Wauwatosa Election Typo Drew Milwaukee Talk Radio Host Scrutiny

WAUWATOSA, WI — Officials in Wauwatosa say a typo on the city clerk's website over absentee ballots was quickly corrected, but not before it drew the attention of a prominent Milwaukee-area talk show host. That host, Mark Belling, said he asked for a local police investigation and claims the city clerk knowingly violated state law.

According to a story posted on Belling's website, a bulletin posted on the Wauwatosa City Clerk website read, in part: "you may email absentee ballots to the City Clerk's office."

The talk show host wrote, "City Clerk Melanie Kollmansberger is violating Wisconsin state law by saying her office will accept absentee ballots in the ongoing spring election by email. It is against Wisconsin law to accept emailed absentee ballots."

Wauwatosa Patch reached out to Wauwatosa City Administrator James Archambo to learn more about what happened, and he said the issue came down to a typo on the city clerk's website that was quickly corrected. He intimated that the city clerk has full knowledge of state election law and under no circumstance sought to circumvent it.

"We had a typographical error on our website; not in the directions provided by the Clerk’s Office. The distinction was requesting versus submitting an absentee ballot through email. One may request an absentee ballot by email but may only submit the ballot by mail or in-person. This was quickly corrected on our website. Our City Clerk’s office has not received and would not accept emailed ballots," he told Patch.

Wauwatosa officials to date are highly encouraging voters to request an absentee ballot. There are several ways to do that:

Registered voters can request an absentee ballot on myvote.wi.gov.

Voters can register online at myvote.wi.gov and then request an absentee ballot. Under state law, the deadline for Wisconsin voters to register online to request absentee ballots was Wednesday, March 18. This was extended to March 30.

Voters may also register at City Hall in the Lower Civic Center until the Friday before the election, April 3, or at the polls on Election Day, April 7.

City Clerk’s Office

Voters can also request an absentee ballot through the City Clerk’s Office.

Voters will need to fill out an absentee ballot request form and attach a valid photo ID with their request. They can email, mail, or fax city officials this request form:

Email your request for an absentee ballot to: tclerk@wauwatosa.net.

Send a written request with a copy of your photo ID to City of Wauwatosa, City Clerk’s Office, 7725 W. North Avenue, Wauwatosa, WI 53213 or via fax to (414) 479-8989

City officials say they cannot accept verbal requests or voicemails requesting absentee ballots.

In-person Absentee Voting

Wauwatosa offers in-person absentee voting at City Hall (7725 W. North Avenue) in the Lower Civic Center from 8 a.m. to 4:30 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Deadline for absentee voting

The last day an absentee ballot can be mailed to residents is Thursday, April 2, 2020. Ballots must be received by the Clerk's Office by 8 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted.