Green Bay’s City Clerk, Celestine Jeffreys, has once again found herself embroiled in controversy, this time for allegedly breaching election laws due to a lack of understanding rather than willful misconduct, as per a response to a complaint by the Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) on behalf of Green Bay residents. The response states that Jeffreys acknowledges not strictly adhering to statutory requirements but claims her failure was inadvertent due to a lack of awareness.
This incident is part of a pattern for Jeffreys, who previously faced scrutiny during the Zuckerbucks scandal of 2020, which cast a shadow over Green Bay’s electoral process. The recent complaint filed by PILF focused on Jeffreys’ handling of postcards related to same-day voter registrations, a process intended to detect abuse and ensure election integrity.
The complaint highlighted that Jeffreys failed to follow statutory requirements, including updating voter statuses and informing the district attorney and elections commission about potential fraudulent activities. PILF’s legal action underscored the seriousness of these lapses, especially in the context of the 2020 presidential race and subsequent elections where significant numbers of Election Day registrations were involved.
In response to the complaint, Green Bay’s Assistant City Attorney acknowledged Jeffreys’ lack of awareness regarding the law but assured compliance moving forward. However, PILF’s Director of Communications expressed deep concern about the impact of these violations on public trust in elections, emphasizing the potential for fraud and abuse due to the mishandling of voter registrations.
This incident is not isolated, as Jeffreys previously faced allegations of violating election law in the 2022 spring election. The Wisconsin Elections Commission found probable cause that Jeffreys abused her discretion in accepting multiple absentee ballots, highlighting ongoing challenges in ensuring election integrity in Green Bay.
These controversies raise broader questions about the role of election officials and the need for strict adherence to laws and procedures to safeguard the democratic process. As the 2024 election approaches, these issues underscore the importance of transparency, accountability, and the rule of law in preserving the integrity of elections.
