Celestine Jeffreys. PC: Fox 11 Online
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Green Bay city clerk Celestine Jeffreys was placed on administrative leave Thursday while investigations are ongoing into the city’s elections.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission ordered an investigation into the Green Bay City Clerk’s office Thursday morning after duplicate ballots were issued for the two most recent elections.
The city has admitted it sent out 152 duplicate ballots for the April election. The city is “reasonably certain” 244 extra ballots were recently sent out for the August election, according to an email from the city attorney to city council members.
The WEC’s decision requires Jeffreys to submit a detailed explanation by July 31 on how only one ballot will be tabulated for the electors who were mailed two ballots. Jeffreys also must submit by Aug. 14 a plan to ensure duplicate ballots are not sent out again, and a detailed explanation by July 31 of how the duplicate ballots error occurred for the April and August elections.
“I’m really concerned that first of all it happened once, OK, but then for the exact same error to happen a second time weeks later is unconscionable,” said Ann Jacobs, a Wisconsin Elections commissioner.
Jacobs says a mechanism was put into the WisVote System a few years ago to prevent duplicate absentee labels and ballots from being printed and encourages clerks to use the system.
“What software are they using? How are they exporting it? Who is printing these labels? How do they not catch this?” said Jacobs of questions she hopes can be answered through an investigation.
An analysis of a complaint for the April duplicate ballot error from staff of the Wisconsin Elections Commission found probable cause that Jeffreys violated the law in issuing duplicate ballots. The commission decided to wait until a future meeting to take action on that decision, as it wants the investigation to proceed first.
In a statement, city officials said there is also an ongoing internal review into the clerk’s office.
The statement continued:
Elections are a critical piece of the work we perform at the City. While we have no concerns with the security or propriety of the electoral process, these errors in the Clerk’s Office are unacceptable. As we work to ensure these errors are never again replicated, we welcome the input of the WEC and its staff. The City will work cooperatively with the WEC during the investigation and has designated the Law Department to provide oversight of the internal review and investigation.
The City defers further public comment on this matter until the internal review and the WEC investigation have concluded.
Jeffreys has previously said these were printing errors and only one ballot per eligible voter will be tabulated.
In the past four years, this is the third time WEC’s staff has determined probable cause Jeffreys violated the law. The previous times were for accepting an absentee ballot on behalf of a sick person who didn’t have proper disability authorization. The other was for not following Election Day Registration procedures.
During public comment, All Voting Is Local Wisconsin Director Sam Libert told the commissioners mistakes happen and the system in place ensures only one vote per eligible elector will be tabulated.
“After serving as a clerk myself, I also know that election administration is one of the most complicated and scrutinized responsibilities in local government,” said Libert.
The issue was in front of the commission due to a complaint from a Republican Party of Brown County member about the initial error for April’s election.
“The commission I think almost had choice given the facts in this case,” said Nick Boerke, an attorney representing the complainant. “Really, in my opinion, it’s up to the city now to act.”
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