Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus’ last-minute programming change to voting machines before the April 3 election – a change that may have triggered the computer error that stymied election night results reporting – was required by the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, newly released emails show.
However, a legally required public test of the equipment once that change was made to ensure it worked properly was not performed, according to the records.
A consultant hired at County Executive Dan Vrakas’ insistence to identify problems and fixes in the clerk’s office after a string of election-reporting problems said Nickolaus acknowledged she made a programming change after the machines were initially tested. However, the report says she didn’t specify what the change was.
She has not responded to repeated requests for comment or explanation.