Waukesha County voters will soon return to the polls for a Dec. 15 special election to choose a new county executive. In the weeks leading up to that vote, the county’s canvassing board is working to certify the results of last week’s general election.

Canvassing process explained

Every voting machine in the county prints a tape—a receipt—once all ballots are cast. County Clerk Georgia Maxwell, along with a representative from each major party, reviews each machine’s totals, matching the numbers to the physical ballots and checking handwritten poll books for any technical issues. Maxwell likened the task to “balancing a checkbook down to the penny,” emphasizing that “each and every vote is accounted for.” The entire process is livestreamed so municipal clerks and the public can watch the verification in real time.

Turnout and certification timeline

Turnout for the recent election was 81%, a figure Maxwell said is “nearly identical to the last midterm election.” The canvassing board expects to continue its work through Wednesday, after which the certified results will become official.

Why a Dec. 15 special election?

The special election is required by state law after the death of former county executive Paul Farrow in July. Maxwell explained that Wisconsin statutes give the county a window of 62 to 77 days to hold a special election. Because the November 3 general election occupied the ballot, the county executive race was not on that ballot, necessitating a separate vote.

“A lot of our voters may or may not know – they might think, you know, thank goodness the ads have stopped, and we get our lives back, and we’re done with this election – but let’s not forget here in Waukesha County, we have a very important election on December 15th,” Maxwell said.

Voting logistics

Since the county executive race is the only contest on the Dec. 15 ballot, many municipalities will open just one polling place. For example, all voters in the City of Waukesha will cast their ballots at City Hall. Residents can verify their polling location by visiting myvote.wi.gov.

Looking ahead

With the canvassing work nearing completion, county officials are urging voters to stay informed about the upcoming special election. The certified results from the recent election will provide a clear baseline as the community prepares to elect a new leader to guide Waukesha County forward.

Original reporting: FOX6 WITI – local news — read the source article.