Press

PRESS
August 24, 2012

Secretary of State under fire over ‘inactive’ voters

Republican Secretary of State Scott Gessler says he had a legal obligation to update state elections rules to clarify that county clerks do not have to mail ballots to so-called “inactive voters.”

The conservative stalwart faced a firestorm of criticism over the proposed rule, which he finalized on Aug. 15 as part of a sweeping package of amendments to state election rules. The rules cover everything from ballots to canvass board operations. But the rule concerning inactive voters has raised the most controversy since critics allege it could disenfranchise voters.