In a surprising turn of events, a key initiative to allow early processing of absentee ballots in Wisconsin is facing delays due to insufficient support among Republican lawmakers. This comes despite prior bipartisan efforts to modernize election procedures in the state.
Last month, both Republican and Democratic legislators in the Wisconsin Assembly joined forces to propose several updates to the state’s election laws, including a provision for early processing—known as Monday processing—of absentee ballots. This measure, backed by election clerks, aims to expedite the release of election results by starting ballot processing the day before the election. More details about these efforts can be found here.
However, the Monday processing initiative has struggled to pass through the Wisconsin Legislature for several years, having been reintroduced as recently as 2023. For more background, see the previous discussions on this issue.
During a recent hearing of the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections, Republican state Rep. Scott Krug of Rome expressed his belief that Monday processing is the “most important reform” to bolster election confidence. Yet, he noted the lack of Republican support in the state Senate, likening the situation to a football game scenario: “On the Monday process, it’s 4th and short, there’s 10 minutes left in the game. Right now, I’m going to punt,” Krug remarked. “There will be time to get the ball back later … if we can get some more input from the state Senate, I think we can figure out a way to get it done.”
The hearing also involved discussions on Krug’s latest election proposal, which includes measures such as banning mobile in-person absentee voting sites and mandating that absentee ballots with errors be returned to voters. It also shortens the absentee voting application period and requires election results to be posted by 10 p.m. The full text of the proposal is available here.
Committee Democrats voiced concerns over the removal of the Monday processing component. State Rep. Clinton Anderson of Beloit questioned the decision, asking, “So, I just want to know, is it worth throwing away the big thing that we know is the solution clerks are asking for, for all this little stuff that is going to lose support?”
Krug defended the current version of his bill, emphasizing its independent merits, but promised to reconsider Monday processing if more support emerges: “If the caucus comes back and says, in January, February, we’ve got more support for it, I’ve had time to talk to more members,” he said, adding, “I am no stranger to be able to write bills on the fly.”
Meanwhile, state Rep. Lee Snodgrass of Appleton introduced a substitute amendment to reintegrate the Monday processing provision. “Your current bill that’s in front of us, I will not vote for unless it has a Monday processing component,” Snodgrass declared. “That is the compromise.”
Governor Tony Evers’ office has yet to comment on Krug’s proposal, as it was only recently introduced. Local election officials from Milwaukee, Rock, and Green counties also expressed reservations about the proposed requirement for election results to be posted by 10 p.m., citing concerns over staffing limitations potentially delaying ballot processing in larger cities.
