MADISON, Wis. — State lawmakers on the Legislature's Audit Committee spent Tuesday afternoon taking a deeper dive into a nonpartisan, independent report reviewing the 2020 elections.

What You Need To Know

  • A nonpartisan audit of the 2020 presidential election found no widespread fraud

  • The Legislative Audit Bureau made dozens of recommendations as to how elections can be improved

  • Inconsistencies in the administration of election law were identified in the report released in October

  • The Audit Bureau made 30 recommendations to the Wisconsin Elections Commission and 18 potential legal changes for the Legislature to consider

Wisconsin Elections Commission Chair Ann Jacobs asked lawmakers to delay Tuesday's hearing until the agency meets on Dec. 1 to discuss and respond to the 110-page report by the state's Legislative Audit Bureau that was released last month. However, the Legislative Audit Committee decided to press forward.

With 18 recommendations laid out for the Legislature to consider, lawmakers had plenty of questions for the state auditors as to how to clarify laws, such as for ballot drop boxes.

State Rep. John Macco, R-Ledgeview, listens as other committee members ask questions.

“How do we have any ambiguity to some individuals believe statutes allow and some individuals don't allow?” State Rep. John Macco, R-Ledgeview, asked. “How is that optional?”

“We do say that statutes neither permit nor prohibit ballot drop boxes,” State Auditor Joe Chrisman responded.

Committee members from both sides of the aisle also asked questions about the City of Madison's refusal to allow auditors to handle ballots, which the bureau said impacted the review process they used.

State Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, asks about the impact of some cities not allowing auditors to physically handle election materials.

“What effect do you think the inability to have some of these records had on the validity or the conclusion of this audit?” State Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, questioned.

“So on the one hand, the absence of Madison means a community we sought for inclusion is not included and, on the other hand, the absence of the community does not in any way alter or invalidate information,” Chrisman said.

WEC Administrator Meagan Wolfe appears before the committee virtually to provide a statement and answer questions.

While the state Elections Commission hasn't met yet to discuss the audit and approve a formal response, Administrator Meagan Wolfe did take questions and raise concerns about the report.

“The audit, as published today, contains factual errors because we were not afforded the opportunity to review or respond in advance to the report being issued. And it's really important, and I think we can all agree on this, that we determine how these corrections will be made,” Wolfe said.

State Auditor Joe Chrisman (left) watches as Deputy State Auditor for Performance and Evaluation Dean Swenson (right) answers questions.

Normally, the Legislative Audit Bureau provides a draft of the report to those who were audited before releasing it. The agency did not do that this time for many reasons, including concerns that details could be leaked.

Commissioners plan to meet next month to go over the 30 recommendations auditors suggested the Wisconsin Elections Commission fix to improve election management.