Dodge County sheriff encouraged clerks not to use drop boxes this fall [View all]

warning it could create the appearance of fraud and “degrade trust in our system,” according to records obtained by WisPolitics.

Sheriff Dale Schmidt denied he was pressuring the clerks in Ashippun, Hustisford and the town of Beaver Dam when he expressed “serious concerns” to them after he learned they planned to use drop boxes for the election cycle. Instead, Schmidt said in a phone interview he was only seeking to ensure they were following best practices after the state Supreme Court in July allowed their use.

“The reason was entirely to protect the integrity of our election processes and to protect the law as laid out by the Supreme Court in this most recent Supreme Court decision,” Schmidt said. “If there is any claim that there is election fraud as a result of the drop boxes, I, as the sheriff, am responsible to investigate those… part of my job [is] to make sure that laws are followed before they’re broken.”

Still, all three clerks decided against using drop boxes after their email exchanges.




https://www.wispolitics.com/2024/dodge-county-sheriff-encouraged-clerks-not-to-use-drop-boxes-this-fall/