Celestine Jeffreys. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Former Green Bay City Clerk Celestine Jeffreys broke state law by sending out duplicate ballots for the April and August elections, the Wisconsin Elections Commission ruled Wednesday.
Among the findings by the WEC:
- “It is uncontested that the City Clerk sent at least 244 duplicate absentee ballots to voters, and possibly as many as 390, without any justification, though the actual number appears to be unknowable. Under Wis. Stat. 7.15(1)(cm) the clerk was only authorized to send these voters one ballot, and the Commission finds probable cause that the City Clerk took actions that were contrary to law when she mailed the duplicate ballots in error.”
- “It is clear from the complaint and this investigation that adequate processes were not in place to prevent or detect errors. When a clerk keeps such inadequate records of her actions and processes that she cannot even determine after the fact whether she sent out 240 duplicate absentee ballots or 390 of them, she has abused her discretion. Wis. Stat. 7.15(1).”
- “The new procedures outlined by the City in its responses, in particular the requirement for both the clerk and deputy clerk to approve and document initial batch printings and any reprintings, should greatly reduce the likelihood of this issue recurring. The Commission’s order is primarily intended to bind the City to follow these procedures going forward.”
After the November election, the city will need to provide another report.
The decision states:
Finally, the Commission orders the Respondent to continue to maintain a complete chain of custody for all ballots issued and returned and to continue to ensure that no voter can vote more than once in an election. No later than 30 days after the November 3, 2026 election, the Respondent is ordered to submit a report for the Commission’s consideration reviewing the absentee handling procedures presented in response to this investigation, documenting any instances of process failure, assessing whether the procedures are adequate, and explaining any changes or improvements that will be made.
There is no punishment listed in the WEC documents.
The decision could be appealed to the courts.
Jeffreys was put on administrative leave the same day the WEC initially ordered its investigation. She resigned a month later –- after the city blamed her for the duplicate ballot issues.
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