The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for June 20, 2023
Today’s Script: (Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)
Today’s Links located below the script
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
After the Wisconsin’s legislature’s almost $2 Million dollar boondoggle review of the 2020 election, one would think it marginalized the state’s election deniers. But a highly-qualified Wisconsin election official may now lose her post, just for, well, doing her job.
According to a report by ProPublica, Meagan Wolfe, chair of the Wisconsin Election Board, must get the votes of her fellow board members, then be confirmed by the Senate by July 1st. Wolfe was unanimously confirmed in 2019, and during her term she also served as the president of the National Association of State Election Directors, and chair of the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC. Extremist legislators accuse Wolfe of loosening absentee rules for locked down nursing homes during the pandemic, and conspiracy theories about ERIC resulted in 8 of 32 member states pulling out of the interstate program to keep voter registration lists clean.
According to the Associated Press, fellow Election Board member Bob Spindell signaled that he would not support Wolfe, and Senate President Chris Kapenga said there was QUOTE “No way” she would be confirmed by the Senate. Spindell was a 2020 “fake elector” attempting to subvert the election, and made inflammatory statements earlier this year congratulating his party for having kept fewer Black and Hispanic Milwaukee voters from turning out in the 2022 midterms.
Wolfe has not stated publicly whether she wants to be renominated.
We’ve linked ProPublica’s report at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Wisconsin Public Radio – Price tag on Gableman probe nearing $2M, report finds
Wisconsin Election Commission – Wisconsin’s Election Fact Checks
ProPublica – Wisconsin Republicans Sowed Distrust Over Elections. Now They May Push Out the State’s Top Election Official.
Associated Press – Wisconsin’s top elections official for 2024 uncertain as incumbent’s term nears end
PBS Wisconsin – Robert Spindell on voter turnout, suppression in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Examiner – Deadlock at Elections Commission would give Vos, LeMahieu opportunity to select new administrator
Wisconsin Watch – Wisconsin voting groups criticize GOP election commissioner who celebrated reduced Milwaukee turnout
Groups Taking Action:
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, Common Cause Wisconsin, Voces de la Frontera, Black Leaders Organizing for Communities
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