You’ve heard the stories: Thousands of fraudulent votes flip election results from one party to another.
It’s a common refrain in crucial swing states such as Wisconsin, where I am a state assemblyman. The states that determine the outcome of national elections attract the focus of the national media, as well as the ire of those who didn’t come out on top. Members of both parties look for any way to justify those losses, since, as we’re told, they could change the trajectory of the nation.
Election administrators in our key states know this. They take every precaution to ensure not only that our elections are fairly adjudicated, but that those who do try to cheat are held accountable, demonstrating the existence of the security measures already in place. We just saw this happen in Wisconsin.
In November, 46 cases of suspected election fraud stemming from the November 2024 elections were referred to prosecutors, a far cry from the tens of thousands of votes that would have been needed to overturn an outcome in the state. How were they identified? Through a series of protective measures, audits, and reviews of the voter file that regularly take place throughout the election process.
First, before and on Election Day, voters are cross-referenced with the voter file: the list of voter registration information on file with the state. Election workers check and confirm voters’ identities, in addition to their eligibility to vote, before any ballot is handed out or sent (in the case of absentees). As of this year, our state’s voter ID requirement is part of the Wisconsin constitution, solidifying it as a threshold to vote. Cross-referencing also includes absentee ballots, which have a unique identifier attached to each voter they are mailed to, allowing administrators to know if an individual has been mailed or returned their ballot. This ensures not just “one person, one vote,” but “one person, one ballot,” and that the person is eligible according to state data.
Once ballots are cast, our tabulators — which are unable to be connected to the internet at all — process each ballot. Every tabulator is tested within 10 days of an election, a process which the general public is invited and encouraged to watch in-person or, in the case of many counties, online, via our counties’ election office websites. As tabulating happens, there are poll watchers from both parties in the room, making sure everything is transparent and up to the standard Wisconsin has set.
Following the elections, counties and municipalities conduct audits throughout the state. These audits identify irregularities like those that were referred to local prosecutors. It’s one way that we ensure our results are accurate and identify areas where we need to improve.
Our election system isn’t perfect, but as the Founding Fathers said, we are always working toward a more perfect union. Our elections systems are secure, and these few cases of suspected fraud highlight just how thorough Wisconsin election administration really is. That said, we are consistently looking for ways to get better. In my role on the Wisconsin State Assembly’s Campaigns and Elections Committee, we’ve put forward legislation to improve transparency and bolster the integrity of our process further. This includes provisions that would create standardized security measures for dropboxes across the state and the ability to process — not count, but prepare — absentee ballots 24 hours before Election Day so you have results before bed.
As an assemblyman, I give kudos to the county and municipal clerks who take the election process so seriously. They are the heroes who are making sure Wisconsin’s election outcomes reflect the will of the people.
Rep. Patrick Snyder is a member of RightCount Wisconsin’s advisory board.