As of approximately 9:45 p.m. local time, Milwaukee has processed 80,601 out of a total 108,325 absentee ballots, according to city election commission chair Paulina Gutierrez. Additionally, polling places in the city have reported results from around 132,000 Election Day votes to Milwaukee County, with eight polling sites still in the process of sending results.
Gutierrez mentioned that the absentee count is still ongoing and estimated that it would likely continue past midnight before completion. Despite a minor issue with tabulator machine doors being improperly closed, which necessitated the rerunning of approximately 30,000 ballots through the machines earlier in the evening, Gutierrez assured that every legitimate ballot has been accurately counted with a clear paper trail for each vote.
Meagan Wolfe, the administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, emphasized that while Milwaukee's vote count may take longer, there were no equipment malfunctions or compromised ballots. Wolfe also addressed the circulation of a video online depicting an alleged attack on a Donald Trump supporter by Kamala Harris voters at a Wisconsin voting location, clarifying that the video was disinformation and not from a Wisconsin polling place.
Wolfe urged voters to be cautious of such misinformation and highlighted the importance of verifying sources. When questioned about the origin of the video, including the possibility of foreign involvement, Wolfe deferred to the intelligence community for further insights.
