Wisconsin GOP lawmakers appeal decision allowing disabled people to vote from home

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - GOP lawmakers are challenging a ruling to allow disabled voters to vote electronically from home. The temporary injunction would enable voters who cannot read or fill out their ballots independenlty to request a ballot online and return it in-person or via mail.

"I have muscular dystrophy, which is a kind of spinal muscular atrophy," Engel said. "So, just losing the physical strength to write and fill out the bubbles on the ballot."

The Dane County Circuit Court temporary injunction issued last week could change that in this November's election, if it is upheld.

In court records obtained by WMTV, GOP lawmakers requested a notice to appeal the decision in Dane County Circuit Court on Monday. The legislature's attorney did not respond to request for comment.

Democrat Attorney General Josh Kaul expressed concern at the Circuit Court ruling, citing the quick turnaround to implement these changes by November could create holes in security.

Giving disabled voters a chance to vote privately is more secure, Engel said.

"The security, I think, either way, my vote hasn't been secure in the past," Engel said. "So this is going to be more secure then it has been."

In a statement, the Wisconsin Elections Commission's Chief Legal Counsel Jim Witecha explained the ongoing legal battle limited how much he was able to say about the case.

"As you will see, this is a temporary injunction, and it is meant to go into effect for the November General Election," Witecha wrote. "However, there is still a lot going on with this case, and there are intervenors, so I cannot say definitively what will happen between now and then."

In the meantime, Engel said while he's fortunate to have caretakers he trusts to help physically fill out his ballot, there is still no privacy.

"For people who don't understand," Engel said, "my go to is, 'Can I sit and watch you vote? How would you feel if I watched you vote?'"