Do absentee ballots sent to inactive Wisconsin voters get counted? Misleading.
The rumor is Misleading
“Wisconsin is sending absentee ballots to dead and inactive voters, and they're being counted.”
The fact
A ballot sent to a voter who later goes inactive is void and cannot be counted.
Only active registered voters in Wisconsin can request an absentee ballot. If a voter moves or dies after requesting one, the voter goes inactive and the ballot is voided. In September 2024 the RNC flagged more than 1,000 ballots tied to inactive voters. The Wisconsin Elections Commission said the RNC had asked for every ballot mailed, voided ones included, which is why inactive voters showed up in its count. An inactive voter has to re-register with proof of residence before voting again. Wisconsin keeps inactive records permanently, so its full voter list runs far larger than its active list.
What to do
Check your registration and track your absentee ballot at myvote.wi.gov. Moved? Contact your municipal clerk.
How this story developed
- Votebeat reports that a Wisconsin voter roll post shared by the president misread how the state keeps inactive records. Inactive voters cannot vote unless they re-register.