The city clerk of Madison, Wisconsin, has resigned after an internal investigation began into how she failed to count nearly 200 absentee ballots during the November 2024 elections.
On Monday, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway’s office officially announced that City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl had submitted her resignation. The mayor’s spokesperson, Dylan Brogan, said Witzel-Behl handed in her resignation letter last Thursday. However, the announcement was delayed because her employment contract allowed her a few days to reconsider and possibly withdraw her resignation.
This situation came to light earlier this year when the Wisconsin Elections Commission opened an investigation in January. The commission discovered that 192 absentee ballots from the November election were never counted. The issue wasn’t reported until December 18—more than a month after Election Day and weeks after vote certification was completed. By the time the error was made public, it was too late to do anything about those votes.
According to election officials, the uncounted ballots did not change the outcome of any races or referendums. Still, the mistake caused frustration and concern among voters and election observers. Four voters from Madison who found out their ballots were not counted have filed financial claims. Each person is asking for $175,000 from the city and Dane County. These claims are likely the first step toward possible legal action against the local government.
This is not the first time Witzel-Behl’s office has made a serious mistake. Back in September, she admitted that her office had mistakenly sent out up to 2,000 duplicate absentee ballots. That earlier mistake also raised alarms about how elections were being managed in the city. Together, these errors raised serious doubts about the leadership and systems in place to protect the integrity of elections in Madison.
Because of these repeated issues, Mayor Rhodes-Conway suspended Witzel-Behl in March and began an internal investigation. The mayor said that suspending the clerk was necessary to make sure the public still had confidence in the election process and the office responsible for handling ballots. The mayor also wanted to ensure that these types of mistakes would not happen again in future elections.
The internal investigation into the ballot-counting issue has now ended. According to Brogan, the report based on the investigation’s findings could be made public as early as the end of April. At the same time, the Wisconsin Elections Commission is continuing its own review. The commission is expected to discuss the issue and next steps during a meeting scheduled for Thursday.
Witzel-Behl had been earning an annual salary of $152,300. Following her suspension, City Attorney Mike Haas stepped in to serve as the temporary city clerk. Under his guidance, the city’s April 1 spring election went ahead without any known issues. Officials have praised the smooth handling of that election as a positive step forward.
This incident has brought considerable attention to how election offices in the United States manage absentee ballots. As more voters across the country rely on absentee voting, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, the systems behind ballot collection, counting, and reporting have come under greater public scrutiny.
The uncounted ballots in Madison didn’t change any election results, but they had a big impact on public trust. Many voters want to feel confident that their vote will be counted and that the people in charge are taking their responsibilities seriously. When mistakes like this happen, especially when they are not reported immediately, people can lose faith in the election system.
The city now faces multiple challenges. Officials must deal with the legal claims made by the four affected voters, release the findings of the internal investigation, and begin the search for a new permanent city clerk. Restoring voter trust will be a key focus in future elections.
While Maribeth Witzel-Behl’s resignation marks the end of her time in office, the story is far from over. Many people in Madison—and across the state—are waiting to see what the investigations reveal and what steps the city takes to prevent anything like this from happening again. For now, Madison will move forward under new leadership, with the goal of ensuring accuracy, transparency, and trust in every future election.
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Jon King is an experienced journalist with 3 years of experience in the field. With a strong background in investigative reporting, Jon is known for his in-depth coverage of crime news, finance news, local news, and USA news. Currently working with Mikeandjonpodcast, Jon brings his sharp investigative skills, where he provides timely updates and analysis on a wide range of topics. His commitment to delivering accurate and impactful news has earned him a reputation for providing insightful and comprehensive stories that resonate with his audience.
