According to Ann Jacobs, the chair of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, the Milwaukee absentee ballot re-run counting process is expected to be delayed by approximately an hour. Jacobs mentioned that the ballots have already been flattened and successfully processed through the machine, expressing hope that they can be quickly re-tabulated without significant additional time.
The Milwaukee Election Commission (MEC) issued a statement indicating that the delay duration is currently unknown. The decision to restart the tabulation process for all ballots at Central Count was made after it was discovered that some doors were not fully secured by election officials. The MEC clarified that this measure was taken to ensure transparency and eliminate any doubts about the election's integrity. Approximately 31,000 ballots will undergo re-tabulation as a result of this incident.
While the Republican National Committee criticized Milwaukee for the error, labeling it as an example of incompetent election administration in a crucial swing state, Jacobs defended the decision to re-run the ballots. She emphasized the importance of maintaining voter confidence in the counting process and commended Milwaukee officials for taking prompt action.
Jacobs stressed that the decision to re-tabulate the ballots had to be made immediately and was the right choice to uphold the integrity of the election. She highlighted the necessity of ensuring transparency and accuracy in the counting process, stating that waiting until the outcome is known before addressing potential issues would be counterproductive.
In response to the criticism from Republican officials, Jacobs reiterated the importance of conducting the counting process efficiently and effectively to uphold voter confidence. She emphasized that the primary goal is to ensure a fair and accurate tabulation of the ballots, regardless of any delays that may arise.
