GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – One Green Bay alder is calling for change to ensure fair and transparent elections.
Alder Chris Wery brought forth discussion points about the city’s election process to the Protection and Policy Committee on Monday.
“Our No. 1 job and role is just to run an open and fair election. That’s it,” Wery said.
Wery brought forth a number of discussion items, including the use of outside money for elections, as well as curing processes.
The committee voted to refer review and research of curing processes to City Clerk Celestine Jeffreys.
In addition, the committee voted to refer staff to research and draft a possible ordinance regarding the use of outside money for elections.
“I think moving forward, I feel confident that we can come up with some good things. There might be some good things in process right now but we just want clarity and transparency and all that as well,” Green Bay Alder Mark Steuer said.
This discussion comes after an incident that occurred at the February 15th Spring Primary.
Steuer read a letter from the city regarding the incident:
“The city’s Central Count convened at approximately 7 a.m. and canvassers began counting absentee ballots shortly there after. At that time there was one observer present who witnessed and observed canvassing. At approximately 11:21 a.m., Clerk Jeffreys was made aware that the Central Count notice contained a typo indicating that the Central Count would begin at 4 p.m. instead of 7 a.m. Accordingly, the canvassers paused the absentee ballot counting at this time while Clerk Jeffreys consulted with the law department.”
The city has received criticism for other elections in the past, including the April 2020 election and the November 2020 election.
Committee members expect to discuss these points in greater detail at the full Common Council meeting.
The next Common Council meeting is scheduled for March 1st.
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