8 Key Benchmarks to Monitor in Wisconsin’s Vote Counting, Certification Processes and Guard Against Election Subversion
Informing Democracy issues new guide detailing each step of Wisconsin’s vote counting, and certification processes to help reporters and pro-democracy allies safeguard against election subversion
Group Pinpoints 8 Crucial Benchmarks To Watch After Polls Close To Identify Potential Breakdowns In The System
Guide Identifies Wisconsin State and Local Officials Responsible For Key Steps Of the Process To Ensure Accountability
Informing Democracy Will Run Rapid Response Identifying Real-Time Problems In Wisconsin After Polls Close
Background Briefings Available For Reporters Upon Request
Full Guide Can Be Found Here
Today, Informing Democracy, a new non-profit organization made up of election professionals, researchers, and lawyers, released a detailed report that analyzes the process, practice, and personnel involved in Wisconsin’s vote counting and election certification to help reporters and watchdogs safeguard against any attempts at election subversion.
The report outlines Wisconsin’s multi-step process to count votes and certify results, as well as the specific officials who are responsible for each step. Importantly, the group identified eight key benchmarks in the process in the days and weeks after polls close that watchers should pay close attention to in order to check that there aren’t any breakdowns in the system perpetrated by those attempting to subvert the election. Further, it indicates state and local offices with responsibility for key steps in which a breakdown may occur.
The goal of the report is to 1) to build confidence in the vote counting and election certification processes by showing, in detail, the systems, checks, and quality assurance steps in place; and 2) to allow pro-democracy partners and reporters to better monitor our elections, target corrective action, and, in turn, protect the integrity of our elections from potential vulnerabilities.
“We undertook this project in response to the growing movement to subvert the outcome of free and fair elections, and the known and documented support from some elected and appointed officials in that effort,” says the report. “While anti-democratic forces once focused most of their attention on compromising access to voting, they have taken new aim at the vote counting and election certification processes. Although we have not seen election results overturned as a result, this movement is gaining momentum, and the threat is real.”
Informing Democracy will be doing rapid response beginning on Election Day identifying real-time problems before and after the vote counting and election certification processes get underway.
The full guide can be found here.
Eight Key Benchmarks To Watch For After The Polls Close
The following are eight key and observable steps in the exhaustive step-by-step processes of vote counting and election certification in Wisconsin and will help outside watchers track if the process is progressing smoothly, or if problems are impeding these essential activities.
These benchmark steps encompass the vote tabulation, internal error checking, canvassing, and certification decision points that could present evidence of any subversion efforts.
Initial Results: Look for initial results after polls close on Election night and continuing to be released throughout the days that follow.
Absentee Canvass. Look for results to be released publicly in batches at the end of the central absentee counting process. Some results will likely be available shortly after polls close with more in the hours and days to follow.
Audit. Look for the Wisconsin Election Commission to release a list of machines and races to be audited the day after the election.
Counting of Provisional Ballots. Look for the total number of provisional ballots to be announced soon after polls close by the municipal clerks. Curing of provisional ballots can take until 4 pm on Friday after the election. The count must begin no later than 9 am on the Monday following the election.
County Canvass and Certification. Returns from all Municipal Clerks must occur no later than 9am on the Tuesday after the election. The County Board of Canvassers certifies county-level races
Audit. Audits must be conducted by municipalities if they have machines selected by WEC unless they seek extension on or before the last Wednesday in November
Recounts. A candidate can petition for a recount when the margin is within 1% in a race with 4,000 or more votes (or 40 votes or less otherwise). A recount petition can be filed no sooner than the end of the first canvass meeting in which provisionals are included and no later than 5 pm on the third business day following the last county canvass meeting applicable to that race. The recount begins no earlier than 9 am on the day following delivery of notice to all candidates and no later than 9 am on the day following the last day for filing the recount petition. Recount results are published by County Clerks.
State Canvass and Final Certification. The chair of WEC conducts the canvass and certifies the statewide canvass by December 1.