By: Kasey Lynae
A Wisconsin judge ruled Monday that a mobile voting van used by the city of Racine in 2022 violated state law and could not be used again. The ruling is a huge win for Republicans who challenged the legality of the van and voters who question election integrity in the state.
A nonprofit funded by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife bought the van with grant money. Two weeks before the election, it went around collecting early ballots.
In a city that leans heavily blue, Republicans complained that the van was illegal. The van also increased voter fraud risk and didn't comply with absentee voting rules.
A Milwaukee-based voting advocacy group, the Democratic National Committee and Racine officials defended the van as convenient and secure. But, why wouldn't they? They also say Dominion machines are secure, unless Hillary is the one losing. Nevertheless, they said the Van wasn't tampered with or abused - which is good enough evidence for them.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission dismissed the Republican complaint four days before the November election, saying there was no probable cause to believe the law was broken.
The Racine County Circuit Judge Eugene Gasiorkiewicz sided with the Republicans, overturning the commission's decision. The van didn't meet the requirements for an official polling place, he said, because state law doesn't allow mobile voting sites.
In future elections, the city must comply with state law and stop using the van.
In battleground Wisconsin, the lawsuit could affect voting rules in the upcoming presidential election. Wisconsin is a key swing state that President Donald Trump narrowly won in 2016 and fraudulently lost in 2020.
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