No changes yet for Wisconsin mail-in voting as Trump executive order works its way through the court system

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- According to the Fair Elections Center, 18% of Wisconsin voters in the 2024 general election voted by mail. Now, an executive order by the Trump administration working its way through the courts is causing confusion about the future of mail-in voting.

The first thing to know is that nothing has changed yet. The Trump administration's executive order is being challenged by the court system, so right now nothing has changed on the local level. Here is what the order is requesting.

It would require states to provide a list of people who are eligible to vote by mail. Then, the post office would compare that to the list of absentee ballots they get to see if they will mail them. They can also cross-check that list with the citizenship list to make sure those voting by mail are citizens.

But the problem is most states don't have an eligibility list, especially in Wisconsin, where anyone can vote by mail.

The local organization called the Wisconsin Democracy Defense Foundation, a group of both Democrats and Republicans, says changing the rules this close to the election isn't feasible.

“To force the rules to change in a very uncertain fashion just nine weeks before the election invites chaos, and so whatever the merits are of the case that the Trump administration is putting forward, this is not the time to be doing this,” Tom Barrett, with the Democracy Defense Foundation, Wisconsin, said.

Clerks are preparing to send out absentee ballots. The Democracy Defense Foundation says if you are unsure about the process, call your local clerk. They will have the best answer for you.