BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Brown County supervisors don’t have authority to change Green Bay election regulations, but they are still discussing the city’s recent issues.
An ordinance is going to be drafted that would prevent the county from accepting outside money for election administration, which has been a point of contention across the state since the November 2020 election.
Green Bay’s election issues started two years ago when the city’s usual 31 polling locations were paired down to two sites. It was in response to the coronavirus pandemic and created two to four hour waits at the polls.
For the November 2020 election, there are accusations the city let private groups take over election operations as part of a $1.6 million grant from the Center for Tech and Civic Life. City officials have denied the claims.
Last month, absentee ballots started being counted several hours ahead of the time given to the public. City officials have said it was a regrettable clerical error.
In three weeks, Brown County’s 26 supervisor seats will be on ballots. Votes for 11 of those seats will be tallied by Green Bay election workers.
“Their vote depends on the city to get it right,” said Patrick Buckley, the chairperson of the county board.
The county’s executive committee discussed Green Bay’s election issues Wednesday evening, at Buckley’s request.
“By keeping it top of mind to people, I think it’s bringing change to their processes, and I think we have to keep refining the processes so that people can feel confident in the election process going forward,” said Buckley.
Three supervisors voiced their confidence in Green Bay’s elections being legal and fair, while three others voiced their concerns.
Supervisor Lindsay Dorff stated she doesn’t believe the county should be weighing in.
“This is a topic that the people who work at Green Bay have spent hours and hours discussing through committee meetings and at the city council level. I haven’t listened to any of it. I don’t know how many of you have been sitting through the hours of these committee meetings and city council meetings. They had a city council that went until midnight about this.”
The day after the city counted absentee ballots ahead of the time given to the public, Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich told FOX 11 voters should be confident in the city’s elections.
“People make mistakes, but the process was open and transparent and legal and I think that is the most important thing to emphasis.”
Supervisor Dave Landwehr proposed a resolution stating the county expects all individuals to fully cooperate with state or legislative investigations into elections. However, a motion to receive and place the election discussion item on file overtook the proposal.
The resolution could still be proposed for a future meeting. However, any resolution would not carry any legal weight.
The spring general election is on April 5th.
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