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FACT BRIEF

Was a Milwaukee election official fired following allegations of fraudulently requesting ballots?

By Erin Gretzinger
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YES

Kimberly Zapata, deputy director of the Milwaukee Election Commission, was fired for allegedly requesting fraudulent military ballots and sending them to Wisconsin Assembly member Janel Brandtjen, a Republican representing Menomonee Falls.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson announced Nov. 3 that he fired Zapata, who is accused of sending absentee ballots to Brandtjen under the name "Holly," with three different last names. The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office is investigating the incident and expects to file charges soon.

The motive behind Zapata's alleged actions are not yet clear. Brandtjen, who chairs the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections, has held hearings bolstering false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. Claire Woodall-Vogg, the executive director of Milwaukee's Election Commission, said she believes Zapata used the state's MyVote website to point out that "you can go onto the public system, make up a person and request the ballot."

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Wisconsin Public Radio Milwaukee election official fired after fraudulently requesting military ballots and sending them to state lawmaker
WISN Milwaukee election worker under investigation for ballot fraud
Mayor Cavalier Johnson The City of Milwaukee has removed the Deputy Director of our Election Commission following stunning information about allegations against her.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Election Commission official Kimberly Zapata could face charges accusing her of fraudulently requesting military ballots
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Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.