Wisconsin Republican Representative Tom Tiffany demands answers after the Madison City Clerk’s office sent out over 2,000 duplicate absentee ballots, raising concerns about election integrity in a critical swing state.
At a Glance
- Rep. Tom Tiffany calls for inquiry into duplicate ballots error affecting 2,215 voters across 10 wards in Madison, Wisconsin
- Madison Clerk’s Office attributes error to file-merging mistake during data processing
- City officials assure voters that safeguards prevent double voting, including unique barcodes on ballots
- Tiffany questions transparency and accountability, citing past controversial election practices
- Incident sparks debate over election integrity in a state where Biden won by fewer than 21,000 votes in 2020
Duplicate Ballots Raise Alarm in Wisconsin
In a concerning development for election integrity, more than 2,000 duplicate absentee ballots were mistakenly sent to voters in Madison, Wisconsin, prompting Republican Representative Tom Tiffany to demand a thorough investigation. The error, which affected 2,215 voters across 10 wards in the state’s capital, has ignited a fierce debate over the reliability of the voting process in a crucial battleground state.
🚨BREAKING: The City of Madison clerk said the duplicate absentee ballots were sent to one ward yesterday.
Now, they say it’s 10.
There needs to be an independent investigation now, not after the election.
— Rep. Tom Tiffany (@RepTiffany) September 25, 2024
Madison’s Deputy Clerk Jim Verbick attributed the mistake to human error during data processing, explaining that two identical files were merged, resulting in doubled names and addresses. The city’s communications director, Dylan Brogan, emphasized Madison’s commitment to transparency in election administration and assured voters that swift action was taken to address the issue.
Safeguards and Assurances
City officials have stressed that several safeguards are in place to prevent any potential double voting. Each absentee ballot is equipped with a unique barcode that can only be scanned once, effectively nullifying any attempts to cast duplicate votes. Additionally, when an absentee ballot is received, it is marked in a poll book to indicate that the person has already voted.
“Each absentee ballot has unique barcodes and can only be scanned once. If it’s scanned twice, it’s rejected,” Brogan said of a safeguard.
The clerk’s office has reportedly contacted affected voters, instructing them to destroy one of the duplicate ballots received. As of Monday, 27,421 absentee ballots had been sent out in Madison, with none yet returned, including the duplicates.
Rep. Tiffany’s Concerns and Call for Action
Representative Tiffany, however, remains unsatisfied with the city’s response. He has called for an independent investigation, citing concerns about the expanding scope of the error and the need for accountability. Tiffany’s skepticism is rooted in past controversial election practices in Madison and the critical importance of Wisconsin in national elections.
“This can’t just be swept under the rug,” Tiffany said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “The people responsible for this need to be held accountable.”
The incident has reignited debates about election integrity in Wisconsin, a state where President Biden won by fewer than 21,000 votes in the 2020 election. With absentee voting already underway and early in-person voting set to begin on October 22, the pressure is on for Madison officials to restore public confidence in the electoral process.
Looking Ahead
As the situation unfolds, election officials in Madison are working to address concerns and maintain transparency. The city clerk’s office has preserved all related records in accordance with Wisconsin’s Open Records law and city retention policies. While no third-party investigation is currently planned, the clerk’s office is responding to Tiffany’s concerns and has implemented corrective measures to prevent similar errors in the future.
As Wisconsin gears up for what promises to be another closely watched election, the incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in maintaining the integrity and efficiency of the voting process. The resolution of this issue and the effectiveness of the implemented safeguards will likely be scrutinized as the election approaches, potentially influencing voter confidence and the overall electoral landscape in this pivotal swing state.
