Recent data reveals significant discrepancies in Wisconsin’s voter registration system, raising alarms about the accuracy and integrity of the state’s voter rolls. More than 41,000 registrations do not align with the state’s driver’s license database, a troubling increase since the last presidential election.
The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL), a legal group scrutinizing these records, reported a trend that has nearly doubled since 2020. Their analysis emphasizes that these inconsistencies necessitate urgent attention. “In a suspicious development, it’s been exposed that a whopping 41,000 Wisconsin voters’ registration files do NOT match the driver and ID database… nearly DOUBLE from 2020,” they noted in a recent tweet.
The specifics of the mismatches underscore possible vulnerabilities in the state’s election process. According to data from the Wisconsin Election Commission, 11,174 active registrations are missing a driver’s license number, nearly tripling since 2020. Likewise, 24,733 registrations have names that differ from Department of Transportation records, up from 15,260. Other inconsistencies include 680 mismatches in both name and birthdate, and 2,069 that show no match in the WisDOT system.
This rise in mismatches represents approximately 1.1% of the state’s active registered voters. Lucas Vebber, deputy counsel of WILL, tempered the findings by noting, “We’re not in any way saying that these 40,000 votes were fraudulent votes,” but stressed the importance of addressing these discrepancies. “Our point is just saying this is serious enough that questions need to be answered.”
The differences in registration processing could explain much of the chaos. Voters registering online undergo an instant check against the WisDOT records. However, paper applications, which are submitted either by mail or in person, face a different and obscure verification method. The lack of transparency about this process raises further concerns. WILL has pursued clarity on how the Wisconsin Election Commission verifies paper registrations, but those requests remain largely unanswered.
Vebber elaborated, “If you register to vote online… they will instantly check that number against the DOT database. If anything’s inaccurate, they will not allow you to register to vote. If you submit a paper application… WEC won’t tell us what process they used to verify the information.”
The call for a federal investigation reflects the gravity of the situation. WILL’s recent letter to the Department of Justice alleges that the WEC has neglected its responsibility to ensure accurate voter lists amidst signs of irregularities. “That should sound alarm bells, but WEC continues to ignore the issue,” Vebber pointed out.
A judge in Waukesha County recently issued a ruling requiring the WEC to verify voter data against WisDOT records. However, this requirement is currently on hold pending a scheduled court hearing, leaving verification unaddressed in the interim.
The increase in mismatches raises critical questions about the enforcement of policies designed to protect voter integrity. Over three years, the number of registrations missing valid driver’s license numbers has more than doubled, and name mismatches surged over 60%. Furthermore, registrations that cannot be verified against WisDOT records have grown by 14%. The potential ramifications are significant, particularly in close elections, where such errors could impact outcomes. For instance, Joe Biden’s Wisconsin victory margin was just over 20,000 votes in the 2020 presidential race.
Despite the possibility that some of these discrepancies stem from benign data entry errors, the sheer volume is concerning. The Wisconsin Legislature has also sought clarification from the WEC regarding its verification measures but has reportedly encountered limited responses. Lawmakers and the DOJ have repeatedly demanded answers, yet the WEC has not provided comprehensive explanations for how it handles non-matching paper registrations.
The absence of evidence linking these discrepancies directly to fraudulent voting does not mitigate the systemic risks involved. Different verification standards based on the method of registration create unevenness in the voter roll’s integrity. In particular, the procedures for verifying paper applications submitted on election day raise the potential for exploitation or honest mistakes.
Confidence in the electoral process is an ongoing concern in Wisconsin, especially following contentious high-turnout elections. Discrepancy rates of this scale—especially with scant oversight—further erode public trust. WILL proposes that increased transparency and standardized verification processes are critical to restoring faith in the system.
“What are they doing to ensure the integrity of our voter registration list?” Vebber asked pointedly. It’s a crucial inquiry directed at the WEC.
If Wisconsin aims to sustain trust in its election outcomes, officials must clarify, rather than deflect, the growing number of registration errors. These mismatches represent more than just statistics; they signal potential weaknesses in the system that warrant accountability and decisive action.
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