News

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission is getting ready for midterm elections in 2018 with an initiative to inform voters about registration opportunities. “Nearly one in 11 Wisconsin adults will soon be getting an official postcard in the mail urging them to register to vote before the election,” said Meagan Wolfe, Wisconsin’s chief elections official. “Getting people to register early helps reduce lines and make Election Day better for voters and election workers.”

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission office will be open Friday evening and on Saturday to provide copies of documents needed to file challenges to candidates’ nomination papers. Friday, June 1, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. is the deadline for candidates to file nomination papers to get on the ballot for the August 14 Partisan Primary and the November 6 General Election. After paperwork has been filed, opposing candidates and political parties have the opportunity to examine nomination papers to see whether there are any errors they may wish to challenge.

Friday, June 1, 2018 at 5 p.m. is the deadline for candidates to file nomination papers to get on the ballot for the August 14 Partisan Primary and the November 6 General Election. As always, members of the news media are welcome to cover this deadline by staking out the Wisconsin Elections Commission office in Madison, but all the information needed will be available on the agency’s website.

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, April 18, to discuss plans to spend nearly $7 million in federal 2018 Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Election Security Fund grants.

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission today ordered a recount in the election for Sauk County Circuit Court Judge, Branch 3. In the April 3 Spring Election, Pat Barret received 5,700 votes and Sandra Cardo Gorsuch received 5,673 votes, according to the official canvass. Gorsuch filed a petition with the Elections Commission for a recount today. Because the margin is less than 0.25 percent, Gorsuch is entitled to a free recount.

MADISON, WI – Very few problems were reported in Tuesday’s Spring Election in which more than 22 percent of Wisconsin adults voted, according to preliminary results analyzed by the Wisconsin Elections Commission. “Even though there was a snowstorm over some parts of the state and higher than normal turnout in other parts, the Elections Commission received very few complaints about problems at polling places,” said Meagan Wolfe, Wisconsin’s chief election official.

MADISON, WI – The State of Wisconsin is eligible to receive nearly $7 million in federal 2018 HAVA Election Security Fund grants, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Congress recently appropriated $380 million to be distributed to the states to improve election administration, including technology enhancements and election security. Wisconsin’s share of the funds is $6,978,318, to be matched by $348,916 in state dollars, for a total of $7,327,234, according to US-EAC.

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission reminds voters to bring an acceptable photo ID when they go to the polls for the Spring Election on Tuesday, April 3, 2018. “Most people already have the ID they need to vote,” said Meagan Wolfe, Wisconsin’s chief election official. “If you don’t have a photo ID, you still have time to get a free one at the DMV, but you should not wait.”

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission has approved the use of new supplemental poll books for the April 3 Spring Election so that all eligible voters can cast a ballot. “If you are a registered voter but your name is not on the regular poll list, poll workers will look for you on the supplemental poll list,” said Meagan Wolfe, Wisconsin’s chief election official. “If your name is there, you will receive a ballot if you sign the supplemental poll list affirming that your address has not changed.”

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission today named Meagan Wolfe of Madison to serve as interim administrator of the agency and Wisconsin’s chief election official. Wolfe, who has been assistant administrator since April 2017, will begin work immediately.

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Elections Commission issued the following statement to NBC Nightly News more than a week prior to their story Tuesday about cyber security:

MADISON, Wis. – Michael Haas has informed the Wisconsin Elections Commission that he will no longer pursue continuing as administrator and urged commissioners to appoint a new administrator at their meeting Friday. Haas said he plans to continue working temporarily as a staff counsel for the WEC, but intends to eventually leave the agency to pursue other opportunities.

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission is investigating isolated reports that some voters had to reregister at the polls Tuesday before they could vote. “We are looking into reports and gathering information from our records, from clerks and from voters to figure out what happened,” said Michael Haas, Wisconsin’s chief election official. “Our goal is to ensure there are no problems at the Spring Election on April 3 or the August Partisan Primary or the General Election in November.”

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission reminds voters to bring an acceptable photo ID when they go to the polls for the Spring Primary on Tuesday, February 20, 2018. “Most people already have the ID they need to vote,” said Michael Haas, Wisconsin’s chief election official. “Those who don’t have a photo ID still have time to get a free one at the DMV, but they should not delay.”

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission reminds voters that they still have time to get the acceptable photo ID they will need to vote in the Spring Primary on February 20. “Most people already have the photo ID they need to vote such as a Wisconsin driver license or ID card,” said Michael Haas, interim administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission. “If you don’t have one of those or another acceptable photo ID, you can get one for free after just one visit to a Wisconsin DMV office.”

MADISON, WI – Mark Thomsen, chair of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, issued a statement today calling on the Wisconsin Senate to confirm Michael Haas as administrator:

MADISON, WI – Michael Haas, interim administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, has written to members of the Wisconsin Senate, asking them to hold a public hearing prior to the confirmation vote scheduled for January 23. “In the event that I am not allowed the courtesy of a public hearing, I am providing this correspondence to share some of what I would include in my testimony, to outline my qualifications and approach to my job, and to set the record straight,” Haas wrote in a letter Wednesday.

MADISON, WI – Michael Haas, interim administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, has been nominated to serve as secretary of the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED) for the 2018-19 term, putting him in line to be the president-elect in 2021 and the president in 2022. He will be included on the slate of officers recommended for formal election at the organization’s Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C. in February.

WEC Chair Mark Thomsen today sent the attached letter to members of the Senate Committee on Senate Organization.

WEC Acting Administrator Michael Haas sent the attached letter to Senator Fitzgerald and Speaker Vos today.