Wisconsin
Lawsuit seeks to allow disabled Wisconsin voters to cast ballots electronically
MADISON – Four Wisconsin voters with disabilities who cannot read or mark ballots independently are suing the state elections commission in order to vote secretly by receiving and returning absentee ballots electronically.
The four voters, in conjunction with Disability Rights Wisconsin and the liberal-leaning League of Women Voters, filed a lawsuit in Dane County Circuit Court Tuesday that argues their right to a secret ballot has been disenfranchised because each are unable to receive and mark ballots independently.
“Voters whose disabilities prevent them from voting absentee without an accessibility device are therefore presented with a choice that individuals without disabilities are not: forgo voting by absentee ballot, or relinquish their constitutional right to vote privately,” attorneys for the plaintiffs wrote in the complaint filed Tuesday.
The lawsuit could change the landscape of voting for residents with disabilities just four months ahead of the August primary election, possibly requiring state election officials to work quickly to implement a judge’s ruling should the courts agree.
More: ‘They’re infringing on my right to vote’: Wisconsin Supreme Court order makes it harder for those with disabilities to vote
The voters, who are either blind or have disabilities that prevent them from being able to mark ballots by themselves, are asking a judge to declare unconstitutional the state’s prohibition on “allowing absentee ballots to be privately and independently sent, marked and returned by electronic means by voters with disabilities.”
Current law allows ballots to be transmitted electronically to voters in the military or overseas electors. All other voters must receive absentee ballots by mail and return them by mail, or to their local election clerk. The plaintiffs argue this violates their right to vote privately because they must rely on the assistance of others to mark their ballots.
“… due to their disabilities, (each) is coerced into choosing an assistant to help them vote. Each (wishes) to keep their votes secret. Each cannot do so. Each must choose between revealing their vote to an assistant, including one who they may not trust to accurately vote their ballot, or forgoing absentee ballot voting altogether,” the lawsuit argues.
The plaintiffs argue the rules for voters with such disabilities also violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. Similar lawsuits have been filed in California and Alabama and have yet to be decided.
In 2016, a federal judge overturned a Wisconsin lower court’s ruling providing similar relief but to voters who were overseas for school, research or travel. It did not address voters with disabilities, according to the plaintiffs’ attorneys.
This story will be updated.
Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com.
Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde reflects on early March Madness exit
Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde said the Badgers ‘thought we could do so many things’ in the NCAA Tournament before it ended abrupty with an upset loss.
Wisconsin men’s basketball has added a sharpshooting wing via the transfer portal.
Miami (Ohio) transfer Eian Elmer has signed with the Badgers, the team announced April 18. The 6-foot-7 wing will join UW with one year of eligibility remaining.
Elmer averaged a career-high 12.7 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 49.8% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range in 2025-26. His production helped the RedHawks go 32-2 and earn an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.
“We are really excited to add another excellent addition to our spring signees,” UW coach Greg Gard said in a release. “Eian brings a wealth of experience and scoring punch as a 6-7 wing. … A terrific shooter, his skillset and production fit excellently into our plan as we build out next year’s team. Throughout our evaluation process, our staff loved his size, power and skill and truly believe he will thrive in our system.”
Elmer is Wisconsin’s third transfer portal addition since the end of the 2025-26 season, joining former George Washington guard Trey Autry and former Hofstra forward Victory Onuetu. UW also added Australian guard Owen Foxwell.
The additions of Autry, Onuetu and now Elmer leave Gard’s staff with three more roster spots to fill ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The Badgers are looking to replace much of their production from a 2025-26 team that went 24-11. Nolan Winter is expected to be the team’s only returning starter after John Blackwell and Aleksas Bieliauskas entered the transfer portal and Nick Boyd and Andrew Rohde exhausted their eligibility.
MILWAUKEE – Friday’s severe storms have passed. And with that, the threat of any severe weather has also passed for the immediate future as no storms or rain are expected for several days.
However, plenty of damage remains across southeastern Wisconsin as of Saturday morning, in addition to the ongoing flooding threat.
Several area rivers are at flood stage, and there are multiple river flood warnings in effect.
FOX6 Weekend WakeUp on Saturday begins at 6 a.m.
On the scene in the morning
What we know:
Farmstead damage in Franklin
FOX6’s Hayley Spitler is in Franklin on Saturday morning, April 18, getting a daylight look at the damage from last night’s storms.
Storm damage in Caledonia
Friday’s storms left quite the mark across southern and southeastern Wisconsin, including at L and L Farms and Greenhouse in Caledonia.
FOX6 Weather Extras
Local perspective:
Meanwhile, FOX6Now.com offers a variety of extremely useful weather tools to help you navigate the stormy season. They include the following:
FOX6 Storm Center app
FOX LOCAL Mobile app
FOX Weather app
Maps and radar
We have a host of maps and radars on the FOX6 Weather page that are updating regularly — to provide you the most accurate assessment of the weather. From a county-by-county view to the Midwest regional radar and a national view — it’s all there.
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School and business closings
When the weather gets a little dicey, schools and businesses may shut down. Monitor the latest list of closings, cancellations, and delays reported in southeast Wisconsin.
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The Source: Information in this post was compiled by the FOX6 Weather Experts.
How Aleksas Bieliauskas has grown in first season with Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin coach Greg Gard has high praise for Aleksas Bieliauskas about a month into the Lithuania native’s freshman season.
MADISON – One of Wisconsin men’s basketball’s departing transfers is headed to an SEC program with some connections to the Badgers.
Ex-UW forward Aleksas Bieliauskas has committed to South Carolina, he announced on April 17.
Bieliauskas left the Badgers after appearing in all 35 games as a freshman and making 28 starts. He averaged 4.9 points and 4.4 points in 20.2 minutes, and highlights of his freshman year included his five 3-pointers in UW’s upset over eventual national champion Michigan.
He’ll join a program with plenty of Wisconsin ties. South Carolina head coach Lamont Paris was an assistant coach at Wisconsin from 2010-17 on Bo Ryan and Greg Gard’s staffs. South Carolina assistant coach Tanner Bronson and director of video services Roman DiPasquale also are UW alumni.
Bieliauskas is the second of UW’s four departing transfers to commit to a new school. Reserve forward Jack Robison committed to North Dakota State on April 15. Starting guard John Blackwell and reserve forward Riccardo Greppi have not announced their next schools yet.
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