Alexander Shur
@alexandershur.bsky.social
Covering Wisconsin election administration for @Votebeat.org | You ain’t gonna learn what you don’t want to know
Read about more here, and the rift emerging among GOP lawmakers focused on elections. Exhibit A is Rep. Dave Maxey, chair of the Assembly Elections Committee, who said he's a "no" on Monday processing.
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
Stalled reforms highlight Wisconsin GOP’s rift over election policy
Rep. Scott Krug says his Republican colleagues should adopt a “reality-based” mindset in the fight over ballot drop boxes. But he’s struggling to win them over.
www.votebeat.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Read about more here, and the rift emerging among GOP lawmakers focused on elections. Exhibit A is Rep. Dave Maxey, chair of the Assembly Elections Committee, who said he's a "no" on Monday processing.
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
The bill also includes regulations for drop boxes and witness address requirements. Rep. Scott Krug said he's confident the proposal can get the GOP support it lacked and get signed
LINK:
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
LINK:
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
Wisconsin bill would let election officials start processing absentee ballots a day early
Lawmakers hope to unite on a proposal that would speed up election results and reduce opportunities for misinformation.
www.votebeat.org
September 18, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The bill also includes regulations for drop boxes and witness address requirements. Rep. Scott Krug said he's confident the proposal can get the GOP support it lacked and get signed
LINK:
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
LINK:
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
It’ll never top Four Lokos
August 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
It’ll never top Four Lokos
But in speaking with election officials, I learned that many of them are reluctant to use a commercial e-pollbook that connects to the internet (just about all commercial options do, at some point).
Security experts less concerned w/ connectivity
Latest: www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
Security experts less concerned w/ connectivity
Latest: www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
July 28, 2025 at 1:40 PM
But in speaking with election officials, I learned that many of them are reluctant to use a commercial e-pollbook that connects to the internet (just about all commercial options do, at some point).
Security experts less concerned w/ connectivity
Latest: www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
Security experts less concerned w/ connectivity
Latest: www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
NEW: Madison clerk was on a cookie-baking staycation as missing-ballot mess unfolded
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
As ballots sat uncounted, Madison clerk prepped for ‘cookie extravaganza’
Records obtained by Votebeat help explain what Maribeth Witzel-Behl was up to when the crisis erupted in her office: a baking staycation.
www.votebeat.org
July 18, 2025 at 1:49 PM
NEW: Madison clerk was on a cookie-baking staycation as missing-ballot mess unfolded
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
Witzel-Behl took off parts of or the entirety of 17 vacation days between Nov. 11 and Dec. 6, records show. She claims to have learned about the second batch of ballots on Dec. 10.
That same day, she told staff she was renting city cars for them to assist w/ cookie deliveries
That same day, she told staff she was renting city cars for them to assist w/ cookie deliveries
July 18, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Witzel-Behl took off parts of or the entirety of 17 vacation days between Nov. 11 and Dec. 6, records show. She claims to have learned about the second batch of ballots on Dec. 10.
That same day, she told staff she was renting city cars for them to assist w/ cookie deliveries
That same day, she told staff she was renting city cars for them to assist w/ cookie deliveries
I tried to find more detail and got records of two incidents, neither close to Election Day. Dane County says the facility will be completely transformed inside before it officially opens in 2027
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
Wisconsin report on missing ballots spotlights Dane County storage site
The facility was at one point used as used by an “unauthorized” person for shelter, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission’s latest report into the ballot snafu.
www.votebeat.org
July 16, 2025 at 5:08 PM
I tried to find more detail and got records of two incidents, neither close to Election Day. Dane County says the facility will be completely transformed inside before it officially opens in 2027
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
Thornapple, Wisconsin, loses federal appeal over its ban on electronic voting machines. Appeals court said going without one causes irreperable harm
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
Wisconsin town must have accessible voting machines, federal court rules
Trump’s Justice Department has forged ahead in this case even as it has withdrawn from several other voting lawsuits brought under the Biden administration.
www.votebeat.org
July 16, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Thornapple, Wisconsin, loses federal appeal over its ban on electronic voting machines. Appeals court said going without one causes irreperable harm
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
Read more about the bill and the tweaks that its authors might make here:
Wisconsin election officials seek more flexibility in proposed early-voting mandate
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
Wisconsin election officials seek more flexibility in proposed early-voting mandate
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
Wisconsin clerks back GOP proposal to expand early voting, but want some tweaks
Clerks say it doesn’t make sense to require 20 hours of in-person voting in towns that have only a few dozen voters.
www.votebeat.org
May 27, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Read more about the bill and the tweaks that its authors might make here:
Wisconsin election officials seek more flexibility in proposed early-voting mandate
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
Wisconsin election officials seek more flexibility in proposed early-voting mandate
www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/20...
I spoke to the clerk in the Village of Yuba, which has only 43 registered voters.
Even if every voter in the village cast a ballot early, the total time required wouldn’t come close to 20 hours. “For us, it makes no sense,” the clerk said.
Even if every voter in the village cast a ballot early, the total time required wouldn’t come close to 20 hours. “For us, it makes no sense,” the clerk said.
May 27, 2025 at 2:22 PM
I spoke to the clerk in the Village of Yuba, which has only 43 registered voters.
Even if every voter in the village cast a ballot early, the total time required wouldn’t come close to 20 hours. “For us, it makes no sense,” the clerk said.
Even if every voter in the village cast a ballot early, the total time required wouldn’t come close to 20 hours. “For us, it makes no sense,” the clerk said.
20 hours of early voting is a fraction of the time that cities like Madison and Milwaukee offer. And it would make sense in communities with a couple thousand voters. But what about WI's very small towns?
May 27, 2025 at 2:22 PM
20 hours of early voting is a fraction of the time that cities like Madison and Milwaukee offer. And it would make sense in communities with a couple thousand voters. But what about WI's very small towns?