UNDATED (WXPR) — The League of Women Voters of the Northwoods has given its support to an agency under legislative review.
The Government Accountability Board was created as a non-partisan administrator of elections. They have been criticized for uneven performance. GAB officials this week defended their actions, saying they are understaffed and have had to deal with numerous recall elections, among other increasing duties. Representative Dean Knudson of Hudson would like to overhaul the board enabling some partisan members.
League of Women Voters of the Northwoods President Yolan Mistele says they back the current GAB setup. She says it is needed to handle the increasingly complex elections in a fair manner. “Considering we’ve had so many changes in voting procedures and getting the information out to the town clerks and therefore to the people who work the polls, I think they’ve done a great job.”
Mistele says some problems were found in a recent audit, but those problems are being fixed.
Retired Judge Tim Vocke of Rhinelander is on the GAB’s governing board. During this week’s meeting, he told legislators he had no problem with an audit. “In my opinion, all agencies need periodic checks to see how they are doing. I told (a reporter) we are doing much right, that we were providing the citizens of Wisconsin with a quality product. I also said I was equally sure we were making mistakes.”
Mistele says at a time of one-party rule, it was important for a non-partisan agency to oversee elections and accountability.
