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Wisconsin Elections Commission Votes to Let Small Communities Hand Count Ballots

On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Elections Commission decided that municipalities with populations under 7,500 can choose to manually tally votes without fully relying on electronic voting equipment.
This decision responded to a complaint against the town of Thornapple, which hand counted ballots in the April and August 2024 primaries amid ongoing federal litigation.
Commission staff concluded state law allows smaller communities optional use of voting machines in any ward or election, provided at least one accessible machine is available for disabled voters.
Bob Spindell, a Republican commissioner, expressed that the ruling will offer greater flexibility to smaller communities, particularly for low-turnout elections, while Democratic commissioner Ann Jacobs cautioned that it might allow these communities to misuse state-funded voting equipment, such as by selling it without proper oversight.
The decision permits small municipalities to choose hand counting but requires compliance with federal law, and it may be appealed to circuit court, leaving future challenges possible.

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Chippewa Herald

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Paper ballots OK for small towns

Wisconsin's smallest communities do not need permission from the Wisconsin Elections Commission to stop using electronic voting machines, the agency ordered this week.

3 days ago

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Fox 6 now

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Wisconsin Elections Commission will let small communities hand-count ballots

Wisconsin communities with fewer than 7,500 people can hand count ballots under a decision by the state elections commission this week.

3 days ago·Milwaukee, United States

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Winnipeg Free Press

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Wisconsin Elections Commission votes to let small communities hand count ballots

Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada

4 days ago·Winnipeg, Canada

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Wisconsin State Journal

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Small Wisconsin communities are free to use paper ballots, elections commission rules

Wisconsin towns, villages and municipalities still must provide at least one electronic voting machine at a polling location to accommodate voters with disabilities.

4 days ago·Madison, United States

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TelegraphHerald.com

Wisconsin Elections Commission votes to let small communities hand-count ballots

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin communities with fewer than 7,500 people can hand-count ballots under a decision by the state elections commission this week.

3 days ago

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EMEA Tribune, Breaking News, World News, Latest News, Top Headlines

Wisconsin Elections Commission votes to let small communities hand count ballots – EMEA Tribune – Latest News – Breaking News – World News

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin communities with fewer than 7,500 people can hand count ballots under a decision by the state elections commission this week. […] Source

3 days ago

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