pay to store crops and hope that prices improve in the
future. >> Even as the president
and members of his cabinet make campaign swings
through Wisconsin this week, the Trump administration is
working behind the scenes on the electoral process
leading up to the November elections. This week, the
U.S. Postal Service released its proposed rule
attached to the president's March executive order,
titled Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity
in Federal Elections. That's an order. Governor
Tony Evers at the time called BS. The order
instructs the Departments of Homeland Security and
Social Security to send state election officials
lists of confirmed U.S. citizens and prevents mail
in ballots to anyone not on the list. Add to that, the
FBI has been in Milwaukee interviewing and seeking to
talk with election officials who worked the
2020 election that Trump declares he actually won
but didn't. Trump maintains his loss was a result of
widespread voter fraud, which never proved out. Set
against all this, we turn to Wisconsin Elections
Commission chair elect Republican member Don
Millis. And Mr. Millis, thanks very much for being
here. >> Great to see you.
>> So is it another rough and tumble election cycle
staring down the Wisconsin Elections Commission?
>> Well, more. The rough and tumble certainly is
going to be in the political ads that are run
between the candidates. You know, this has always been
an issue for the elections Commission. You know,
counter lawsuits and proposed regulations. You
know, I'm not I'm not too worried about it. I know
that the things that really bother me the most are that
concern me the most are making sure that absentee
ballots, if they're mailed back a week or two before
the election, they get there on Election Day.
Those are things that we're working to try to working
with the post office to make sure that that happens.
Those are the things that concern me the most.
>> Because Hodek has called on the U.S. Postal Service
to speed up deliveries of absentee ballots. After I
read two thirds of of clerks reported mail delays
during the April 7th election, how bad was it?
>> Well, it was so bad that when the commission staff
sent out a questionnaire to clerks, they got an
overwhelming and historic response from clerks.
Typically, clerks don't respond. There was a huge,
huge concern. The. The staff have met with the
Postal service officials. We are trying to get what's
known as enhanced delivery procedures that they would
agree to. When we have elections. This would mean,
for example, that when you put a return a ballot to
Madison or Grafton or Eau Claire, it wouldn't have to
go to Milwaukee or Minneapolis. It would go
straight to the clerk. And so those are things we're
working on. Those are the things we do behind the
scenes that no one really seems to pay much attention
to. I'm glad that you're paying attention to it,
that we can really make sure that our elections are
done effectively and efficiently.
response from the USPS on that?
>> I think the staff have indicated that it was a
generally a very positive response. I think there's a
dedication to making sure that absentee ballots are
returned promptly, having multiple deliveries on
Election Day, things like that. I think it's I think
it was a very constructive conversation.
>> As to these federally generated voter lists for
delivery of absentee ballots. Do you think
that's a good idea? >> Well, I think it's
problematic. I mean, one of the concerns is they want
to use intelligent mail barcodes on the return we
use we use those on the when ballots are sent out.
Again, the problem with that is that it delays it.
I'm guessing that as with so many other executive
orders and regulations. >> That.
>> Have come out of the Obama, Trump, Biden, Trump,
white Houses, the. The courts are going to have
their say if it looks like it's going to pass muster
with the courts, that's when we probably become
concerned. And we'll certainly have contingency
plans if it looks like it's going to fall into place.
But what was published last week was just a preliminary
notice and comment in the Federal Register. I'm not.
I think it's unlikely that that regulation is going to
be in play for the November election.
>> So what is your response to the FBI poking around on
the 2020 election in Wisconsin, specifically in
Milwaukee? >> Well, I've seen
politicians on the press report about it. Everything
that I've seen in talking to people who have been
interviewed is that the interviews have been
professional. They've been done by career employees.
And it wasn't really what I call an investigation. I
think there's an effort to prepare a report for
probably someone higher up in the Department of
Justice or the FBI. I am not confident that anything
more will come of it. Certainly, the conversation
that was reported in the press with the Election
Commission staffer, the questions that were asked
were, can you debunk these election conspiracy
theories? I think the staffer did a very good job
of that. And so I'm not sure that we'll have an
investigation. I think it's doubtful that we'll see the
FBI come in to any clerk's office in in Milwaukee or
Madison or elsewhere with a search warrant. I think
mostly what's going on is that they're trying to
draft a report so that those in Washington can
evaluate. >> With all of this
happening behind the scenes, really, what should voters
do to make sure they can cast a ballot that is
counted? >> Well, certainly. Go on
my vote. Make sure that you're voting in the right
place if you're going to vote absentee. We don't
want to discourage people from doing that. Make sure
your ballot, fill it out, send it back early. Or if
you're concerned about the mails, place it in a secure
drop box. If your municipality has one or
deliver it to your clerk, that's the most important