Home Breaking News State Rep. Scott Allen Wants Watermarks on Wisconsin Absentee Ballots

State Rep. Scott Allen Wants Watermarks on Wisconsin Absentee Ballots

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State Rep. Scott Allen Wants Watermarks on Wisconsin Absentee Ballots

There’s a pitch at the Wisconsin Capitol to add watermarks to the state’s absentee ballots.

Rep. Scott Allen, R-Waukesha, said absentee ballots in Wisconsin need to be more secure.

Allen said absentee ballots are very convenient, but also present a threat to election integrity in the state.

“Our citizens need to have faith in the integrity of our election process,” Allen said.

Allen’s solution is to place watermarks on each ballot, similar to what the U.S. Treasury does for dollar bills, to make them harder to copy or forge.

“If we are going to continue using absentee ballots, then it is important to ensure that they are a safe and reliable method for voting,” Allen said. “To help curb public distrust in absentee ballots, it is certainly worth the additional cost to make our absentee ballots secure and restore trust in our election process.”

Absentee ballots in Wisconsin have come under scrutiny since the election in November of 2020 when the state saw an explosion in people voting early, and not-in person.

In that election, a voter in Waukesha said he was sent the wrong absentee ballot that didn’t have Allen’s race against Democrat Aaron Perry on it.

Waukesha’s village clerk said someone in her office likely mistakenly mailed the wrong ballot.

Allen’s plan will go back to the legislature, and if it makes it through, would then go to Gov. Tony Evers.

That is likely as far as it would go. The governor has made it his policy to veto any legislation that he says would make it harder to vote in Wisconsin.

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Jim Piwowarczyk is an investigative journalist and co-founder of Wisconsin Right Now. Married with 3 kids, a chocolate lab, and a german shepherd. Jim served as a police officer in Wisconsin for more than 20 years. His career started as a police officer in Milwaukee County in 1994 as a patrol officer, until he was promoted to patrol sergeant in 2003 where he worked until he left in 2009 to pursue business aspirations. Jim Piwowarczyk was a field training officer, evidence technician & hostage negotiator and conducted many drug investigations. Jim continued to work part-time for an area police department. Jim is avid real estate investor, and small business owner & developer. Jim has coached youth football and basketball. Jim is also an avid fisherman and hunter.