Wisconsin lawmaker sues to block military ballots from being counted - Axios

Ballots are distributed for usage connected Wisconsins authorities superior time connected Aug. 9, 2022. Photo: Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images

A Wisconsin authorities lawmaker connected Friday filed a suit to temporarily halt the counting of subject ballots successful the authorities aft she received absentee ballots with fake names.

Driving the news: The suit was brought connected by a veterans radical and 3 people, including authorities Rep. Janel Brandtjen (R-Menomonee Falls), who has been criticized by predetermination officials for promoting mendacious claims astir elector fraud, according to the Washington Post.

• "The Plaintiffs privation to guarantee that immoderate adjacent predetermination effect is not determined by non-qualified radical voting subject elector absentee ballots," the suit states.

Details: Brandtjen, who is seat of the State Assembly’s elections committee, allegedly received the ballots bearing fake names from Kimberly Zapata, a Milwaukee predetermination official, per WashPost.

• Zapata told prosecutors she was trying to pass Brandtjen astir a weakness successful the state’s voting strategy truthful it could beryllium addressed, WashPost reports. But Zapata was fired and charged with a felony and 3 misdemeanors.
• Brandtjen has been criticized by predetermination officials for spreading mendacious accusation astir the system.

Context: Wisconsin, dissimilar astir states, allows subject members to formed their ballots without registering to ballot oregon providing impervious of residency.

• The suit is utilizing the incidental to reason that subject ballots should beryllium authenticated nether authorities law.

What they're saying: “I judge idiosyncratic was trying to constituent retired however casual it is to get subject ballots successful Wisconsin. Registration for subject ballots is not required, truthful a fictitious sanction and birthdate is each that is required to get a subject ballot online," Brandtjen said successful a statement.

• "Feeling shocked astir this concern is an understatement due to the fact that it demonstrates stolen valor from those who support this nation," she added.