Absentee Ballots Missed In Wisconsin: Serious Concerns For Election Integrity

Nearly 200 absentee ballots were found missing in Wisconsin weeks after the November 2024 general election, a discovery that has raised serious concerns about election integrity. The missing ballots, located during the post-election reconciliation process, and while officials have assured the public that no race results were affected, the incident underscores the potential for greater issues with absentee ballots.

On December 20, 2024, the City of Madison Clerk’s Office reported to the state election board that it had found 193 absentee ballots in sealed carrier containers. The discovery was part of routine post-election checks. While election officials insisted that no races had been altered, the oversight raises questions about how many ballots may be overlooked in future elections.

The City of Madison has committed to implementing new safeguards to prevent future errors. Absentee ballot envelope seal numbers will be checked on Election Day to ensure that every absentee vote is counted. The Clerk’s Office believes these measures will help restore confidence in the system and prevent such mistakes from recurring.

Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, who expressed regret over the oversight, has vowed to take corrective action. “We will conduct a thorough review of the city’s election policies to ensure this type of mistake does not happen again,” Rhodes-Conway said. She emphasized that her office was committed to maintaining a high standard of election integrity in the city.

The issue of absentee ballot handling has been a contentious topic in recent years, particularly following President Donald Trump’s claims of election fraud after the 2020 election. While no evidence was found to support his claims, the concerns raised by incidents like the one in Wisconsin highlight the ongoing vulnerabilities in the election process.