Green Bay voters experienced a seamless November 2026 general election, a notable turnaround after ballot‑printing problems that plagued the city’s spring and summer contests. In a briefing, the Wisconsin Elections Commission described the midterms as “incredibly smoothly” administered, and WEC administrator Meagan Wolfe thanked local officials for delivering “one of the smoothest elections that I’ve seen during my time at WEC.”1
According to WTAQ, the praise followed the recent departure and replacement of Green Bay’s city clerk, a change prompted by the earlier duplicate‑ballot errors. Karla Endres, the clerk of nearby Waunakee village, echoed the sentiment, noting that “there were no incidents; even the smallest things that seem like an incident did not inhibit anybody from getting their ballot cast on election day.”1 State officials also highlighted areas for future improvement, including a proposal to allow limited processing of mail‑in ballots on the Monday before Election Day and a goal to streamline deadlines and dates for future contests.
While the election administration received commendation, the state’s judicial system is confronting a separate capacity challenge that directly affects Green Bay residents. Chief Justice Jill Karofsky, speaking at her annual State of the Judiciary address in Lake Geneva, urged the Legislature to approve eight new judicial positions statewide, with two of those seats earmarked for Brown County.2 A recent workload study indicated that Wisconsin needs roughly 30 additional judges and court commissioners, and Brown County has the highest deficit, requiring five more judicial positions to keep pace with case volume.
Brown County currently operates with eight circuit‑court judges and four commissioners. The court’s 2027‑2029 budget request, also detailed by Jack FM, includes funding for the eight new judges and a $3 million allocation for enhanced courthouse security, a response to 129 documented security threats in 2025.2 Chief Justice Karofsky emphasized that “cases take more of a judge’s time than they used to,” and that a fully functioning court system “is not a partisan issue.” She also called for pay raises for judges, district attorneys, defense attorneys, and court staff.
Both stories underscore the importance of responsive government for Green Bay citizens. A smoothly run election reinforces confidence in local democratic processes, while additional judges and security upgrades aim to ensure timely, safe access to the courts.
What’s next? The Wisconsin Legislature will review the judiciary budget request during its spring session, with the next state budget cycle beginning July 1, 2027. Election officials plan to work with state lawmakers on the proposed Monday‑before‑Election‑Day mail‑in ballot processing change, aiming to further streamline future elections.
Sources: wtaq.com, 943jackfm.com
