Wisconsin judge rules that paper absentee ballots violate rights of certain disabled people
The judge said paper absentee ballots deny disabled voters equal access, but he left the question of electronic voting for a later trial.
- On Tuesday, Dane County Circuit Judge Everett Mitchell ruled that Wisconsin's paper-based absentee voting program discriminates against disabled voters, denying them equal opportunity to vote privately and independently.
- Disability Rights Wisconsin and the League of Women Voters filed the lawsuit in 2024, arguing that the lack of electronic absentee options violated protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- The Republican-controlled Legislature is fighting the lawsuit, even though Wisconsin currently emails ballots to military and overseas voters; neither the plaintiffs nor the Wisconsin Elections Commission provided estimates on potential electronic ballot demand.
- Mitchell declined to immediately order electronic voting, citing disputes over whether that remedy is reasonable and noting risks involved in instituting such a program; a hearing is set for Aug. 12.
- Spokespeople for the Wisconsin Elections Commission and the Wisconsin Department of Justice did not immediately return messages seeking comment, leaving the case outcome uncertain as legal proceedings continue.
25 Articles
25 Articles
Dane Co. judge says absentee voting system discriminates against people with disabilities
A Dane County judge found that Wisconsin’s absentee voting system discriminates against voters with print disabilities by forcing them to have someone else assist them with filling out their ballots — undermining the secrecy of their vote. In a ruling…
WI judge rules paper absentee ballots discriminate against disabled voters
A Wisconsin judge ruled Tuesday that the state’s absentee voting system discriminates against disabled voters by denying them the ability to cast ballots privately and independently, but the ruling did not order election officials to offer electronic absentee ballots before the midterm elections. The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed in 2024 by Disability Rights Wisconsin, the League of Women Voters, and four disabled voters, who argued that the…
Associated Press News
Wisconsin judge rules that paper absentee ballots violate rights of certain disabled people
A judge has ruled that absentee voting in Wisconsin discriminates against disabled voters, siding with groups that are seeking to force elections officials to allow for electronic ballots.
Wisconsin Judge Rules Paper Absentee Ballots Discriminate Against Disabled Voters
Absentee voting in Wisconsin discriminates against disabled voters, a judge ruled Tuesday, siding with groups that are seeking to force election officials to allow for electronic casting of ballots. But Dane County Circuit Judge Everett Mitchell stopped short of ordering electronic voting, setting up a trial on that issue later. It almost certainly will not be resolved before the November election. Read more at AP News
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