Election 2016: Thousands of Wisconsin Absentee Ballots Will Not Count

MILWAUKEE -- Hundreds of Absentee Ballots already filled out in the Milwaukee area might not count in November and thousands more from across Wisconsin might be on the way.

A bill Gov. Scott Walker and fellow Republicans signed in March now requires absentee ballots to include the full address of a witness. If witnesses do not provide their full address, the ballots will not count.

The Journal Sentinel has learned in the Milwaukee area that in most cases where ballots are at risk, a witness provides the their street address, but leaves out the name of their municipality by accident.

And clerks aren’t allowed to fill in the missing information unless they track down the voter and get his or her permission, the Journal Sentinel reported Friday.

The Journal Sentinel is reporting that in the past, witnesses were supposed to provide their addresses, but if they didn’t, the ballots were still counted. That changed this spring with a provision tucked into legislation changing election procedures.

Area municipal clerks can add the municipality or other address information for the witness, but only if they get the permission of the voter.