A Major Win for Election Integrity in Small-Town Wisconsin
In a decision that could have ripple effects nationwide, the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) has ruled that small towns do not need state permission to stop using electronic voting machines, opening the door for more municipalities to return to hand-counted paper ballots.
The ruling stems from a case involving the Town of Thornapple, which made the switch in 2024. Despite complaints filed by the liberal legal group Law Forward and a lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice, the WEC voted 5–1 to uphold Thornapple’s decision and dismiss allegations of legal violations.
What the WEC Ruled
The WEC’s decision confirms that towns with fewer than 7,500 residents are not required to continue using electronic tabulators just because they used them in the past. However, state and federal law still mandates at least one electronic machine per polling place for disabled voters, ensuring accessibility.
The decision flies in the face of a longstanding interpretation of a 1995 Wisconsin law that seemingly locked smaller communities into using electronic machines indefinitely. But in this case, the WEC found no probable cause that Thornapple broke the law by switching to paper ballots.
A Surprising Shift from a Controversial Commission
What’s surprising is that this ruling came from the same elections commission still run by Meagan Wolfe, the embattled administrator who oversaw Wisconsin’s controversial 2020 election certification. Despite widespread GOP calls for her removal, Wolfe remains in power—yet even under her leadership, this pro-paper ballot ruling was allowed to stand.
Who’s Impacted? Up to 25% of the State
With Wisconsin’s population nearing 5.93 million, a significant portion lives in small towns and villages. Conservative estimates suggest 20–25% of Wisconsinites live in municipalities with fewer than 7,500 residents, meaning millions of votes could now be hand-counted—restoring public trust in local results.
Here’s why that matters:
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Wisconsin has 1,852 towns and 594 cities and villages.
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Roughly one-third of the population resides in rural or small-town areas.
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These towns can now ensure more secure, verifiable elections without electronic tabulators.
The Broader Picture: Fighting Election Fraud at Every Level
While election fraud is widely suspected to concentrate in large urban centers like Milwaukee and Madison, this ruling ensures that at least in small-town Wisconsin, ballot integrity is back in the hands of the people. With bloated voter rolls, unmonitored drop boxes, and electronic machine vulnerabilities plaguing urban centers, this small-town revolution is a crucial first step.
“With paper ballots in place, at least the smaller cities and towns can ensure their votes are accurate,” the article rightly notes.
What Comes Next?
The Department of Justice’s lawsuit against Thornapple is ongoing, but the WEC ruling will likely strengthen the town’s defense. In the meantime, more municipalities may follow suit, knowing they have legal cover to reject machines and return to tried-and-true hand counts.