The Wisconsin Elections Commission has elected Ann Jacobs, a Democrat, as their chair for the second time. Jacobs previously served in this role during the contested 2020 presidential election. The bipartisan panel unanimously voted for Jacobs to lead the commission, which oversees and enforces election laws in Wisconsin. Despite the local elections being run by more than 1,800 clerks, the commission plays a crucial role in certifying election results, including the upcoming presidential election. Jacobs acknowledged the state’s significant role in the presidential election and expressed confidence in the commission’s ability to conduct a successful election.
As chair of the commission, Jacobs will have the responsibility of approving the vote canvass following elections and certifying the results. This role also allows her to set the agenda for the commission and influence the framing of key questions, as the panel is composed of members from both parties. The certification process is typically a routine task performed by the chair after local and county canvassing boards have certified the results, but in 2020, there were attempts to slow down the certification process by Republican supporters of Donald Trump following Joe Biden’s victory. Jacobs faced calls for her resignation from Republicans after certifying the results while Trump’s lawsuits were ongoing.
Republican commission member Bob Spindell, who was one of 10 Republicans who attempted to cast Wisconsin’s electoral votes for Trump in 2020, voted in favor of Jacobs becoming chair. Despite being part of the fake electors who tried to challenge the election results, Spindell supported Jacobs in her role as chair. Some members of the commission, including Spindell, were involved in a civil lawsuit related to the fake elector scheme, but none of the electors were charged with felonies. The investigation into this matter remains open, according to Attorney General Josh Kaul. Spindell did not comment on Jacobs before voting in her favor, despite calls from Democrats for him to step down from the commission.
Meagan Wolfe, the nonpartisan administrator of the elections agency in Wisconsin, serves as the top elections official in the state, while Ann Jacobs will lead the commission. Both Wolfe and the commission have faced false claims of election fraud and other impropriety following the 2020 election. Some Republican lawmakers have attempted to impeach Wolfe, but these efforts have not been successful. Despite the ongoing challenges and scrutiny, Jacobs’s return as chair of the commission indicates a level of confidence in her leadership and the commission’s ability to navigate the upcoming presidential election in Wisconsin.
