILL MOVING QUICKLY THROUGH
THE LEGISLATURE WOULD REQUIRE
CAMPAIGN ADS THAT CONTAIN
SYNTHETIC MEDIA, OR AUDIO OR
VIDEO CONTENT SUBSTANTIALLY
PRODUCED BY MEANS OF GENERATIVE
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO
INCLUDE A DISCLAIMER.
THAT'S A GOOD THING, ACCORDING
TO EDGAR LIN, WISCONSIN POLICY
STRATEGIST AND AN ATTORNEY WITH
THE NONPROFIT, NON-PARTISAN,
PROTECT DEMOCRACY.
HE JOINS US NOW.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO ARE THERE EXAMPLES THAT
WE'VE ALREADY SEEN OUT THERE
THAT ARE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
GENERATED CAMPAIGN MATERIALS?
>> YES.
THE U.S. ELECTION SEASON IS ONLY
IN THE MIDST OF ITS PRY NARES
AND ALREADY WE HAVE EXAMPLES OF
POLITICAL PARTIES, CAMPAIGNS AND
AT LEAST ONE SUPER PAC USING
A.I.-GENERATED CONTENT IN ADS,
CAMPAIGN VIDEOS IN VOTER
OUTREACH.
I'LL GIVE YOU TWO EXAMPLES.
LAST SPRING, THE REPUBLICAN
NATIONAL COMMITTEE RESPONDED TO
PRESIDENT BIDEN'S RE-ELECTION
CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT WITH AN
A.I.-GENERATED VIDEO
ILLUSTRATING THE COUNTRY'S
PROJECTED FUTURE DURING A SECOND
BIDEN TERM.
THE OTHER EXAMPLE THAT I CAN
GIVE IS AT THE END OF LAST YEAR,
SHERIFF MAIN DANIELS, A
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE IN
PENNSYLVANIA, LAUNCHED AN INTERI
HAVE A A.I. POWERED CAMPAIGN
CRAWLER FOR VOTER OUTREACH, SO
THEY ARE BEING USED.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE U.S.
CONSISTENT WITH PROLIFERATION OF
A.I. GENERATED CONTENT IN
ELECTIONS AROUND THE WORLD,
ELECTIONS IN SLOVAKIA, ARGENTINA
LAST YEAR, MOST RECENTLY TAIWAN
AND INDONESIA.
>> ARE THEY ALWAYS USED
DECEPTIVIVELY?
>> NOT NECESSARILY.
THAT WILL DEPEND ON THE AD
ITSELF.
>> SO WHO IS MAKING THIS STUFF?
>> WELL, I THINK -- THERE'S A
LOT OF TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS THAT
ARE CREATING THESE TYPES OF
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
TECHNOLOGY AND THERE'S A LIST OF
THEM THAT I THINK PEOPLE
GENERALLY HEAR ABOUT THEM.
THERE'S CHAT-GPT, THERE'S --
THERE'S A WHOLE SLATE OF THEM.
>> ARE THEY EASY OR HARD TO SPOT
FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON?
>> HEH.
THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION.
IT DEPENDS.
NOW, I WILL SAY THAT IT'S AN
ARMS RACE IN TERMS OF SPOTTING,
IN TERMS OF THE TECHNOLOGY.
DETECTION CAPABILITIES ARE
DEVELOPING, BUT THEY ARE AND
NEVER WILL KEEP UP WITH AN
INCREASE OF SOPHISTICATION AND
REALISM OF A.I. GENERATE
CONTENT.
AS YOU'VE SEEN, WE'VE SEEN
PHOTOS FROM MAYBE LAST YEAR
WHERE PERHAPS THE FINGERS ARE A
LITTLE UNUSUAL.
BUT TODAY, THAT TECHNOLOGY HAS
ALREADY INCREASED CAPABILITIES
TO A LEVEL THAT WE -- WHAT WE
HAVE TODAY IS DIFFERENT FROM
LAST YEAR.
>> SO HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT
SYNTHETIC MEDIA WOULD DECEIVE
VOTERS?
>> YOU KNOW, IT IS LIKELY, AND
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE
NOT USED TO BECAUSE
HISTORICALLY, WE TRUST WHAT WE
SEE AND WE TRUST WHAT WE HEAR.
THAT'S VIDEO AND AUDIO.
IN TODAY'S WORLD AS THE
TECHNOLOGY RAMPS UP AT AN
INCREASING SPEED, THE DETECTION
IS VERY HARD AND SO WITH THAT,
THE LIKELIHOOD OF DECEPTION IS
VERY POSSIBLE.
>> SO AT THE VERY LEAST, HOW
IMPORTANT IS IT IN YOUR MIND
THAT THERE'S A DISCLOSURE THAT
SAYS THE AUDIO OR VIDEO CONTAINS
CONTENT GENERATED BY A.I.?
>> YOU KNOW, IT IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT.
VOTERS SHOULD ANTICIPATE THEY
MAY ENCOUNTER A.I. GENERATE
CONTENT RELATED TO THE ELECTION
AND SHOULD NOT JUST RELY ON
THEIR SENSES ALONE TO IDENTIFY
WHAT'S A.I.-GENERATED.VERSUS-
SO IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IN
THIS -- BUT I'LL JUST SAY THAT
THERE IS A -- THIS IS A
PORTFOLIO OF TOOLS.
THERE IS NOT ONE SILVER BULLET.
DISCLOSURE IS ONE.
DETECTION, YOU KNOW,
JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY, ALL
THESE ARE A HOST OF TOOLS THAT
COULD BE HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE
VIEWING THESE ADS.
>> HOW COULD THIS SYNTHETIC OR
A.I.-GENERATED MEDIA CAUSE EVEN
MORE MISTRUST IN ELECTIONS THAN
ALREADY EXISTS?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO THE THREATS TO OUR DEMOCRACY,
THE MISINFORMATION, THE PLAYBOOK
THAT PEOPLE USE, THEY'RE STILL
THE SAME.
THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT A.I.
MAKES THINGS BIGGER, FASTER AND
STRONGER.
IT'S ABOUT THAT ACCESSIBILITY TO
THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE YOU CAN
IMAGINE IN THE PAST, WE WATCH
MOVIES.
THERE ARE SPECIAL EFFECTS AND
THEY'RE VERY GOOD, BUT THAT'S
LIMITED TO PEOPLE WHO CAN MAKE
THOSE.
EVEN IF YOU THINK OF PHOTO
SHOPPING.
RIGHT?
THAT'S LIMITED TO PEOPLE WHO
KNOW HOW TO USE PHOTO SHOP WELL.
BUT WITH SYNTHETIC MEDIA, WITH
A.I.-GENERATED CONTENT, THAT
DOOR HAS BEEN OPENED FOR THE
PUBLIC TO USE AND SO IT'S ABOUT
ACCESSIBILITY TO THESE AWESOME
TECHNOLOGIES.
>> IT'S PRETTY SCARY STUFF.
EDGAR LIN, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG
AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.