Assembly Approves Monday Absentee Ballot Count Bill

Friday, November 10th, 2023 -- 3:01 PM

(Bob Hague, WRN) Counting absentee ballots in Wisconsin elections would be more efficient, under a bill passed by the state Assembly.

The bipartisan measure by Calumet County Republican Ron Tusler would allow counting of absentee ballots to begin the Monday before Election Day. In the past that’s held up results in the state’s largest city.

“The theory is, is that we should be able to get this done, and Milwaukee has told us he'll be able to get it done on Monday, so that come Tuesday the results are much faster and we can all go to bed knowing the results of the election instead of being surprised the next morning.”

Tusler continued, “Why do we wait until Tuesday night to process absentee ballots? Our clerks can process those ballots just as well on Monday. And our observers can observe those ballots being processed better during daylight hours, during normal business hours, then in the middle of the night on Tuesday night.”

“In 38 other states they process ballots before the Tuesday election. And after Governor Evers signs this bill, which he will, we will still be one of the most restrictive states in processing ballots.”

Counting absentee ballots has in the past delayed election results in Milwaukee. Governor Tony Evers has indicated he’ll sign the bipartisan bill, one of nearly two dozen election related measures the Assembly acted on.  

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