Guidance on Absentee Ballot Return Options

MADISON, Wis. – In accordance with the recent U.S. District Court ruling in Carey v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, members of the WEC met on September 6, 2022 and approved guidance to county and municipal clerks regarding voters who require assistance with mailing or delivering their absentee ballot due to a disability.

 The Commission’s guidance states that, “pursuant to the Voting Rights Act, any Wisconsin voter who requires assistance with mailing or delivering their absentee ballot to the municipal clerk because of a disability must be permitted to receive such assistance by a person of the voter’s choice, other than the voter’s employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter’s union.”

 On Wednesday, WEC staff sent a high-priority communication to local clerks alerting them of the new guidance, which answers additional questions that have arisen in light of the Carey and Teigen rulings.

 The communication can be found at the following link: https://elections.wi.gov/memo/guidance-absentee-ballot-return-options-under-federal-voting-rights-act