Kenosha Reporter

Mailers recently received by some local voters from the Center for Voter Information are not affiliated with election officials, according to Kenosha County Clerk Regi Waligora. The mailings, which may appear official, are merely absentee ballot request forms and not actual ballots.

Wisconsin law permits private organizations to send voter registration or absentee ballot request forms. However, Waligora noted that election officials do not oversee these third-party mailings and do not send unsolicited voter forms to the public.

Waligora warned that information on these third-party forms might be incorrect. "These mailings cause confusion, especially among voters who have not requested an absentee ballot and generally do not vote absentee," she stated. She shared a personal experience of receiving such mail addressed to her adult children who haven't lived or voted in Wisconsin for over five years, suggesting outdated voter lists might be used.

The forms often come pre-filled with recipient information. Waligora clarified that incorrect details on a third-party mailing don't necessarily reflect errors in the voter's official records.

Voters can verify their registration status and check if they have an absentee ballot request on file through official channels. "It is important to know only a voter can request an absentee ballot for themself unless the voter has a disability and requires authorized assistance," Waligora emphasized. Unauthorized requests could lead to prosecution.

Waligora also mentioned that the name and address information on these mailers is public and accessible by third parties from state records.