>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> PARTISANS MAKE THEIR FINAL
PUSH BEFORE TUESDAY'S PRIMARY
ELECTION.
WITH NATIONAL HEADLINERS DONALD
TRUMP AND MIKE PENCE FLYING IN
TO STUMP FOR THEIR CHOSEN G.O.P.
GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES.
AND ELECTION OFFICIALS ARE
WORKING HARD TO KEEP VOTERS
CONFIDENT IN THE PROCESS.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," ZAC
SCHULTZ PROVIDES A BLUEPRINT OF
THE G.O.P. CANDIDATES WHO HOPE
TO TAKE ON TONY EVERS IN THE
FALL.
A DEDICATED VOTER EXPLAINS THE
BARRIERS THAT EXIST FOR VOTERS
WITH DISABILITIES.
MILWAUKEE'S TOP ELECTION
OFFICIAL OUTLINES PREPARATION,
AND A CONVERSATION WITH THE NEW
CHANCELLOR OF WISCONSIN'S
FLAGSHIP UNIVERSITY.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
AUGUST 5TH.
FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THE FALL PRIMARY ELECTION IS
NEXT TUESDAY, AND THE MOST
HEATED RACE DOWN THE STRETCH HAS
BEEN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR
GOVERNOR.
"HERE AND NOW" SENIOR POLITICAL
REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ HAS THE
STORY ON WHAT SEPARATES THE
THREE MAIN CANDIDATES.
>> THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR DON'T
DIFFER THAT MUCH FROM EACH OTHER
IN POLICY, BUT THEY ARE VASTLY
DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF WHAT
ELEMENTS OF THE MODERN
REPUBLICAN PARTY THEY REPRESENT.
>> WELL, I FEEL GREAT ABOUT
WHERE WE ARE.
>> REBECCA KLEEFISCH REPRESENTS
ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICANS, THE
BRANCH OF THE PARTY THAT LOOKS
BACK FONDLY TO HER EIGHT YEARS
AT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR UNDER
SCOTT WALKER.
>> I INTEND TO LEAD THE STATE
INTO NEW REVOLUTION OF
CONSERVATIVE REFORM.
>> TIM MICHELS IS THE
BUSINESSMAN OUTSIDER, PRESIDENT
OF A LARGE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
HE'S RUNNING AS MILLIONAIRE WHO
DOESN'T NEED TO ASK FOR MONEY.
>> I AM NOT INSIDE THE BUBBLE.
THE INSIDERS DID NOT RECRUIT ME,
AND THEY ARE NOT BANKROLLING MY
CAMPAIGN.
AND I'M NOT BEHOLDEN TO THE
PACs, THE LOBBYISTS OR THE
SPECIAL INTERESTS. I REFUSE
THEIR MONEY, DON'T NEED IT,
DON'T WANT IT, WON'T TAKE IT.
>> TIM RAMTHUN IS A DIFFERENT
KIND OF OUTSIDER, ONE FROM
INSIDE THE ASSEMBLY.
>> I'M BEING ATTACKED AND
ACCUSED OF THINGS LIKE A
CONSPIRACY THEORIST.
NO I'M NOT.
I JUST WANT TRUTH AND
TRANSPARENCY.
EVERYONE ELSE SHOULD TOO.
>> AN EFFORT HIS OWN PARTY
IGNORED AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
HE WAS ENCOURAGED TO RUN FOR
GOVERNOR AFTER REPEATING FALSE
CLAIMS THAT LARGE SCALE FRAUD
TAINTED THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION.
>> I GOT ENGAGED, I GOT KNOWN
ALL OVER THE STATE AND WHEN I'M
GOING UP, YOU NEED TO RUN FOR
GOVERNOR.
>> RAMTHUN WASN'T THE FIRST
PERSON IN THE RACE BUT HE WAS
THE FIRST TO SHAKE IT UP BY
INJECTING IT WITH DONALD TRUMP'S
COCONSPIRACY THEORIES ABOUT
STUFFED BALLOT BOXES, HACKED
VOTING MACHINES AND COUNTERFEIT
BALLOTS.
>> IN MY HUMBLE OPINION WITH THE
EVIDENCE I HAVE, I CAN SHOW
NEFARIOUS ACTS, ILLEGAL ACTS,
FRAUDULENT ELECTIONS FOR THE
LAST 2 1/2 DECADES.
I GOT DATA THAT GOES BACK TO
CLINTON AGAINST DOLE IN 1996.
>> ALL OF THESE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN
DEBUNKED, AND WHEN PRESSED, HE
COULD ONLY SAY THE EVIDENCE IS
COMING.
>> JUDICIAL, PROSECUTIONS,
CONVICTIONS, ALL OF THAT'S
COMING.
SO I'VE BEEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE
OF THE FENCE THE WHOLE TIME.
I KNOW I HAVE IN MY HEART, I
KNOW I HAVE IN MY HEAD.
>> IN REALITY, AS GOVERNOR,
RAMTHUN WOULD DRAMATICALLY
REWRITE WISCONSIN ELECTION LAW,
ELIMINATING THE WISCONSIN
ELECTIONS COMMISSION, REQUIRING
A HAND COUNT OF MILLIONS OF
BALLOT ON ELECTION DAY, AND
SCALING BACK ABSENTEE VOTING.
>> THERE'S NO CHAIN OF CUSTODY
WHEN YOU PUT IT IN THE MAILBOX.
A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.
WE NEED TO HAVE SAME DAY, YOU
KNOW, ON PAPER, SAME DAY, HAND
COUNT.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THAT
KIND OF STUFF DONE.
>> AS FOR THE AUGUST PRIMARY,
RAMTHUN PLANS TO CONDUCT HIS OWN
FORENSIC AUDIT.
>> I HAVE VERY LITTLE CONFIDENCE
THAT WE WILL HAVE FAIR, SAFE AND
LEGAL ELECTIONS STARTING IN
AUGUST.
WE'LL HAVE A RERUN IN NOVEMBER
OF 2022.
>> EVERYONE NEEDS TO TAKE THINGS
WITH A GRAIN OF SALT UNTIL I CAN
BECOME GOVERNOR AND SIGN A WHOLE
BUNCH OF REFORMS THAT TONY EVERS
HAS ALREADY VETOED.
>> KLEEFISCH DOESN'T REPEAT THE
SAME ELECTION CONSPIRACY
THEORIES BUT HOPES TO CAPITALIZE
ON THE ANGER AMONG
CONSERVATIVES.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE NEED IN ORDER
TO ACTUALLY HAVE A REPUBLICAN
WAVE IN NOVEMBER.
WE NEED PEOPLE WHO, YES, ARE
FRUSTRATED BUT USE THAT
FRUSTRATION AS A MOTIVATION TO
SHOW UP.
>> IN A TELEVISED DEBATE,
MICHELS SEEMED TO PLACE BLAME ON
KLEEFISCH AND WALKER FOR
CREATING THE WEC IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
DON'T HAVE THESE QUESTIONS EVER
AGAIN IN WISCONSIN.
THESE ELECTION FRAUD ISSUES
SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED IN
PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS, BUT
HERE WE HAVE A MESS RIGHT NOW.
>> TIM MICHELS DID NOT AGREE TO
A SIT-DOWN INTERVIEW FOR THIS
STORY.
HE'S ONLY DONE A FEW INTERVIEWS
AND SKIPPED AN EARLIER
REPUBLICAN DEBATE, SOMETHING
KLEEFISCH MADE SURE TO
HIGHLIGHT.
>> AND TO MY OPPONENTS, TIM,
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
TIM, THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP
TONIGHT.
MY PRIORITIES ARE OUR FIRST
BUDGET MAKING SURE THAT --
>> KLEEFISCH DOES NOT SHY AWAY
FROM HER ESTABLISHMENT
CREDENTIALS.
>> YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR A LOT OF
TALK ABOUT EVERYONE RUNNING AS
THE OUTSIDER.
WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO APOLOGIZE
FOR KNOWING WHAT I'M DOING.
I MEAN, I'VE SPENT EIGHT YEARS
INSIDE, MAKING SURE THAT I KNOW
HOW TO RUN THIS STATE, MAKING
SURE THAT I KNOW HOW TO MAKE A
BUDGET THAT IS GOING TO BE
BENEFICIAL TO ALL OF WISCONSIN.
>> THE LEGISLATURE IS EXPECTED
TO REMAIN UNDER REPUBLICAN
CONTROL, SO ANY OF THESE
CANDIDATES COULD EXPECT TO SEE
THEIR AGENDA PASSED IN FULL.
ONE AREA THAT KLEEFISCH SAYS
WON'T CHANGE IS THE 1849
ABORTION LAW.
SHE DOESN'T EXPECT TO ADD IN NEW
EXCEPTIONS.
>> WE ALREADY HAVE A LIFE OF THE
MOTHER STATUTE ON THE BOOKS, AND
AS FAR AS I CAN SEE AND TELL,
THAT WILL STAY.
AND THAT IS MY POSITION, WHICH
HAS NOT CHANGED.
>> RAMTHUN TAKES A HARDER LINE,
AND WOULD END ALL EXCEPTIONS AND
EVEN ELIMINATE ABORTIFACIENT
BIRTH CONTROL THAT PREVENTS THE
IMPLANTATION OF A FERTILIZED
EGG.
>> WITHOUT EXCEPTION, LIFE
BEGINS AT CONCEPTION, LIFE IS A
GIFT FROM GOD.
IT'S NOT THE BABY'S FAULT IN HOW
THEY WERE CONCEIVED.
WE HAVE TO STOP KILLING BABIES.
>> KLEEFISCH WOULDN'T CLARIFY IF
SHE WOULD BAN ANY FORMS OF BIRTH
CONTROL.
>> BIRTH CONTROL WOULD REMAIN
LEGAL IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
>> ALL FORMS?
>> IT WILL REMAIN LEGAL IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN.
>> SOME PRIMARY VOTERS -- THE
ELECTABILITY FACTOR.
MICHELS AND KLEEFISCH HAVE BEEN
UP ON RAMTHUN IN PUBLICLY
RELEASED POLLING BUT DOESN'T
CARE.
HE SAYS THE SILENT MAJORITY ARE
VOTING FOR HIM.
>> THE OTHER CANDIDATES FOR THIS
POSITION FOR THE GOVERNOR'S
SEAT, THEY TALK GRASSROOTS.
CAN'T HOLD A CANDLE TO IT
COMPARED TO ME.
THESE PEOPLE ADORE WHAT I'M
DOING BECAUSE I'M THE FIGHTER
THEY WANTED FOR DECADES.
>> IN THE DEBATE, MICHELS SAID
IT IS HIS OUTSIDER STATUS THAT
WILL CARRY HIM TO VICTORY.
>> PEOPLE DON'T COME UP TO ME
ALL THE TIME AND SAY, TIM, THANK
YOU FOR RUNNING.
I'M TIRED OF POLITICS AS USUAL.
I'M TIRED OF THE USUAL
POLITICIANS.
I WANT AN OUTSIDER.
I WANT A VETERAN, I WANT A
BUSINESSMAN.
WE NEED CHANGE.
I SAY, IF YOU WANT TO KEEP
POLITICS AS USUAL, VOTE FOR THE
USUAL POLITICIANS.
THIS IS OUR TIME TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE AND LEAD WISCONSIN
AND GET IT HEADED IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
>> KLEEFISCH HAS ALREADY WON
FOUR STATEWIDE RACES FOR LOU AT
THE PRESENT TIME GOVERNOR.
>> IF THEY WANT TO MAKE THEIR
DECISION ON ELECTABILITY THAT'S
FINE BY ME BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY I
AM THE ONE WHO CAN BEAT TONY
EVERS.
>> REPORTING FROM MADISON, I'M
ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND NOW."
>> EARLIER THIS WEEK, CLERKS
AROUND THE STATE BEGAN THE
PROCESS OF PUBLICLY TESTING THE
VOTING MACHINES FOR EACH
MUNICIPALITY.
IN WEST BEND, THE CITY CLERK
BROUGHT EACH OF THE TABULATORS
INTO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND
CONDUCTED TESTS TO SHOW THE
MACHINES WERE PROPERLY COUNTING
BALLOTS, OR REJECTING BALLOTS
THAT WERE IMPROPERLY MARKED.
AFTER THE TESTS, MACHINES ARE
CLEARED TO ENSURE THEY START
COUNTING AT ZERO ON ELECTION
DAY.
A HANDFUL OF FIRST TIME ELECTION
INSPECTORS AND POLL WORKERS WERE
ON HAND TO SEE HOW THE MACHINES
WORK AND ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE
TUESDAY'S PRIMARY.
WEST BEND USES DOMINION VOTING
MACHINES, WHICH WERE CENTRAL TO
A NUMBER OF UNFOUNDED CONSPIRACY
THEORIES SPREAD BY SUPPORTERS OF
DONALD TRUMP AFTER HE LOST THE
2020 LUCKTION.
CITY CLERK LIZBET SANTANA SAYS
HOPEFULLY CONDUCTING TESTS LIKE
THESE HELPS ELIMINATE QUESTIONS
AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES.
>> THERE'S RUMORS, THEORIES AND,
I MEAN, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW,
THEY'RE NOT INFORMED.
THEY'RE NOT EDUCATED IN SOME
AREAS.
AND AGAIN, FOR THE CITY OF WEST
BEND, I DO TRAINING SESSIONS
WITH THEM.
ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAVE, I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE AWARE
OF HOW THINGS WORK.
>> BASELESS CLAIMS OF ELECTION
FRAUD IS ONE DRIVING FACTOR
BEHIND CALLS TO REFORM THE
ABSENTEE BALLOT SYSTEM.
BUT THESE CHANGES COULD CREATE A
CHILLING EFFECT FOR VOTERS WITH
DISABILITIES.
MARISA WOJCIK BRINGS THIS STORY
FROM MILWAUKEE.
>> I TYPICALLY VOTE IN EVERY
ELECTION.
>> WILLIAM CROWLEY IS A
DEDICATED VOTER.
>> FROM NATIONAL, FEDERAL,
PRESIDENTIAL AND CONGRESS RACES
DOWN TO STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT RACES.
>> FOR HIM AND THOUSANDS OF
OTHER WISCONSINITES WITH
DISABILITIES, THE OPTION OF
VOTING ABSENTEE IS PARAMOUNT TO
FULFILLING THIS CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHT.
>> I'VE DONE A MIX OF VOTING
STYLES.
SINCE COVID, IT'S BEEN ABSENTEE
BY MAIL, JUST TRYING TO AVOID
LARGE CROWDS OF PEOPLE STANDING
IN LINE.
AND I HAVE PRE-EXISTING
CONDITIONS WHERE THE VIRUS WOULD
HAVE BEEN MORE BURDENSOME FOR
ME.
>> BUT CONFIDENCE IN FULFILLING
THAT RIGHT HAS BEEN ERODED
RECENTLY, WITH INVESTIGATIONS,
COURT CASES, AND DIRECT
CHALLENGES TO VOTERS WHO CAST AN
ABSENTEE BALLOT.
>> THERE'S BEEN QUESTIONS THIS
YEAR ABOUT VOTING ABSENTEE AFTER
THE TEIGAN LOWER COURT DECISION
CAME OUT.
>> IN TEIGAN VERSUS THE
WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION,
A WAUKESHA COUNTY JUDGE RULED IN
JANUARY THAT SOMEONE CANNOT HAVE
ANYONE ELSE TURN IN THEIR
ABSENTEE BALLOT FOR THEM,
CALLING IT BALLOT HARVESTING.
FOR CROWLEY, THAT CREATED A
DIRECT BARRIER.
>> I'M A QUADRIPLEGIC WITH A
SPINAL CORD INJURY.
DUE TO MY SPINAL CORD INJURY, I
HAVE LIMITED UPPER BODY MOVEMENT
AND STRENGTH.
IF I WERE TO GO TO A POST OFFICE
MAILBOX, I'M UNABLE TO OPEN IT
AND THROW AN ENVELOPE IN ON MY
OWN, SO I'M LIMITED IN THAT WAY
WHEN IT COMES TO MAILING MY
VOTE.
>> BECAUSE OF THAT COURT RULING,
INSTEAD OF VOTING ABSENTEE IN
APRIL, HE WENT TO THE POLLS, AND
THEN FACED ANOTHER BARRIER.
>> TO GET AROUND, I USE AN
ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR.
I WENT TO THE POLLING PLACE, AND
ACTUALLY THE ELEVATOR IN THE
BUILDING THAT WOULD GET ME TO
THE ACTUAL ROOM THAT THE VOTING
IS HAPPENING IN WAS OUT OF
ORDER.
AND SO I COULDN'T GET UP TO THAT
ROOM.
>> FEDERAL ELECTION LAW SAYS ANY
VOTER WHO REQUIRES ASSISTANCE TO
VOTE BY REASON OF BLINDNESS,
DISABILITY, OR INABILITY TO READ
OR WRITE MAY BE GIVEN ASSISTANCE
BY A PERSON OF THE VOTER'S
CHOICE.
WISCONSIN STATE LAW SAYS THAT
FOR DISABLED VOTERS, WHEN
ASSISTANCE IS REQUESTED, THE
ELECTOR MAY SELECT ANY
INDIVIDUAL TO ASSIST IN CASTING
HIS OR HER VOTE.
BUT WHEN THE WISCONSIN SUPREME
COURT TOOK UP THE TEIGAN CASE,
THEY AGREED THAT DROPBOXES AND
BALLOT HARVESTING ARE ILLEGAL.
BUT THEY DID NOT ADDRESS
PROTECTIONS FOR DISABLED VOTERS
GETTING ASSISTANCE HANDING IN
THEIR BALLOT.
SAYING, WE DO NOT DECIDE AT THIS
TIME WHETHER THE LAW PERMITS A
VOTER'S AGENT TO PLACE AN
ABSENTEE BALLOT IN THE MAIL ON
THE VOTER'S BEHALF.
AND BECAUSE OF THIS LEGAL GRAY
AREA, A CHALLENGE HAS ALREADY
BEEN FILED BY FOUR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES, ASKING A FEDERAL
JUDGE TO DECLARE THAT THEY CAN
GET HELP TURNING IN BALLOTS.
EVEN WITH FEDERAL PROTECTION,
THERE'S A LINGERING FEAR THAT
HIS BALLOT COULD BE CHALLENGED
BY PEOPLE CLAIMING FRAUD
OCCURRED.
>> THAT IS A CONCERN THAT I
HAVE, THAT SOMEBODY WOULD TRY TO
CHALLENGE EITHER MY VOTE OR
SOMEONE ELSE WITH A DISABILITY
THAT HAS ASSISTANCE MAILING
THEIR BALLOT JUST BECAUSE VOTING
HAS BECOME SUCH A CONTENTIOUS
ISSUE.
>> CROWLEY WANTS VOTERS WITH
DISABILITIES TO KNOW THESE
RIGHTS, AND TO NOT GET
DISCOURAGED.
>> THESE ARE BIG ELECTIONS
COMING UP, AND EVERYONE WHO
WANTS TO MAKE THEIR CHOICE HEARD
SHOULD VOTE, AND THAT ABSOLUTELY
INCLUDES PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
MARISA WOJCIK REPORTING FROM
MILWAUKEE.
>> THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
COMMISSION THIS WEEK VOTED
UNANIMOUSLY TO SEND AN EMAIL TO
LOCAL CLERKS, REMINDING THEM
THAT FEDERAL AND STATE LAW ALLOW
PEOPLE TO ASSIST DISABLED PEOPLE
IN VOTING.
HOW DOES THAT SQUARE WITH THE
RECENT STATE SUPREME COURT
RULING THAT BANNED ABSENTEE
BALLOT DROPBOXES AND REQUIRES
VOTERS TO THEMSELVES PUT A
BALLOT IN THE MAIL OR DELIVER IN
PERSON?
AND IS THIS JUST ONE MORE GRAY
AREA AS NEXT TUESDAY'S PRIMARY
ELECTION FAST APPROACHES?
WE CHECK IN WITH THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE MILWAUKEE
ELECTION COMMISSION, CLAIRE
WOODALL-VOGG, FOR HER TAKE, NOW
FOUR DAYS UNTIL THE ELECTION.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO AS FOR VOTERS WITH A
DISABILITY, WHAT'S YOUR GUIDANCE
FOR THEM AND FOR CLERKS WITH
RETURNING THEIR ABSENTEE
BALLOTS?
>> SO IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE,
WE HAVE BEEN VERY CONSISTENT
EVER SINCE THE SUPREME COURT
RULING CAME OUT THAT VOTERS WITH
DISABILITIES DO HAVE FEDERAL
PROTECTIONS, AND SO IF THEY NEED
AN AGENT TO RETURN THEIR
ABSENTEE BALLOT FOR THEM, WE
HAVE BEEN ACCEPTING IT.
WE JUST NEED CONFIRMATION THAT
THEY NEEDED ASSISTANCE RETURNING
THEIR BALLOT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE SUPREME COURT
RULING LEFT IT VERY GRAY, AND SO
MANY CLERKS HAVE BEEN LEFT TO
INTERPRET IT THEMSELVES AND, YOU
KNOW, THERE'S 1800 CLERKS IN THE
STATE, SO LUCKILY WITH THE
WISCONSIN ELECTION COMMISSION
GUIDANCE AND REMINDER, HOPEFULLY
ALL CLERKS WILL BE MAKING SURE
THAT VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES
ARE PROTECTED.
>> SO ALSO WHAT ARE CLERKS TO DO
AFTER VOTES AND RULINGS IN THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE STATE
ELECTIONS COMMISSION ABOUT
FILLING IN MISSING INFORMATION
ON ABSENTEE BALLOTS?
>> AGAIN, ANOTHER GRAY AREA
WHERE CLERKS HAVE BEEN REALLY
LEFT TO INTERPRET THINGS
THEMSELVES.
THE GUIDANCE FROM 2016 THAT THE
WISCONSIN ELECTION COMMISSION
ISSUED IS STILL VALID, AND SO IF
A VOTER'S WITNESS DIDN'T
COMPLETE THEIR FULL ADDRESS, WE
SEE A LOT OF TIMES HERE IN
MILWAUKEE, THEY LEAVE OFF
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.
WE HAVE BEEN CONTACTING VOTERS
IF WE NEED INFORMATION.
>> WHAT IS IT LIKE TO HAVE ALL
OF THESE CHANGES SWIRLING AROUND
AS YOU'RE READY TO ADMINISTER
THIS ELECTION?
>> YOU KNOW, FOR US, WE ARE VERY
USED TO IT.
ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS ARE USED
TO INTERPRETING AND REACTING,
BUT UNFORTUNATELY FOR WISCONSIN
VOTERS, IT'S ADDING TO GREATER
CONFUSION, AND THAT ULTIMATELY
RESULTS IN MORE DISTRUST OF THE
PROCESS ITSELF WHEN YOU'RE
HAVING COURT RULINGS WITHIN 30
DAYS OF AN ELECTION, WHEN
ABSENTEE BALLOTS HAD ALREADY
BEEN MAILED OUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE
THAT RULING.
>> YOUR CITY, POLLING PLACES
LIKE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS
THE STATE TESTED YOUR VOTING
EQUIPMENT THIS PAST WEEK.
WERE ANY PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED?
>> NO, THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS.
WE TESTED ALL 180 MACHINES HERE
IN MILWAUKEE, AND THEN WE HELD
OUR PUBLIC TEST WHERE WE DID
HAVE ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC
WHO CAME AND A FEW NEWS MEDIA,
BUT THERE WERE NO ISSUES.
OUR MACHINES ARE READING AND
TRANSMITTING RESULTS EXACTLY AS
PAPER BALLOTS ARE CAST.
>> STILL, MILWAUKEE COUNTY HAS
BEEN SINGLED OUT BY REPUBLICANS
FOR POTENTIAL FRAUD.
DOES MILWAUKEE ADMINISTER
ELECTIONS ANY DIFFERENTLY THAN
IN THE REST OF THE STATE?
>> NO.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S ONE
THING TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT, IS
THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE SINGLED
OUT BUT WE ARE ADMINISTERING
ELECTIONS JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER
MUNICIPALITY, EVERY OTHER COUNTY
IN THE STATE.
OUR EQUIPMENT IS USED ELSEWHERE
IN THE STATE, AND OUR POLICIES
AND PROCEDURES ARE FOLLOWING
STATE LAW AND WISCONSIN ELECTION
COMMISSION GUIDANCE.
>> FOLLOWING THE 2020 ELECTION,
YOU WERE THREATENED BY ELECTION
DENIERS.
DOES THAT PERSIST?
>> IT DOES PERSIST
UNFORTUNATELY.
I THINK THAT IT WAS ODD THAT WE
SAW THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF
THREATS ACTUALLY COME ALMOST A
YEAR AFTER THE ELECTION, AND
NEARLY TWO YEARS AFTER THE
ELECTION, WE ARE STILL SEEING A
LOT OF ELECTION DENIERS,
CONSPIRACY THEORISTS THAT I
BATTLE AND THAT OUR ELECTION
OFFICIALS, YOU KNOW, ARE
ANSWERING QUESTIONS THAT ARE
VERY COMPLICATED ON ELECTION
DAY, AND WE'VE HAD TO DO
ADDITIONAL TRAINING TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WORKING
ON ELECTION DAY.
>> WHAT KINDS OF TRAININGS AND
PREPARATIONS HAVE YOU MADE WITH
ANY KIND OF EXPECTATION OF
CONTINUING THREATS TO ELECTION
OFFICIALS?
>> SO JUST THIS SUMMER, WE
TRAINED ALL OF OUR CHIEF
ELECTION INSPECTORS ON MANAGING
AND MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE
POLLING PLACE, DE-ESCALATION
TECHNIQUES AND REALLY TRYING TO
PREVENT ANYTHING FROM BECOMING A
POTENTIAL VIOLENT SITUATION,
TRYING TO KIND OF NIP IT IN THE
BUD BEFORE IT WOULD ESCALATE TO
THAT POINT, AND REALLY GOING
OVER THE POLLING PLACE
PROCEDURES IN CASE YOU NEED TO
REMOVE SOMEONE.
>> HAVE YOU LOST A NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WORKING AT THE POLLING
PLACES BECAUSE OF ALL THIS?
>> YOU KNOW, TO OUR KNOWLEDGE,
WE HAVEN'T.
I THINK MOST OF OUR ELECTION
OFFICIALS REALLY FEEL LIKE THIS
IS A CIVIC DUTY, AND YOU KNOW,
FEEL LIKE IF THEY WERE TO
ABANDON THEIR CIVIC DUTY, THAT
THAT WOULD BE A GREATER THREAT
TO DEMOCRACY.
BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US
THAT WE MAKE SURE THEY FEEL
EQUIPPED TO GO TO WORK ON
ELECTION DAY AND FEEL SAFE DOING
SO.
>> JUST WITH ABOUT A MINUTE
LEFT, WHAT CONCERN DO YOU HAVE
THAT PEOPLE MAY HAVE TRIED TO
ILLEGALLY TEST THE ONLINE
ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUEST PROCESS,
LIKE THOSE PEOPLE IN RACINE WHO
ARE NOW UNDER INVESTIGATION?
>> YOU KNOW, BEFORE THEY WERE
TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT AND TEST IT
AND DID SO ILLEGALLY, WE HAVE
NOT SEEN ANY EVIDENCE OF ANY
TYPE OF WIDESPREAD USE OR ABUSE
OF THE ONLINE SYSTEM.
WE MONITOR AND SEE IF THERE'S
ANY TYPE OF UNUSUAL MAILING
ADDRESS BEING REQUESTED, VOTERS
HAD TO SUBMIT PHOTO ID UNLESS
THEY'RE INDEFINITELY CONFINED,
AND I WOULD JUST SAY AS A
REMINDER, THAT'S A FELONY, IT IS
VOTER FRAUD TO ABUSE THE SYSTEM,
AND WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY
AND ANYTHING THAT WE SEE, WE
REFER TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, WE WISH YOU LUCK WITH THIS
PRIMARY ELECTION UPCOMING AND
WITH THE GENERAL ELECTION,
CLAIRE WOODALL-VOGG, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE NEW UW-MADISON CHANCELLOR
STARTED THE JOB THIS WEEK.
DR. JENNIFER BECOMES THE 30TH 3H
CHANCELLOR.
SHE JOINS US NOW.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH FOR HAVING
ME.
>> WELCOME.
WHAT IS YOUR ORDER OF BUSINESS
AS YOU TAKE THIS JOB?
>> THANK YOU.
WELL, TODAY IS DAY ONE, AND IT'S
A VERY BUSY DAY, AND IT'S REALLY
THE BEGINNING OF A CHANCE TO
LISTEN AND LEARN AND TALK TO
LOTS OF MEMBERS OF THIS
COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS BROADER
STAKEHOLDERS AROUND WISCONSIN.
ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FOR
UW-MADISON IN ITS NEXT CHAPTER.
I AM VERY EXCITED TO BUILD A
VISION COLLECTIVELY BUT STRONGLY
BELIEVE WE'VE GOT TO START WITH
TALKING TO LOTS OF PEOPLE ABOUT
WHAT'S WORKING WELL RIGHT NOW
AND WHERE THERE MIGHT BE
OPPORTUNITIES.
>> YOU HAVE A VERY IMPRESSIVE
VITAE.
YALE, MIT, HARVARD.
HOW DO YOU RELATE TO A LARGELY
IN-STATE UW-MADISON STUDENT
POPULATION?
>> I'VE ACTUALLY SPENT MY ENTIRE
CAREER AT LARGE PUBLIC
INSTITUTIONS.
NOT IN WISCONSIN.
I AM IN YOU TO WISCONSIN.
BUT I'VE SPENT MY CAREER AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA AND THEN
UCLA AND LARGE PUBLICS ARE
REALLY THE FORM OF EDUCATION IN
WHICH I MOST DEEPLY BELIEVE.
I THINK THEY OFFER THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR TRANSFORMATION
AT SCALE FOR MAKING A REAL
DIFFERENCE IN INDIVIDUALS' LIVES
AND ALSO FOR THE STATES IN WHICH
THEY EXIST.
SO I'M NEW TO WISCONSIN BUT NOT
NEW TO PUBLIC EDUCATION.
>> IN READING UW-MADISON'S
BUDGET REPORT ABOUT THE COST OF
ATTENDANCE, IT STATES THAT HALF
OF OUR RESIDENT STUDENTS HAVE
ANNUAL UNMET FINANCIAL NEED
AVERAGING $5,470.
I KNOW THAT BUCKY'S TUITION
PROMISE GIVES FREE TUITION TO
ABOUT 3500 UNDERGRADUATES BUT
HOW DO YOU KEEP THE COST OF
GOING TO UW-MADISON ATTAINABLE
OR SUSTAINABLE?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
I THINK YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT, TO
BE FOCUSING ON AFFORDABILITY.
I THINK AFFORDABILITY IS A
CRITICAL ISSUE.
HERE AT UW-MADISON, ABOUT 60% OF
OUR STUDENTS DO GRADUATE WITH NO
DEBT.
I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT NUMBER EVEN
HIGHER, BUT IT IS A PRETTY
STRONG NUMBER COMPARED TO MANY
OF OUR PEER INSTITUTIONS.
SO KEEPING OUR EYE ON
AFFORDABILITY AND HOW WE CAN
MAKE SURE THAT ALL STUDENTS WHO
ARE ADMITTED CAN BE HERE AND
THRIVE AND FLOURISH AND GRADUATE
WITHOUT REALLY BRUTAL DEBT LOADS
IS ABSOLUTELY GOING TO BE A
PRIORITY.
>> RACIAL DIVERSITY AT
UW-MADISON IS OBJECTIVELY VERY
LACKING.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS TO RECRUIT
AND RETAIN MORE STUDENTS OF
COLOR?
>> I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE
NEED TO BE LOOKING CLOSELY AT.
OBVIOUSLY THE DIVERSITY NUMBERS
IN TERMS OF RACIAL DIVERSITY
HAVEN'T MOVED DRAMATICALLY HERE,
THOUGH THIS ENTERING FRESHMAN
CLASS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE
MOST DIVERSE IF NOT THE MOST
DIVERSE IN UW-MADISON'S HISTORY.
I THINK MAKING SURE THAT ALL
STUDENTS DO FEEL A STRONG SENSE
OF BELONGING HERE NEEDS TO BE A
PRIORITY.
THAT, YES, RACIAL DIVERSITY IS A
PIECE OF THAT, BUT ONLY A PIECE.
GENDER, LGBTQ, FIRST GENERATION,
URBAN RURAL, AND DIVERSITY OF
THOUGHT AND PERSPECTIVE, MAKING
SURE THAT ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE
FEEL THAT UW-MADISON IS FOR THEM
AND A PLACE FOR THEM IS
SOMETHING ON WHICH I BOTH
APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT'S BEEN
DONE, BUT IS ABSOLUTELY
SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE TALKING
ABOUT AND LOOKING AT.
>> HAVE YOU MET YET WITH
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS?
BECAUSE SOME WERE DECIDEDLY
UNWELCOMING WHEN YOUR HIRE WAS
ANNOUNCED, SPEAKER ROBIN VOS
BLASTING YOU FOR WHAT HE CALLED
YOUR WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT OF
CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND YOUR
FAVOR OF VACCINE MANDATES.
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> I BEGAN MEETING WITH
LEGISLATORS, BOTH REPUBLICANS
AND DEMOCRATS AND I REALLY
ENJOYED THOSE MEETINGS.
THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE OVER
THE WEEKS AND MONTHS TO COME AND
I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO
IT.
LOOK, IT'S ELECTION SEASON, I
GET THAT.
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
GETTING TO MEET PEOPLE AND
TALKING TO THEM DIRECTLY SO WE
CAN FIND ALL OF THE PLACES WHERE
I THINK WE SHARE VALUES AND
HOPES AND IDEAS.
>> HAVE YOU YET MET WITH SPEAKER
VOS?
>> NOT YET, BUT I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR WHEN
STUDENTS RETURN IN THE FALL,
SHOULD COVID CASES CONTINUE TO
SPIKE?
>> I THINK OUR GOAL WILL BE TO
CONTINUE TO DO WHAT UW-MADISON
HAS BEEN DOING, WHICH IS TO
FOLLOW PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITIES
AND TO LOOK CAREFULLY AT HOW WE
CAN BALANCE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF
OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE CRITICAL
IMPORTANCE OF IN-PERSON
EDUCATION AND AN ACTIVE CAMPUS
LIFE.
I THINK THAT UW-MADISON DID AN
IMPRESSIVE JOB LAST YEAR.
THESE ARE CHALLENGING TIMES AND
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE LEARNED
IS TO NOT MAKE PRESUMPTIONS
ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO BE AROUND
THE NEXT CORNER, BUT THAT'S WHAT
WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO.
>> AS STUDENTS RETURN,
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE, AS YOU
KNOW, HAS DONE AN ABOUT-FACE
WITH WISCONSIN NOW UNDER AN 1849
STATUTE THAT OUTLAWS ABORTION.
WE KNOW UNIVERSITY HEALTH
SERVICES HAS STATED IT WILL WORK
WITH STUDENTS TO FIND RESOURCES,
INCLUDING GOING TO ANOTHER
STATE.
WHAT IS YOUR SUPPORT FOR THAT?
>> WE WILL ABSOLUTELY FOLLOW THE
LAW.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE WILL WORK
TO MAKE SURE THAT BOTH OUR
MEDICAL STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO
THE FULL PANOPLY OF TRAINING
THAT IS REQUIRED FOR
ACCREDITATION, AND WE WILL MAKE
SURE TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF
OUR STUDENTS JUST AS WE'VE
ALWAYS DONE.
THAT WILL BE A PRIORITY.
>> DR. JENNIFER MNOOKIN, NEW
UW-MADISON CHANCELLOR, THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
THRILLED TO BE HERE.
>> 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.