A Wisconsin Town Alters Its Voting Approach Following Legal Challenges
In a move to resolve a prolonged legal conflict, a town in northern Wisconsin has agreed to implement electronic voting machines intended for individuals with disabilities, following losses in federal court battles.
The controversy began when the town decided to eliminate voting machines in 2023 due to their contentious nature. This decision spurred legal action from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which argued that the town’s actions violated the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).
Under a settlement sanctioned by U.S. District Court Judge James Peterson on December 19, the Rusk County Town of Thornapple will now ensure the availability of at least one disability-friendly voting machine for all federal elections until 2026. This agreement marks the culmination of a legal confrontation initiated over a year ago.
The DOJ’s litigation against Thornapple’s town board, launched in September 2024, challenged the complete removal of voting machines a year earlier. Thornapple’s legal representatives contended that their reliance on paper ballots did not infringe upon legal requirements, as it did not represent a “voting system” under HAVA.
A federal judge refuted this defense in October 2024, mandating that Thornapple provide at least one voting machine in time for the November 2024 elections. Despite appealing the decision, the town’s case was overturned by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in July.
The legal issue also attracted attention from local and state bodies. The Rusk County Democratic Party chair, Disability Rights Wisconsin, and the progressive law firm Law Forward lodged complaints with the Wisconsin Elections Commission, accusing Thornapple of breaching state mandates for electronic voting machine usage.
However, the commission rejected Law Forward’s assertion in May that state approval was necessary for Thornapple’s transition from electronic machines to paper ballots.
