Madison, WI – State Representative Janel Brandtjen (R-Menomonee Falls) and State Representative Timothy Ramthun (R-Campbellsport) released the following statement regarding the upcoming WI Elections Commission (WEC) vote to allow access to voting machines:
“On August 26th, WEC Administrator Meagan Wolfe stated in a letter ‘[t]here is no statute that either defines “IP logs” or specifically requires their retention beyond what would be required of any record…’. We disagree, as WI statute 7.23(1) (g) requires municipal clerks to keep voting machine data for 22 months after any election. IP logs and operating images certainly fall under that statute.”
“With the upcoming WEC vote on September 9th to allow voting tabulator manufacturer ES&S access to voting machines to perform upgrades, we’re gravely concerned about the possibility of further loss of data and records. These concerns are shared by many of those we represent. This data needs to be preserved by law for 22 months, and allowing access to it will only raise questions about its legitimacy.”
“We strongly urge the WEC board to vote against allowing this access in order to preserve the data in question, specifically for analysis under any investigation into the November 2020 election.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: In an op ed to the Washington County Insider on August 31, 2021, Ramthun said, “Since beginning the Assembly Campaigns and Elections investigation into the 2020 election, Chair Janel Brandtjen has received a plethora of information that supports the cause for a full cyber-forensic audit.
A majority of Republican county parties in Wisconsin have also formally requested the same. The demand for transparency is common in all requests.” Read more HERE.
