Wisconsin Republican Hires Ex-Cops To Investigate Election As Arizona Audit Sparks New Probes Nationwide

Topline

Arizona’s heavily criticized audit of ballots in Maricopa County has inspired a new wave of investigations into the 2020 election that could further undermine public trust in the vote count and fuel misinformation about voter fraud, critics warn—with Wisconsin becoming the latest state Wednesday to announce a new probe despite there being no evidence of widespread fraud or irregularities.

Key Facts

Big Number

27. That’s how many potential cases of voter fraud election officials have identified in Wisconsin out of more than three million ballots cast, according to governmental records obtained by the Associated Press. There is no credible evidence to suggest any widespread voter fraud in the November election nationwide.

Crucial Quote

“The election's already over,” Vos told the Journal Sentinel about his investigation. “My job is to be frustrated with the result … My job is to say where are the laws being followed, where are they not? If they’re not being followed, how can I fix it?”

Chief Critic

Democrats and many election officials have been heavily critical of the election audits and investigations playing out, saying there is no evidence to suggest they’re warranted and warning the probes will sow further distrust in the election results. Election officials in Michigan have also warned against local officials hiring outside groups to conduct the audit, as has been done in Arizona. “Interest in granting access to unqualified third parties to conduct a ‘forensic audit’ may stem from misplaced reliance on ongoing misinformation, which has been repeatedly, comprehensively, and definitively debunked,” Jonathan Brater, director of the Michigan Bureau of Elections, wrote in a recent letter to Cheboygan County Clerk Karen Brewster, as quoted by the Washington Post.

Key Background

The new push for investigations comes as Republicans in Maricopa County, Arizona—the state’s most populous county—have moved forward with a privately run audit of the county’s election results, which will not change the election results and has been decried for further sowing distrust in the state’s election results. The recount has been criticized by even some Republicans in the state over issues like a lack of transparency, privacy concerns and questions about the funding behind the probe. It is also being overseen by the CEO of the private company Cyber Ninjas, who has no election experience and has spouted baseless conspiracy theories about election fraud in the past.

Tangent

In addition to their new push for investigations, Republicans are also using the concerns they’ve raised about the election results as fuel for a new wave of voting restrictions that are being enacted through legislation nationwide. Vos told the Journal Sentinel the findings of his investigation could be used by Republican state lawmakers to help them write new election laws, though any measures that pass are expected to be vetoed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

Further Reading

Top Wisconsin Republican Robin Vos hires former cops to investigate November election (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Georgia Set For Another Election Audit After Judge Unseals 145,000 Absentee Ballots (Forbes)

Why We Don’t Really Know Who Is Paying For Arizona’s Bizarre Election Audit (Forbes)

Inspired by Arizona recount, Trump loyalists push to revisit election results in communities around the country (Washington Post)

It’s not just Arizona: Push to review 2020 ballots spreads (Associated Press)