Waukesha County Clerk Apologizes for Ballot Shortage

Waukesha County Clerk Kathleen Novack is apologizing for a primary election night ballot shortage

Brookfield Mayor Steven Ponto is critical of Novack because he says Novack ignored his city's clerk. Ponto says Brookfield City Clerk Kelly Michaels told Novack several times, more ballots would be needed in Brookfield.

Ponto said, "At one point the county clerk [Novack] said 'I assure you, you'll have the ballots you need and I'm moving on.'"

Wednesday Novack said she put several municipalities in a tough spot by underestimating turnout, and did not send extra ballots ahead of time in order to save money.

She said, "I want them all to know I take full responsibility and just apologize for all they went through."

Brookfield photocopied ballots while waiting for Novack's office to deliver new ballots. Ponto says he believes some people left polling places because lines were too long.

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