Unlike other states, where elections are run by a Secretary of State, Wisconsin is unique in that it has a statewide election commission.
The commission was created in 2016 after a bill signed into law a year before under then-Governor Scott Walker.
It is a bipartisan commission with three Republicans and three Democrats to enforce election laws.
The commission also has a chair, vice chair, and administrator, with the administrator role belonging to Meagan Wolfe, who spoke about the commission during a presentation at the Manitowoc Public Library on Wednesday (March 27th).
She says a Secretary of State can make decisions behind closed doors while the WEC holds in-person meetings, which anyone can watch online via Wisconsin Eye.
When it comes to elections, most of the work is done at the local and county level, but they must make sure who is eligible to be on a ballot, so they go through many nomination papers.
“So every single legislative contest,” she explains. “So, your state senate, your state assembly, judicial offices, federal offices, all of those are nomination papers that come to us at the state level.”
Wolfe continues by saying another commission job is checking administrative complaints, like credible claims of election fraud or other allegations against a person or election official.
They also maintain the My Vote Wisconsin website, where all election information about who and what you are voting for can be found.
She explains much more about what the commission does during her presentation, which can be found on the MPL Facebook page.
