Madison – State Representative Janel Brandtjen (R- Menomonee Falls) issued the following the statement regarding Racine Mayor Cory Mason and the City of Racine’s failure to comply with state statutes.
“The Wisconsin legislature has provided a set of election laws that local officials, including clerks, city councils, election administrators and other government officials must follow. This includes Wisconsin Statute Chapter 6.855 (1):
The governing body of a municipality may elect to designate a site other than the office of the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners as the location from which electors of the municipality may request and vote absentee ballots and to which voted absentee ballots shall be returned by electors for any election. The designated site shall be located as near as practicable to the office of the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners and no site may be designated that affords an advantage to any political party. An election by a governing body to designate an alternate site under this section shall be made no fewer than 14 days prior to the time that absentee ballots are available for the primary under s. 7.15 (1) (cm), if a primary is scheduled to be held, or at least 14 days prior to the time that absentee ballots are available for the election under s. 7.15 (1) (cm), if a primary is not scheduled to be held, and shall remain in effect until at least the day after the election. If the governing body of a municipality makes an election under this section, no function related to voting and return of absentee ballots that is to be conducted at the alternate site may be conducted in the office of the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners.
The City of Racine seems determined to undermine our election laws by approving 160 early voting destinations with a Zuckerberg-funded RV for all elections in 2022. The legality of this RV operating as an alternate ballot site is extremely questionable. I call upon the Wisconsin Elections Commission and Attorney General Josh Kaul to do their sworn duty and compel the City of Racine to honor our laws.”
