A roll of "I voted" stickers is ready for voters at Union Congregational Church in Green Bay during the spring primary election Feb. 15, 2022. PC: Fox 11 Online
MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A Marinette County judge on Friday reiterated a previous ruling preventing the Wisconsin Elections Commission from requiring clerks to use a particular absentee voting form until after a full hearing on the issue June 5.
Thomas Oldenburg, of Amberg, filed suit claiming revised absentee envelope form EL-122, as adopted by the WEC, violates state election law.
Last week, Marinette County Judge James Morrison granted a temporary injunction prohibiting the WEC from telling clerks to use the form.
The WEC asked for the judge to reconsider the motion. But in a two-page ruling Friday, the judge denied to lift the order.
The injunction was granted for the reasons stated on the record which included, but were not limited to, the possibility of a change of venue motion which would further delay the proceedings.
The Court did not make a detailed analysis of the factors relating to a temporary injunction because counsel for the Commission and Administrator specifically responded to the Court that he was aware of no harm that would occur with respect to the Commission’s administration of absentee voting between the date of the requested Order and the date already scheduled to hear the motion.
That date is June 5, 2024. The Memorial Day weekend is upon us at this time. As a logistical matter alone and in the interest of judicial economy it makes no sense to lift this Order.
The Elections Commission and Ms. Wolfe do not cite any harm that will come to them if this Order remains in effect until June 5, 2024.
This Court has already committed to make a ruling on or very soon after June 5, 2024. For these reasons the Court declines to vacate its injunction until this matter can be heard less than two weeks from today.
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