A new complaint filed with the Wisconsin Elections Commission says Milwaukee’s election administration entered the 2026 cycle with the same problems that have followed its Central Count operation for years. The 33‑page filing, submitted by election observer Justin Gavery, argues that the Milwaukee Election Commission violated multiple statutes during the August 11 partisan primary.
Gavery writes that Milwaukee’s conduct shows “a pattern of recurring failures that Milwaukee has not corrected across four election cycles.” In his complaint, he says the August primary again featured blocked observation, late or missing notices, and mishandled procedures. He also says “MEC could not reliably administer a partisan primary, and WEC’s refusal to intervene leaves no confidence that Milwaukee can lawfully administer the November 3 general election.”
WEC Declined Penalties After MEC’s Partial Answers
The complaint follows two recent WEC meetings where commissioners chose not to issue penalties or corrective orders. At the August 31 meeting, WEC asked Milwaukee to explain why required vote‑transmission data was missing. MEC provided a short response that acknowledged the failure but did not fully explain how it happened or how it would be prevented in November.
Milwaukee had submitted a six‑page letter explaining how audit logs were downloaded onto five memory cards instead of election results. Commissioners asked the city to make the logs public, and WEC Administrator Meagan Wolfe told the commission that Milwaukee followed through earlier this month.
The Milwaukee Election Commission posted the audit logs online and noted that a complaint could still be filed later, but commissioners unanimously agreed that no investigation was needed at that time.
However, the Milwaukee Election Commission has not responded to the Dairyland Sentinel’s independent public records request for reconciliation sheets, seal logs, incident notes, and other documentation from the August Primary Election night breakdown. A staff member for State Rep. Dave Maxey (R-New Berlin) told the Dairyland Sentinel Monday that their office also has not received a response to its own independent records inquiry. Both requests have been pending for weeks.
The Gavery complaint notes these delays are not new. In 2024, Milwaukee took weeks to respond to legislative questions after the 31,000‑ballot re‑run. In 2020, observers and lawmakers struggled to obtain basic documentation about Central Count’s operations. Gavery says this pattern of slow or missing responses is part of the problem.
Recurring Problems at Central Count
- In 2018, thousands of absentee ballots had to be reconstructed after envelopes tore.
- In 2020, observers were placed so far away that some used binoculars.
- In 2024, Milwaukee halted the count and re‑ran roughly 31,000 ballots after discovering unsecured tabulators.
- In 2026, Gavery says observers were again blocked from rooms containing ballots and statutory notices were issued late or not at all.
In his complaint Gavery says these failures have created confusion and public frustration for years.
Allegations Against MEC Leadership
The complaint names Deputy Director Maricha Harris and Executive Director Paulina Gutiérrez. Harris served as Chief Inspector and as a member of the canvassing board. Gutiérrez oversees election administration, training, statutory notices, and Central Count operations.
Dairyland Sentinel has independently reported that Milwaukee’s EL‑104 forms from the August primary Central Count appear to contain uniform, digitally printed chief‑inspector signatures across hundreds of documents, raising questions about whether the chief inspectors actually witnessed the count and if the required personal certification was ever completed. The Milwaukee Election Commission has so far refused to answer our questions regarding this discovery.
Gavery says both officials failed duties tied to transparency and public access. He says Central Count was not operated as though it were the clerk’s office and observers were not allowed to view ballot handling as required under state law.
Restricted Rooms and Blocked Observation
The complaint includes photos and descriptions of rooms at Central Count where observers were barred, including a secure ballot room containing thousands of absentee ballots. Other areas were viewable only from behind ropes and cones at a distance.
Gavery says this setup violated Wisconsin’s observer‑access statutes and prevented him from watching ballot handling, tabulator testing, and other election‑day activities.
What Happens Next
Under state law, WEC can order compliance, restrain unlawful conduct, or require correction of improper actions. Gavery says he filed the complaint partly to preserve his ability to seek mandamus in circuit court if WEC does not act. He also says he was deprived of his right to observe and that his vote was diluted by Milwaukee’s failures.
The Gavery complaint was filed with the assistance of Center for Election Confidence, a national election‑integrity nonprofit that monitors election administration in multiple states. The group says it submitted the complaint to push WEC to address Milwaukee’s long‑running administrative problems before November.
Photos featured at the top of this article were submitted as a part of Gavery’s complaint.
Previously at Dairyland Sentinel
