MILWAUKEE — U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson's campaign has launched a new way for voters to report any suspected cases of election fraud.
The “Election Integrity Incident Reporting” page announced this week is a part of Johnson's campaign website and provides a form where voters can report their concerns, leave their contact information for a follow-up, as well as upload a file or image.
Launched in partnership with the Republican Party of Wisconsin (RPW) and the Republican National Committee (RNC), the online portal is intended for reports of a suspicious activity or any action that is not consistent with state elections laws.
“Everyone in Wisconsin should have the assurance that their vote counts and it will not be canceled by a fraudulent vote,” Johnson said in a press release on his campaign website. “We are doing everything in our power in 2022 to restore confidence in our election by ensuring Wisconsin elections laws are fully complied with. We will continue to coordinate with the committees to make sure this election is free and fair, and that everyone can have full confidence in the final results.”
The page also features a YouTube video called “Securing our Elections” that highlights some of the common things that would disqualify an absentee ballot.
While the use of a website to report potentially fraudulent activity is a relatively new idea, campaigns and political parties have a long history of using poll observers and telephone hotlines to monitor problems at the polls.
However, in the wake of the 2020 election, and the large number of unfounded allegations that followed, some Democrats see the effort as an attempt to cast doubt.
While Johnson insists the page is intended to help restore confidence in the electoral process, his opponent, Mandela Barnes, feels it will have the opposite effect.
“Ron Johnson is the last person Wisconsin voters should trust to ‘restore confidence’ in our elections,” Maddy McDaniel, spokesperson for Mandela Barnes for Wisconsin, said. “It’s shameful Johnson is casting doubt and refusing to say whether he will accept the results of the election, but voting is safe and secure, and people should be empowered to cast their vote and know it will be counted.”
Democrats have been on the offensive as Election Day nears, emphasizing accusations that Johnson previously downplayed the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol.