,

Candidates Hoping To Make Ballot Have Until Thursday To Address Signature Complaints

Complaints Were Almost Evenly Split Between Democrats And Republicans

By
Voter
Darron Cummings/AP Photo

Candidates hoping to get on the November ballot in Wisconsin have until the end of business Thursday to address complaints about signatures supporting their candidacy.

There were 11 complaints filed this year, roughly half as many as were filed in 2014, said Reid Magney of the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

Elections Commission staff give incoming petitions what’s called a facial review, but it’s not unusual for campaign’s to conduct detailed reviews of opponents’ nomination papers, Magney said.

Stay informed on the latest news

Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“Commissioners decide whether or not to strike certain signatures based on their reading of the law,” Magney said. “And then if the candidate still has enough signatures, then they get on the ballot; if they fall below the threshold, then they’re not on the ballot.”

This year’s claims include allegations of incomplete, duplicate and forged signatures. Complaints were almost evenly split between Republicans and Democrats.

Still, some of the targets of complaints claim the allegations are a political tactic.

A Republican Party of Wisconsin spokesman said staff believe it’s possible some signature gatherers for Andy Gronik, a Democrat and former businessman hoping to take on Republican Gov. Scott Walker, are still serving felony sentences, making them ineligible to collect signatures.

Gronik said the people in question completed their sentences and the state GOP and Walker want to discourage black and brown voters from Milwaukee.

“So to suggest otherwise, is dog-whistle politics,” Gronik said at a press conference specifically addressing the claim. “(This) is the kind of red meat and divisive politics that’s been going on in the state of Wisconsin since he took office that needs to end.”

The party also lodged a complaint against State Rep. Dana Wachs, another Democratic candidate for governor. His campaign manager called the complaint a cheap shot.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission will make their final decisions on the complaints Monday.