So, it turns out Wisconsin’s election watchdogs are choosing to do the bare minimum when it comes to making it easier to detect duplicate and fraudulent signatures on the recall petitions.
Color me shocked.
GAB’s Refusal to Create Recall Database a Choice, Not Based on State Law
MADISON, WI — The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board could be doing more to make it easier to ensure the recall process is not tainted by fraud the MacIver News Service has learned.
“The statutes do not impose explicit barriers to the creation of a GAB database that contains the names and addresses of individuals who sign recall petitions or to public availability of the database,” said Katie Bender-Olson, Staff Attorney with the Wisconsin Legislative Council in a memo to Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald.
“To the contrary, the statute enumerating the powers and duties of GAB may support the agency’s authority to create a recall signature database and make it accessible to the public.”
Bender-Olson sent the memo to the Speaker in response an inquiry he made of the Legislative Council, the nonpartisan service agency that provides legal, scientific and other research services and administrative support services to lawmakers
“The A in GAB stands for accountability,” said Speaker Fitzgerald (R-Horicon). “I would hope this memo encourages them to provide the public with a nonpartisan source of important data that could help root out possible duplicate signatures and fraud.”
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