Green Bay City Clerk Steps Down Amid Duplicate Ballot Investigation
The city of Green Bay is undergoing significant changes as its city clerk, Celestine Jeffreys, resigns amidst an ongoing investigation. The scrutiny follows incidents where her office reportedly mailed out duplicate absentee ballots during two consecutive elections this year.
Green Bay announced Jeffreys’ resignation on Friday, conveying well wishes for her future in a statement on social media. Jeffreys had been serving as the city clerk since 2021, following a previous role as the chief of staff for Mayor Eric Genrich.
Her departure comes after being placed on leave last month, synchronously with the Wisconsin Elections Commission’s decision to investigate the issuance of duplicate ballots in the April municipal election and the August primary. The Commission’s member, Ann Jacobs, criticized these errors, describing the recurrence as “unconscionable.”
These ballot issues have led to legal actions, including a complaint from the Republican Party of Wisconsin filed against Jeffreys after 152 voters received two absentee ballots in April. The problem persisted into June, affecting the August primary.
A review by the Wisconsin Elections Commission staff identified probable cause that Green Bay’s actions violated state election laws. These revelations have intensified Republican scrutiny, which has been present since false claims about the 2020 election emerged.
Jeffreys’ previous actions included accepting absentee ballots without requiring proof of disability, and there were issues with the city’s voter registration processes, as reported by local media.
As the city navigates these challenges, the Green Bay City Council is set to receive a presentation on August 18 detailing the internal investigation into the duplicate ballot issue. This presentation will include the same data being submitted to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, according to city spokespersons.
