Wisconsinite Jay Stone, president of the citizens’ group Honest, Open, and Transparent Government, has filed a complaint with the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) alleging that the nonprofit organization Pizza to the Polls provided free pizza to voters and prospective voters in violation of state and federal law. Mr. Stone believes that the evidence he presented to the WEC in a July 18 complaint warrants an investigation by state and federal law enforcement.
Exhibits 8 and 9 of the complaint contain public statements by top WEC officials stating that people standing in line to vote must not be interacted with by anyone but an official greeter or line manager, and that offers of literature, food, and drink are not permitted.
Pizza to the Polls (PttP), an Oregon-based group dedicated to encouraging voter participation by providing free food and drink, partners with corporations and other groups to fund its operations. PttP did not respond to a request for comment.
In a related federal case, Mr. Stone alleged that the WEC is allowing nonprofits to give out free food, drink, and entertainment to induce people to register to vote and vote early, a practice prohibited by 18 U.S. Code 597. Mr. Stone also alleged that the WEC attempted to justify the giveaways by issuing a rule that he contends was never legally enacted.
Wisconsin Statute Section 12.11 of 2021 explicitly prohibits giving anything of value exceeding one dollar to induce any elector to go to the polls, stay away from the polls, vote, or refrain from voting. Mr. Stone argues that the WEC does not have the power to contradict the expressed will of the Legislature through a non-promulgated rule.
WEC spokesman Riley Vetterkind referred to Wisconsin Statute section 12.11 in response to a request for comment. Can you please rewrite this sentence for me?
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