Statewide Presidential Recount

County clerks throughout Wisconsin are working diligently to complete an unnecessary recount of the presidential election results in Wisconsin.  President-elect Trump won the state by more than 22,000 votes.  Last month, Green Party Presidential Candidate Jill Stein finished in 4^th place in Wisconsin with just over 1% of the vote.  However, state law allows any candidate to request a recount.

As of Friday afternoon, 88.5% of the ballots in the statewide recount have been counted. Hillary Clinton has picked up a net 49 votes during the count. The remaining 12 counties have until Tuesday to complete their recounts. Calumet, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan counties have all submitted their results to the state.

Stein and others have questioned the integrity of our election process.  She claimed that Wisconsin’s voting machines are illegal, a claim rated “Pants on Fire” by Politifact.  She suggested that Wisconsin’s voting machines need to be audited. However, Wisconsin Law already requires a post-election audit.

Another claim is that the Russians hacked into Wisconsin’s database to manipulate votes. However, Wisconsin has one of the most decentralized election systems in the country.  Municipal clerks administer elections in each of the state’s 1,854 cities, town, and villages. Voting machines are not connected to the internet.  There is no central Wisconsin Elections Mainframe to hack.

I am currently working with my colleagues on legislation to address our recount laws.  Wisconsin needs to ensure that a candidate who receives 1% of the vote cannot hold the results of an election hostage.

The 2016 Capitol Christmas tree is a balsam fir donated by Bruce and Charlotte Carey of Eagle River. The tree is decorated with ornaments made by Wisconsin school children.

Broadband Expansion

Last week Governor Scott Walker called on members of the State Legislature to take action this upcoming session by passing a bill that would provide an extra $35.5 million for broadband expansion and technology advances over the next three years. View the Governor’s release here.

Currently the Wisconsin State Broadband Office is taking surveys from residents and businesses to hear your thoughts on improved internet access or service. The survey responses will help legislators and state planners to better understand the need for enhanced internet access in our communities.

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation