Tusler wants Appleton council member investigated for encouraging vote fraud

The Brillion News

HARRISON - State Representative Ron Tusler, R-Harrison, is asking the Wisconsin Elections Commission to investigate Appleton Common Council Member Katie Van Zeeland for encouraging people to vote illegally.

Tusler said Van Zeeland encouraged voters to fill out absentee ballots and send them in after the April 7 election deadline for valid voting had passed.

He said state law says that ballots must be received by municipal clerks by the time polls close - 8 p.m. on election day.

The U.S. Supreme Court this year issued an order allowing absentee ballots to count if they were received after that deadline, but were postmarked on or before election day.

"Appleton Alderperson, Katie Van Zeeland, proceeded to encourage voters to fill out their absentee ballots and send them in after the date of the election had already passed," Tusler said." She acted inappropriately because these late ballots could be improperly included by a mistake or malfeasance. Such a mistake could benefit either party, unfairly."