By: Ethan Hollenberger
On March 12th, the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections chaired by Rep. Kathy Bernier (R) held an informational public hearing on GAB regulations regarding the training and certification of election inspectors (GAB Chapter 11) and municipal clerks (GAB Chapter 12) and the statewide voter registration list.
The hearing came after Right Wisconsin reported the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board was not following state law by cleaning up the voter list before the April 2nd election. Legislators lined up to blast the GAB when the news emerged. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos even said, “The GAB is undermining the integrity of our election process — GAB officials are intentionally ignoring a state statute and it must stop.”
The committee questioned GAB Director Kevin Kennedy about the decision to not clean the voter rolls. Kennedy said that the statute isn’t practical.
Legislative committees often have informational hearings to assess matters in their jurisdiction and determine if legislative changes are needed. Despite that, it didn’t take long for the liberal group One Wisconsin Now to chastise the committee for doing it’s job.
The group’s executive director, Scot Ross, wrote in a statement, ‘There is no reason, other than an insatiable quest for partisan political advantage, to justify repealing laws that make it possible for millions of legal Wisconsin voters to do their civic duty and make their voices heard at the ballot box.” He also chastised the hearing for not taking public testimony even though no particular legislation was the focus of the hearing. The meeting, which was open to the public, was merely to gather information from experts the committee needed to hear from.
The committee has talked about ways to prevent election fraud and preserve the right to vote. Ross is opposed to fact-finding hearings like these, especially after a voter Media Trackers has reported on was arrested in February and is awaiting charges for voting illegally several times.
Ross’ statement makes it clear that his group opposes any sort of election reform provided it is being considered by Republican lawmakers.