Elections Board says clerk broke law

[mark414]

But Burlington official says she wasn't required to appoint resident as registration deputy

Burlington - The city clerk broke state law when she refused a request from a Burlington resident who wanted to register Democrats to vote, the state Elections Board said Wednesday.

Under state law, the municipal clerk "may appoint any applicant who qualifies" to be a special registration deputy.

Beverly R. Gill, Burlington's clerk, said that means she can appoint special registration deputies but that she is not required to do so.

"It says the clerk 'may,' but it doesn't mean I must," Gill said.

She said she decided not to permit Patrick Sullivan to register voters because it would have created a "hassle" for her office and for poll workers.

But what Gill did was wrong, Diane Lowe, an election specialist with the Elections Board, said Wednesday.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/racine/oct04/268334.asp

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