Racine Sun

Wisconsin state Sen. Van Wanggaard has filed a complaint with the Wisconsin Elections Commission accusing the city of Racine of encouraging "ballot harvesting" on Election Day.

"This is the type of garbage that makes it difficult for people to believe that it's a fair process," Wanggaard told Fox6now.com.

Ballot harvesting is known as the practice of allowing one person to submit ballots on behalf of other people.

As part of his compliant, Wanggaard pointed to a January 2022 Waukesha judge's order requiring the Wisconsin Elections Commission to rescind its guidance on the use of drop boxes. The judge also established that the law stipulates only the voter can submit their own ballot.

 At Racine City Hall, clerk Tara Coolidge later stated that order does not cover any municipality, including Racine.

Wanggaard also noted that one of the most frequently asked questions on Racine's voting website pertains to whether one person can submit another person's ballot.

"The way they present it says anybody can do it," Wanggaard said. "Anybody can go collect someone else's ballot and bring it in. Nope, can't do that."

Through it all, Coolidge stands by her position.

"He can say what he'd like, but I'm not a politician," she told Fox6now.com. She added that Racine is not bound by the order because the order was aimed at the Wisconsin Elections Commission. She also brought up an exception in the law that allows an authorized agent to submit a voter's ballot.

"I definitely think a lot of this could be solved with talking about things, instead of portraying things in the media and giving opinions, instead of maybe seeking legal advice and reaching out and having a good relationship about that," Coolidge said.

To date, the Wisconsin Elections Commission has yet to signal if it plans to act on Wanggaard's complaint, the Fox6 report said. The issue of drop boxes and further absentee ballot questions could go before the state Supreme Court later this year.