January 17, 2023
MILWAUKEE, WI — In response to Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) Commissioner Robert Spindell’s comments celebrating the intentional disenfranchisement of thousands of voters during the 2022 midterm election, All Voting is Local Wisconsin, The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Conservation Voters, Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition, Common Cause Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement Campaign released the following statement:
“We are extremely disappointed to read Commissioner Spindell’s comments rejoicing over tens of thousands of Wisconsin voters casting fewer ballots than in previous elections. As a member of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, Commissioner Spindell should seek to deliver the promise of American democracy to every single person in this state, regardless of party affiliation. What is even more alarming is that he celebrated the fact that the majority of those casting fewer ballots were Black and Brown voters, whose communities were specifically targeted and impacted through concentrated efforts to erect barriers to the ballot and the spreading of disinformation regarding voting and elections in the last several years.
“Therefore, we call on Wisconsin State Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu to rescind Spindell’s WEC appointment and select a replacement who places free and fair elections above partisanship and reflects the diversity of Wisconsin, particularly our historically disenfranchised communities. Just like the state of Wisconsin, the WEC should be composed of a variety of individuals to ensure a democracy that works for all of us.”
Background:
In an email to about 1,700 local party members in the Milwaukee area, Spindell celebrated voters casting fewer ballots, especially in Black and Brown communities, due to a “well thought out multi-faceted plan.” Spindell was further quoted as saying that the party could “be especially proud of the City of Milwaukee (80.2% Dem Vote) casting 37,000 less votes than cast in the 2018 election with the major reduction happening in the overwhelming Black and Hispanic areas.”