A Wisconsin city clerk's failure to process nearly 200 absentee ballots during last year's election has led to serious consequences for her position.
According to AP News, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway announced Wednesday that City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl has been placed on administrative leave while investigators examine how her office mishandled the uncounted ballots from the November election.
The suspension comes amid mounting pressure from voters and officials, with four Madison residents whose ballots weren't counted filing claims seeking $175,000 each from both the city and Dane County. Though the uncounted votes did not affect any race outcomes, the incident has raised concerns about election integrity just weeks before Wisconsin's crucial April 1 general election.
Election commission investigators uncovered a troubling pattern of oversight in Witzel-Behl's office. Workers first discovered 67 unprocessed absentee ballots in a courier bag stored in a security cart on November 12, a week after the election, during the official vote count.
A more alarming discovery followed on December 2, when staff found an additional 125 uncounted absentee ballots sealed in a courier bag inside a supply container. The total number of overlooked ballots reached 192, prompting serious questions about the clerk's office procedures.
Despite instructions from Witzel-Behl to notify the state elections commission about the initial discovery, her employees failed to do so. The commission wasn't informed about either batch of uncounted ballots until December 18.
The clerk's suspension raises stakes for Wisconsin's approaching spring election, where voters will decide between conservative Brad Schimel and liberal Susan Crawford for a pivotal state Supreme Court seat. The winner will help determine the court's ideological direction on crucial issues, including abortion rights and voting regulations.
Mayor Rhodes-Conway has appointed City Attorney Michael Haas as interim clerk to oversee election operations. Haas brings valuable experience from his previous roles as administrator and attorney for the state elections commission.
The state Elections Commission is now investigating whether Witzel-Behl violated any laws or abused her discretion. She will continue receiving her annual salary of $152,300 during the suspension period.
In response to the incident, the elections commission has unanimously approved new guidelines for clerks statewide. The recommendations focus on thorough documentation of Election Day events and immediate reporting of any irregularities.
Commission Chair Ann Jacobs emphasized that while these practices were already included in election manuals, the new memo consolidates them for easier reference. The guidance specifically addresses ballot-counting procedures and verification protocols.
The commission's quick action demonstrates their commitment to preventing similar oversights in future elections. These measures aim to restore voter confidence in Madison's election administration.
Maribeth Witzel-Behl, Madison's suspended city clerk, faces scrutiny over her office's mishandling of 192 absentee ballots during the November 2024 election. The discovery of uncounted ballots in two separate instances - 67 ballots on November 12 and 125 more on December 2 - has triggered investigations by both city officials and the state Elections Commission. As Wisconsin prepares for its April 1 general election featuring a crucial state Supreme Court race, interim clerk Michael Haas will oversee election operations while authorities determine if any laws were violated in the handling of November's ballots.
