A Time-Consuming Task for Election Officials
Wisconsin election officials are expressing concerns over a recent request from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former presidential candidate, to have his name covered on millions of ballots with stickers. Officials warn that the process of applying stickers to ballots would be incredibly time-consuming and could lead to significant errors on Election Day.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission denied Kennedy’s initial request on August 27 to remove his name from the ballot, citing state law that requires qualified nominees to remain on the ballot unless they are deceased. However, Kennedy is now asking a court to either remove his name or cover it with stickers. Municipal clerks across Wisconsin would be responsible for this task, creating logistical challenges.
Legal Battles and Court Involvement
The request is currently being reviewed by a conservative appeals court in Waukesha and may reach the Wisconsin Supreme Court, with less than seven weeks remaining before the November 5 election. Kennedy initially withdrew his candidacy on August 23, endorsing former President Donald Trump and vowing to remove his name from ballots in key battleground states to avoid splitting Republican votes. While he has succeeded in some states, Wisconsin has proven more challenging.
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Many ballots have already been printed and sent to absentee voters with Kennedy’s name, and his request only applies to the remaining unsent ballots. Still, covering the names with stickers would take approximately 30 seconds per ballot, according to Wisconsin Elections Commission attorneys, potentially requiring tens of thousands of working hours for local election officials.
Potential for Ballot Errors and Machine Malfunctions
Clerks and election officials have raised concerns about the impact of using stickers on ballots. Trent Miner, Wood County Clerk, warned in a court declaration that the process would be a “logistical and administrative nightmare,” potentially causing ballot errors and even malfunctions in voting machines. With over 1,800 municipal clerks statewide, consistent sticker placement becomes a significant concern. Erroneous placement could result in uncounted ballots or machine errors, further undermining trust in the election process.
Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell echoed these concerns, warning that sticker malfunctions could cause delays in counting ballots and possibly lead to the disenfranchisement of voters. He expressed doubts about the feasibility of using stickers without adequate testing.
Testing and Equipment Concerns
Election officials and clerks have also raised alarms about the lack of testing for stickers on ballots. Sun Prairie Clerk Elena Hilby voiced her concerns, explaining that ballots are never sent out without thorough testing. The idea of processing a mix of ballots, some with stickers and some without, raises the possibility of machine malfunctions on Election Day. Hilby stressed that using untested stickers could result in voting machines misreading ballots, potentially requiring hand-counting.
Election Systems & Software (ES&S), one of the primary suppliers of voting equipment in Wisconsin, confirmed that its machines are not designed to handle large volumes of ballots with stickers. Federal guidelines do not require testing for adhesive labels, and ES&S does not cover issues caused by stickers under its warranties or service plans. If machines malfunction due to sticker use, the cost of repairs would fall on election officials.
Scale of the Challenge
While stickers have been used in past elections for small-scale write-in campaigns, Kennedy’s request involves as many as 4 million ballots. Clerks like Trent Miner have not had the time or resources to test the effects of stickers on ballots. Besides the potential for errors, Miner warned that stickers could fall off, get stuck in machines, or even cause damage to voting equipment. A single malfunction could render the machines unusable for the entirety of Election Day, creating expensive and time-consuming issues for officials.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission has asked the state’s Supreme Court to take the case directly, while the appeals court continues to hear arguments. As Election Day approaches, the outcome of this case could have a significant impact on the logistics and accuracy of Wisconsin’s voting process.
Data Source: votebeat