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Milwaukee County audits and canvass show no major discrepancies in 2025 spring primary
Summary
County elections staff told officials that voluntary post-election audits found no discrepancies and that the county canvass produced only minor adjustments to the 2025 spring primary results, with provisional and previously unopened ballots accounting for small changes that have been entered into the state canvass system.
Milwaukee County elections staff reported to county officials that voluntary post-election audits for the 2025 spring primary found no discrepancies between election-day results and audited counts, and that the county canvass made only minor adjustments to the official totals.
The county’s elections staff member Michelle said the county conducted voluntary independent post-election audits for the 2025 spring primary and found “no discrepancies … from election day to the audit.” Staff also completed a delayed audit of the 2024 general election ballots that had not been opened earlier because of potential recount activity.
Why it matters: County staff said the changes uncovered during the canvass were small but were entered into the state canvass system ahead of the certification deadline. The county’s certification deadline for the April 1 election was discussed as April 11; staff said they would transmit results to the state so the county could meet that deadline.
County staff summarized turnout and canvass adjustments. The election-night report showed 551,527 registered voters in Milwaukee County and 61,862 ballots cast, a turnout of 11.22%. The post-canvas process identified four provisional ballots that had been barcoded on election day; one of those was cured in Ward 175 and counted. County staff also said canvassers identified two ballots returned on time that had not been opened at the polling place; those two ballots added two votes to the total for Jeff Wright in the City of Milwaukee. In Whitefish Bay staff identified an absentee ballot that had been returned on time but not opened at the polling place, which added one vote for Jill Underly. Overall, staff said, “our overall votes did not change very much.”
Staff described the wards included in the audits. Initially the audits covered City of Milwaukee Ward 104 and a central-count batch in Oak Creek (Ward 7). In April, staff expanded the audits to five wards: Milwaukee wards 309 and 97 at central count, Wauwatosa Ward 204B at central count, West Allis Ward 4 at the polling place, and Glendale Wards 4 and 10 at polling places. The earlier-delayed review of the 2024 general election was completed after recount-related restrictions were resolved.
County officials briefly discussed timing for final certification. One official noted they would likely open the final canvass on the Thursday before the certification deadline and that staff expected a heavier turnout than in uncontested cycles, based on turnout from previous contested statewide elections. Michelle said she expected higher turnout and that it might require additional time to complete the canvass and certification process.
No formal action or vote was recorded on the audit or the canvass during the meeting. Staff said they planned to send the county’s canvass results to the state as required so the county could meet the certification deadline.
The meeting record contains no references to changes that would alter the outcome of any races beyond the small, canvass-related adjustments described above.
