Elections leaders approve redesign of absentee ballot envelopes aimed at making them easier to read and complete

MADISON - The nonpartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission unanimously approved a new design for absentee ballot envelopes that elections officials say will make it easier for voters to read and complete absentee ballot envelopes in future elections.

The updated design introduces colors to the envelope scheme, moves the clerk's initial field from the bottom of the envelope to the top and introduces a numbered three-step process for voters to follow while filling out their envelope. Envelopes come in four colors: blue for outgoing envelopes mailed to voters from clerks, purple for standard return envelopes that voters mail in, teal for return envelopes from care facility-based voters and brown for return envelopes from military or overseas voters.

The result is a clearer ballot envelope that better meets voter needs, said Sara Linski, information technology manager for the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

WEC staff gathered feedback from more than 250 voters and local election officials in at least 11 communities statewide during an absentee ballot envelope usability testing period from late May to mid-July. Feedback was generally positive, though the WEC made some minor language changes and added a warning icon to the witness certification section to address concerns raised during the testing process.

Diana Dykstra, clerk and treasurer for the Village of Mukwonago, said witness certifications were the "number one reason" why she had to reject absentee ballots at the polls. She said the new envelope design will reduce errors, which in turn will increase security at the polls.

"If you're getting [the ballot] a day before election day, there's not much room for us to try to get that voter to come back in and correct that error," Dykstra said. "The whole goal here is to make everyone's vote count."

Commissioners also weighed whether printing color envelopes would increase costs for local government. But cost estimates varied among clerks statewide, Linksi said, with one clerk reporting envelope costs could double while another expected their costs to decrease.

Additionally, the committee's finalized motion introduced a two-color scheme for outgoing envelopes, with most of the envelope features being blue but the wavy "Official Election Mail" logo colored red.

The suggestion for the change came from Commissioner Robert Spindell, who was concerned a blue envelope with a grey logo could sow confusion among voters because blue is a color commonly associated with the Democratic Party. Spindell has previously made comments praising Republican campaign efforts that he said discouraged Black voter turnout in Milwaukee.

WEC administrator Meagan Wolfe said she did not know what the cost effects would be of introducing a second color for the logo. She said one vendor expected an additional color to increase costs but lacked enough data to make an assertion.

Commissioners also voted Friday to include a warning for clerks not to buy absentee envelopes for years out in the event state lawmakers change design requirements.

Republican lawmakers introduced a bill last month that would require watermarks on absentee ballots. Local clerks said the watermarks would pose additional challenges, including deciding how many watermarked absentee ballots to purchase and ensuring that the machines could count the ballots accurately.

Municipal clerks will be required to use the new envelope designs beginning in the February 2024 spring primary.

Editor's note: This article was updated to clarify changes were made to absentee ballot envelopes, not absentee ballots.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin elections officials approve redesign of absentee ballot envelopes