Here & Now

Don Millis on Administering Wisconsin's Elections in 2026

Frederica Freyberg:
Even as the president and members of his cabinet make campaign swings through Wisconsin this week, the Trump administration is working behind the scenes on the electoral process leading up to the November elections. This week, the U.S. Postal Service released its proposed rule attached to the president’s March executive order, titled Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections. That’s an order Governor Tony Evers at the time called BS. The order instructs the Departments of Homeland Security and Social Security to send state election officials lists of confirmed U.S. citizens and prevents mail-in ballots to anyone not on the list. Add to that, the FBI has been in Milwaukee interviewing and seeking to talk with election officials who worked the 2020 election that Trump declares he actually won but didn’t. Trump maintains his loss was a result of widespread voter fraud, which never proved out. Set against all this, we turn to Wisconsin Elections Commission chair-elect Republican member Don Millis. And Mr. Millis, thanks very much for being here.

Don Millis:
Great to see you.

Frederica Freyberg:
So is it another rough and tumble election cycle staring down the Wisconsin Elections Commission?

Don Millis:
Well, more of the rough and tumble certainly is going to be in the political ads that are run between the candidates. You know, this has always been an issue for the elections commission. You know, there will be lawsuits and counter lawsuits and proposed regulations. You know, I’m not too worried about it. I know that the things that really bother me the most, that concern me the most are making sure that absentee ballots, if they’re mailed back a week or two before the election, they get there on Election Day. Those are things that we’re working to try to — working with the post office to make sure that that happens. Those are the things that concern me the most.

Frederica Freyberg:
Because WEC has called on the U.S. Postal Service to speed up deliveries of absentee ballots after I read two-thirds of clerks reported mail delays during the April 7th election, how bad was it?

Don Millis:
Well, it was so bad that when the commission staff sent out a questionnaire to clerks, they got an overwhelming and historic response from clerks. Typically, clerks don’t respond. There was a huge, huge concern. The staff have met with the postal service officials. We are trying to get what’s known as enhanced delivery procedures that they would agree to when we have elections. This would mean, for example, that when you put a — return a ballot to Madison or Grafton or Eau Claire, it wouldn’t have to go to Milwaukee or Minneapolis. It would go straight to the clerk. And so those are things we’re working on. Those are the things we do behind the scenes that no one really seems to pay much attention to. I’m glad that you’re paying attention to it, that we can really make sure that our elections are done effectively and efficiently.

Frederica Freyberg:
Have you had any response from the USPS on that?

Don Millis:
I think the staff have indicated that it was a — generally a very positive response. I think there’s a dedication to making sure that absentee ballots are returned promptly, having multiple deliveries on Election Day, things like that. I think it’s — I think it was a very constructive conversation.

Frederica Freyberg:
As to these federally generated voter lists for delivery of absentee ballots, do you think that’s a good idea?

Don Millis:
Well, I think it’s problematic. I mean, one of the concerns is they want to use intelligent mail barcodes on the return. We use those on the — when ballots are sent out. Again, the problem with that is that it delays it. I’m guessing that as with so many other executive orders and regulations that have come out of the Obama, Trump, Biden, Trump White Houses, the courts are going to have their say. If it looks like it’s going to pass muster with the courts, that’s when we probably become concerned and we’ll certainly have contingency plans if it looks like it’s going to fall into place. But what was published last week was just a preliminary notice and comment in the Federal Register. I’m not — I think it’s unlikely that that regulation is going to be in play for the November election.

Frederica Freyberg:
So what is your response to the FBI poking around on the 2020 election in Wisconsin, specifically in Milwaukee?

Don Millis:
Well, I’ve seen politicians and the press report about it. Everything that I’ve seen in talking to people who have been interviewed is that the interviews have been professional. They’ve been done by career employees. And it wasn’t really what I call an investigation. I think there’s an effort to prepare a report for probably someone higher up in the Department of Justice or the FBI. I am not confident that anything more will come of it. Certainly, the conversation that was reported in the press with the election commission staffer, the questions that were asked were, can you debunk these election conspiracy theories? I think the staffer did a very good job of that. And so I’m not sure that we’ll have an investigation. I think it’s doubtful that we’ll see the FBI come in to any clerk’s office in Milwaukee or Madison or elsewhere with a search warrant. I think mostly what’s going on is that they’re trying to draft a report so that those in Washington can evaluate.

Frederica Freyberg:
With all of this happening behind the scenes, really, what should voters do to make sure they can cast a ballot that is counted?

Don Millis:
Well, certainly. Go on my vote. Make sure that you’re voting in the right place. If you’re going to vote absentee, we don’t want to discourage people from doing that, make sure you get your ballot, fill it out, send it back early. Or if you’re concerned about the mail, place it in a secure drop box if your municipality has one or deliver it to your clerk. That’s the most important thing.

Frederica Freyberg:
All right. We leave it there. Don Millis, thanks very much.

Don Millis:
Thank you. Have a good weekend.