Green Bay residents may see new changes in how their ballots are handled after the Wisconsin Elections Commission unanimously ordered an investigation into the Green Bay city clerk’s office following two incidents of duplicate ballots being mailed to voters.
What happened and what changes are required
The commission acted after the city mailed duplicate ballots to voters in the April election and again in mailings ahead of the August primary. The WEC’s unanimous decision also requires the city clerk, Celestine Jeffreys, to submit two plans: one to ensure voters cannot cast two ballots and another outlining steps to prevent the error from recurring.
- Two separate mailings produced duplicate ballots — once in April, and again before the August primary.
- WEC vote was unanimous to open an investigation and demand corrective plans from the clerk.
- Administrative leave — The Green Bay mayor’s office announced the clerk has been placed on leave pending the city’s internal review and the WEC probe.
Officials’ statements and concerns
Commissioner Ann Jacobs said she was alarmed the mistake occurred twice.
“I am really concerned that, first of all, it happened once, okay, but then for the exact same error to happen a second time, weeks later, is unconscionable,”
Jacobs also pointed to the WisVote system’s built-in safeguards and encouraged clerks to use those fail-safes to prevent duplicate ballot printing.
The Green Bay mayor’s office, while calling the errors unacceptable, said the city has “no concerns with the security or propriety of the electoral process.” The mayor’s office also confirmed the clerk’s administrative leave will remain in effect until the city’s internal review and the WEC investigation conclude.
Local impact and next steps
For voters, the immediate concern is whether duplicate mailings could allow any individual to cast more than one ballot in the same election. The WEC’s directive that the clerk produce a plan to ensure voters cannot cast two ballots is aimed at preventing that outcome.
The Green Bay city clerk did not respond to requests for comment, according to the WEC report. The city’s internal review and the WEC investigation timeline were not specified in the commission’s announcement.
| Incident | When |
|---|---|
| First duplicate mailing | April election |
| Second duplicate mailing | Ahead of August primary |
| WEC action | Unanimous vote to investigate (July) |
The commission’s investigation will examine how the duplicates were produced and whether procedural changes or additional training are needed. Officials have emphasized that the state’s election systems include protections, but they say adherence to those safeguards is crucial.
City residents seeking updates should watch for announcements from the Green Bay mayor’s office and the Wisconsin Elections Commission as both the internal and state reviews proceed.
