In a new controversy surrounding absentee ballots, Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) revealed that thousands of duplicate ballots sent to Madison voters were missing barcodes, casting doubt on the integrity of the voting process. The Madison Clerk’s Office had claimed that the ballots had identical barcodes and couldn’t be submitted twice, but Tiffany shared evidence showing that many ballots lacked any barcode at all.
Tiffany called for an immediate investigation into the matter, writing a letter to Madison’s city clerk, Maribeth Witzel-Behl. He expressed his alarm and demanded answers about how such a large number of duplicate ballots could be sent out unnoticed. He also questioned whether law enforcement had been contacted to investigate the error.
The incident involved more than 2,000 absentee ballots sent to approximately 10 wards in Madison. Tiffany pointed out that the Clerk’s Office provided little information about how the error was caught and how many voters were affected.
Tiffany warned that this issue should not be brushed aside, saying, “The people responsible for this need to be held accountable.” He emphasized that the integrity of absentee voting is critical as more voters choose mail-in ballots in future elections.
Concerns over election security have been a frequent issue in recent years, with Republicans calling for more oversight and stricter measures to prevent errors like this. Tiffany’s discovery has added fuel to the ongoing debate about the reliability of absentee ballots.
With the election drawing closer, this latest controversy is likely to keep absentee voting practices in the spotlight, with many pushing for reform to prevent similar issues in the future.
