(Juneau) The Dodge County clerk says her office works hard to ensure election integrity. Karen Gibson says there are multiple security measures in place including safeguarding each ballot.
“The ballots are always secured at the local polling place into a box with a zip tie,” says Gibson. “That zip tie number is noted on two or three different documents at the polling place before those ballots leave that polling place and goes home with the clerk and then are brought to me the next day. The day after the election all clerks come to my office with all of their election materials…we go through everything and make sure there’s not more ballots than people.”
Gibson says she gets upset with people think the voting machines are doing something they are not supposed to be.
“I don’t believe that is happen here in Dodge County…they’re not connected to the internet…the Virtual Private Network [is] devoted to just to elections,” says Gibson. “After the election, the state election commission always has what’s called a post-election audit where they randomly draw municipalities that have to preform a hand count for different races on that ballot. And that has to be done, I believe, its by November 25th.”
Gibson also reminds voters that they need to register and a photo ID is required in all municipalities before a ballot may be issued to them. She adds anyone not already registered or have moved since they last voted will need to fill out a Voter Registration Application. This can be done at the polls on Election Day, but they must have a valid ID and show proof of residence.
Acceptable identifying documents that constitute proof of residence include:
- A WI Driver Licenses/ID Card, if not expired or canceled. May be used even if driving privileges have been revoked
- Any other official ID or license issued by a Wisconsin governmental body or unit of government
- Official card or license issued by an employer that contains a photo of the voter but not a business card. Must contain current address
- Residential lease (except for first-time voters registering by mail)
- A property tax bill or receipt from the current or preceding year
- A paycheck or paycheck stub
- A bank statement
- A check or document issued by a Wisconsin government unit
- A utility bill no more than 90 days old
- A credit card statement
- A picture ID from a university, college or technical college coupled with a fee receipt or an on-campus housing list provided by the university, college or technical college
Photo ID Required to Vote
- To vote in Wisconsin, whether at the polls on November 8th or absentee in-person at their clerk’s office, voters must show an acceptable photo ID. Gibson said most people already have the photo ID they need to vote like a Wisconsin driver license, state ID card or other DMV-issued photo ID document. Voters can also use a U.S. passport, military and veteran’s IDs, some student IDs, tribal IDs, or a certificate of naturalization. The full list is available HERE.
- “Your photo ID does not need to have your current address, and your name on your ID does not have to exactly match the name on the poll list,” Gibson said. “Your Wisconsin driver license or Wisconsin ID card may even be expired, but it must have expired after the date of the most recent general election, which was the November 3, 2020.”
For more information contact your municipal clerk or call the County Clerk’s Office at 920-386-3605. For a list of municipal clerks, and polling places you may visit the County’s website HERE.
