The village of Bristol, Wisconsin, has been struggling with election administration for years, and the issues have only worsened in 2024, despite a change in leadership. What began as a series of mishaps and ignorance of election law under the previous clerk, Amy Klemko, has spiraled into a full-blown election management crisis under the tenure of the new village clerk, Renee Brickner. These ongoing challenges have led to voter frustration, the exhaustion of election workers, and numerous errors prior to and on Election Day. Although it may not be apparent to the average Bristol voter, the most recent elections have again drawn attention to systemic issues in the village’s election operations and raised concerns about whether the Clerk’s office is capable of administering free and fair elections in Bristol. Sadly, several poll workers have expressed that they no longer wish to work in Bristol.
A History of Election Problems
The troubles in Bristol started well before 2024. In previous elections, including those in 2022, issues such as improperly initialized ballots, confusion over absentee voting procedures, lack of necessary resources at polling locations, and poor communication from the Clerk’s office were documented.
For instance, during a 2022 election, it was revealed that election inspectors (EIs, also called poll workers) had pre-initialed ballots, which is contrary to best practices dictated by the WI Elections Commission as it creates “live” ballots. Only one poll worker was being used for “curbside voting,” a procedure that, while not detailed in the law, is never to be done with only one poll worker according to the WI Elections Commission. Also, in-person absentee voters were told not to fully fill out their envelopes and “stickers” would be added later. This procedure necessitated the Republican Party of Wisconsin to take legal action in November 2022. Unfortunately, the same procedure was used during in-person absentee voting again in November 2024 until a complaint was made. Furthermore, the lack of trained election officials at polling locations and errors with absentee ballots — such as sending ballots late or failing to include proper instructions — has continued to cause significant disruptions.
In August 2022, a voter reported that they were handed a ballot with only one set of initials, a clear violation of election law, which mandates that two election inspectors initial the ballot. Additionally, concerns about absentee ballot processing, and mishandling of election-day supplies were raised. Many of these issues were escalated to the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) and the Village Board, but despite these warnings, the situation did not improve. Notably, the village did FINALLY heed warnings about the chaos of only one polling place in November 2022 and the number of voters in April 2024, and did decide to open a second polling place in August 2024 which was also in operation for the Nov 2024 election. Without that second polling place, it’s hard to imagine, but the situation surely would have been even worse for the Nov 2024 election. Unfortunately, problems during the 2024 August election led to at least one formal complaint, based on multiple issues, to be filed with the Wisconsin Election Commission by an election inspector.
Election Day 2024: A Disastrous Performance
By the time the 2024 November election rolled around, the Bristol elections were primed for yet another disaster. The series of problems began well before Election Day, with concerns raised about absentee ballots. On October 26, 2024, Ken Wolfe, a Chief Election Inspector for Bristol, sent an email to Clerk Renee Brickner (and cc’d the Village Board, Administrator and the County Clerk), requesting additional election inspectors and a separate set of poll books to handle the record number of absentee ballots — which had already surpassed 900 and were expected to continue rising. Wolfe argued that the current system, which necessitated the processing absentee ballots in between voters on Election Day, would not be sufficient to handle the volume of absentee ballots, and this would lead to delays and frustrations on Election Day. Only Trustee Leker supported Wolfe’s request.
While Wolfe also sought input from County Clerk Regi Waligora, the response from the village board was underwhelming. At the October 28 meeting, which addressed the issue, the board rejected Wolfe’s request for additional resources. In a move that defied election law, former Clerk Amy Klemko admitted that Bristol had managed absentee ballots without incident in 2020 by checking them into the poll books a day before the election. Wolfe corrected her, pointing out that this practice violated election law. No action was taken to increase the number of poll workers or provide additional resources to handle absentee ballots. It is worth noting again that only Trustee Leker supported Wolfe’s request (Kordecki was absent and Farell, McCabe and Atwood did not support the request, nor did Clerk Brickner). Also at the October 28 meeting, the village discussed processing the absentee ballots in a separate closed room, away from voters, at the recommendation of the Bristol Fire Chief (because of a letter from Wisconsin Elections Commission regarding best practices for handling mail). Both Ken Wolfe (chief election inspector in Bristol) and Katie Verzal (election inspector in Bristol) vehemently spoke against the idea at the meeting, because it would violate state election law for the processing of absentee ballots in a municipality without central count. Thankfully, the board decided that absentee ballots were to be processed inside each polling place while voting took place, as usual.
The results were predictable: chaos. On Election Day, many voters experienced long waits, confusion, and delays especially early in the morning. At the First Christian Church polling location, problems began before the polls even opened. Clerk Brickner arrived without the key to the building, causing a delay in getting the voting machines set up. Notably, she refused to provide Chief Wolfe the key prior to Election Day, despite his request, and could not find the key on Election Day. Instead, employees of the church opened the doors once they arrived. The delay stretched further as Clerk Brickner did not provide the key to the voting machine either, and workers could not begin processing absentee ballots until hours after the polling location was supposed to open due to the lack of an absentee voter’s list. A similar incident happened in August of 2024 causing the polls at the village hall location to open late because the Clerk was not prepared. Poll workers were also forced to process absentee ballots as late as midnight-2:00 AM due to the insufficient number of inspectors and lack of necessary resources, such as a list of ineligible voters and improperly processed absentee ballot envelopes.
At the Village Hall location, problems were also noted, mainly caused by lack of preparation by the Clerk and the constant confusion of the chief inspector. The sign with the sample ballot and voter instructions was from August 2024 and therefore incorrect, and the express vote machine was not functional until later in the day (also an issue at the church). There were many errors in the poll books, and several absentee ballots lacked the required initials from the Clerk rendering them invalid. Multiple frustrated voters had to register on Election Day, because despite having registered in the past, they were not found in the poll book. In one particularly troubling instance, a voter tried to register with an out-of-state driver’s license, which was only stopped when a poll worker intervened and suggested the Clerk consult the Wisconsin Election Commission for guidance.
Election Workers Overworked and Frustrated
One of the most disturbing aspects of the November 2024 election was the sheer exhaustion and frustration felt by election workers. Many were forced to work 18 to 20-hour shifts without sufficient breaks or additional assistance. In other cases, absentee ballots were processed without being in the poll books, and absentee ballots were provided to voters by the Clerk’s office incorrectly (wrong wards), leading to a need for “remade” ballots which took more time.
Several of the issues at polling locations — like delays with the absentee voter list, haphazard organization of voting bins, and confusion about how to handle ineligible voters — were direct results of the lack of adequate planning and training. The delays, compounded by the shortage of poll workers, meant that election officials were not able to complete their work in a timely manner, resulting in frustrated voters and candidates across the county and state waiting for results, and exhausted poll workers.
A Longstanding Pattern of Mismanagement
These ongoing problems have not been isolated to just one election cycle but represent a pattern of mismanagement and negligence in the Bristol Clerk’s office under both the previous and current administration. The refusal to take action on obvious problems — such as not providing sufficient poll workers or addressing absentee ballot processing concerns — demonstrates a disregard for the integrity of the election process. Worse, Clerk Renee Brickner’s apparent confusion about election law and poor coordination with election officials has made the situation even worse.
The failures in the 2024 elections, combined with the pattern of mismanagement observed in previous years, call into question the competence and preparedness of the Bristol Clerk’s office. Without swift action to address these issues, it seems likely that Bristol will continue to face election chaos in future cycles, undermining voters’ confidence in the election process.
Moving Forward: What Needs to Change?
The Village of Bristol must take immediate action to fix its election system. This includes providing adequate resources to polling locations, such as additional poll workers, a change in absentee ballot processing (such as a central count, Badger Books, or a separate set of poll books) equipment, and clear, consistent instructions for election inspectors from competent leaders. Furthermore, the Bristol Clerk and the village board need to ensure that all election workers are properly trained and that the polling locations are prepared well in advance of Election Day.
Finally, the village must take election law seriously. Election inspectors must adhere to state statutes, and the Clerk’s office must ensure that the voting process is transparent, efficient, and free from avoidable mistakes. Only through comprehensive reform can Bristol begin to restore faith in its electoral process and avoid repeating the same mistakes in future elections.
Neither the Village President, Mike Farrell (D), nor the Village Clerk, decided to give their side of the story to KCE when asked.
43 Responses
Oh yeah. They did that nearly 15 years ago.
So How’s that working out for you ?
Blame the clerk all you want but the board has just as much responsibility to give the clerk all the resources she needs. And or demand better.
Better training. Better assistants. Better oversight.
Keys ? Really ?
Basic responsibilities with no back ups ?
Residents.
Bristol used to be a shining light out here west of the i. School on down.
Not so much anymore.
The Board has no responsibility to administer elections, that’s the clerk’s job. When the clerk fails to do her job correctly and legally, it is the Board’s job to fire her before the next election. This nonsense can’t continue.
Seems like the board had an opportunity to avoid late night ballot counting (by exhausted poll workers) and made the wrong decision!! Where is the accountability for that? Everyone in the county was waiting on Bristol. They were dead last. Vote them out Bristol!!
There’s an old saying. “You Had One Job !”
You can fuck up lots of things in your job and still keep it but, when the one thing that effects everyone and is seen by everyone and means the most to everyone, gets fucked up, it’s time to go.
Willingly or not, she needs to be shown the door.
And that’s on the Board.
And if the board doesn’t do it, then change the board. And that’s on the rest of us.
Otherwise we can do nothing more than look in the mirror.
lol the Board has nothing to do with this- but good effort.
Of course the board had something to do with this.
The clerk is a hired employee.
The board approved the hire.
While the board members were not at the door directing the election process they are responsible for the people that do.
Fixing this totally the boards responsibility.
Otherwise, why are they there ?
Sh*t does roll downhill so the public is at fault for electing all these people 😉
Fire the clerk because everything that went wrong is her fault.
Clerk Renee and the Bristol Village Board don’t seem to give a rat’s patootie about instilling confidence in election integrity in Bristol. Done at 2:00 a.m. as a result of an incompetent clerk, Renee, reflects on the Bristol Village Board too who hired her. The City of Kenosha has 20 locations with 20 elections chiefs and Bristol can’t get two opened up and running smoothly by 7:00 a.m.? The Village Board hires a clerk to run smooth elections. It is not the responsibility of the Village Board to fully know and understand election laws. That is on the clerk! They aren’t that hard! She is given thorough guidance and all the tools by the county clerk and the election commission. So why the incompetency? On purpose? Or just plain incompetent?
Everyone knows each municipal clerk is responsible for his/her polling place. Starting late and not having your machines ready is election clerk 101. That is 100% on clerk Renee as well not having the ineligible voter book out at the registration table (the naughty list), not having accurate poll books (poor record keeping resulting in difficulty of reconciling poll numbers), not displaying the proper notices, and having voters only partially fill out their absentee ballot envelopes. Bad practice! I personally think a voter’s envelope should never be altered once they walk away. There are way too many inaccuracies in the WisVote system that is used to print the sticker labels.
Two years ago, I was an observer and called out Klemko, who was training Renne to take over the next election, on several of the same issues. When calling Klemko out particularly on the lack of the ineligible voter list on the registration table, she had a fit and angrily told me it was on her computer. She never did print it out for the registration table. Amy and Renee went into Amy’s office and Renee glared at me out of a small rectangular window for a good 5 minutes. Observer intimidation was all that was. They must have been terribly embarrassed how their polling place ran, thus the bizarre behavior.
The Bristol Village Board needs to step in and somehow remedy this. The Supreme Court Justice race is just around the corner.
Thoughts on Bristol School:
– Current school board is cleaning up mess from past school board.
– Good school overall with good teachers and a good community being plagued by zero leadership and a handful of immature teachers acting out worse than toddlers at nap time trying to intimidate the current school board. Do your jobs ladies, you don’t know how good you have it.
– Former school board member and former school board president, Stephanie Butenhoff continues to reveal herself as a hateful human being and runs a FB page used to usher support to intimidate the current school board members. Sane people within community empathize for her husband and children because she continues to make an absolute fool of herself at every school board meeting during citizens comments. Bristol tax payers can thank leadership of Stepanie Butenhoff for paying out the contract of the former principal that was forced to resign for severe misconduct when there was more than adequate grounds for termination. The tax payers can also thank Stephanie Butenhoff for the current mess surrounding the current administrator, Jack Musha who is on approved “leave”.
– Stephanie Butenhoff and the other clown school board members that thought masking our kids would be a good idea hired Jack Musha as an administrator without an administrative license and the school (the taxpayers) paid for Jack Mushas masters degree.
– Word on the street is Musha was ran out of KUSD and Waterford, how lucky for Bristol – another flunky that other districts were happy to get rid of just like other Bristol hirees Milz, Graf and Jarvis.
– We can only speculate that Jack Mushas leave may be related to his job performance based on the upcoming closed session meeting per the board of education agenda: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MH4dImw9WG8nRqlTBuhtgCeCHpOm_-Hu/view
– I would like all of Stephanie Butenhoff’s emails “sent” to past and current school board members as well as all of her “sent/received” emails while she was a school board member and school board president through FOIA. She’s really going out of her way to defend Musha and perhaps herself and without him the crazy that has plagued Bristol School may finally come to an end.
– All of the past school board members including Butenhoff, except Elfering voted to go to referendum that was shot down again by Bristol Taxpayers. New board is elected and behold Bristol had the money the whole time!!! Musha, Jarvis and the other board members didn’t even know there were adequate funds and a referendum was not needed. Smear campaign led by Butenoff to anyone that didn’t support the referendum
– Seriously SB, how do you continue to make such an ass of yourself with so much egg on your face?
– Past board (except Elfering) under Musha direction renewed contracts for all/nearly all of the heavily overstaffed administrative positions essentially tying the hands of the newly elected, incoming board after the referendum failed. Can’t make this stuff up folks.
– Jack Musha’s ex wife, Stephanie Musha recently resigned from Bristol School but not before trying to start a petition while working at the school to have the current school board president recalled. Stephanie Musha who is no longer a school employee and does not live within Bristol School district attends school board meetings to berate the current school board. Why would she try starting recall petition? What is she trying to stop?
– I would like to compile Stephanie Musha’s “citizens comments” from past meetings and send them to the administrators and school board of whatever school she found or finds a job at so they can see the toxic person that they hire/hired so they don’t make the same mistakes as Bristol.
– One can only hope that the other toxic personalities within the school follow SM out the door instead of trying to intimidate the current school board that works on behalf of the taxpayers, I am more hopeful they just act their ages and do their jobs.
– Former teacher Jane P showed up at the last meeting telling the board that moms for liberty is a domestic terror group according to the southern poverty law center. LMAO! to give us a speech on how we should all act only to end her speech on how Bristol school is not diverse enough. Jane, if you want to be exposed to diversity know that Kenosha Unified and Racine Unified are desperately looking for subs. You want to be a help out Jane? Go sub at KUSD or RUSD, they would be happy to have you. Make sure to report back in citizens comments on what a great experience it was for you. Couldnt keep your home life in order but going to tell us how our school should be.
– What’s with board member Grimm? After reviewing him in past meetings he is clearly confused all of the time and I seriously question his cognitive abilities. Guy is clearly showing signs of diminished cognitive function. Likely from Covid shots/boosters in all seriousness. This guy says he says he has sat on other boards, I think he have may have meant a 2×4.
– If the upcoming meeting is about Mushas future employment or non employment, I strongly suggest the board doesn’t pay him out of his extended contract that brilliant mind of Stephanie Butenhoff approved.
– My OPINION JM, is that the school board terminate you without paying you a dime. It will be your financial and uphill legal burden to try suing the school for a buyout of your contract. If you were to try that and you are in breach of your contract due to performance issues it will be nice to have the board reveal its findings if any, in the form of a public meeting. If the school’s going to have to pay you out, you should at least have to work for it from a legal standpoint, it would have been even better if you just did your job. If I was on that board I would call your bluff.
– My OPINION JM is that you resign because if the board calls your bluff and you lose your legal battle, you won’t be able to get a job in a school again. Better than cleaning houses.
Elfering is the ONLY one with integrity and a backbone on that school board. Put her on the Village Board- she’ll whoop some ass.
Thankfully she’s not the ONLY one because Gray and Starke were elected last April.
They (Renee and Amy) both have the same nasty attitudes!
Only to the people that are jerks to them. How you act?
She needs to go!!
Thorough and absolutely correct comment. Thank you.
Hooterville
There have been issues in Bristol for years. At one time the doors were locked while ballots were being counted prompting a warning from the DA’s office and a visit at the next election to make sure that the proper procedures were followed (they were).
Sometimes Bristol seems to fly by the seat of the pants with varying degrees of success (or lack thereof).
It’s really too bad members of the board decided to talk shit about the newly elected DA…… Fyi- you guys shouldn’t trust each other 😂
Thank you to all the poll workers in Bristol who worked extra hours to get the job done! God bless you!!
Amen to that!
They should take a page out of VoSL election administration book. They had no issues and were done just after polls closed. They’ve always run smooth (so no- it’s not bc of the Board).
I was pleasantly surprised when voting at the old wilmot fire station. I went around 3:30, I was in and out in less than 5 mins. Everyone was helpful and friendly.
The board Hires the Clerk.
The board hires a person to do a job. (Clerk).
If the job doesn’t get done it’s not like the clerk will fire themselves. It’s the board’s responsibility to fire incompetent people and hire competent people.
What don’t you understand ?
The clerk has been in office of VoSLa long before the magical board. I agree this Board is better but will soon turn to sh*t if you people keep putting them on a pedestal and not hold them accountable in the future.
The “New” Village Clerk, Sara Spencer was hired in July of this year and started shortly thereafter.
The person you may be thinking of is Shannon Hahn who has been an employee of Salem Lakes for many years.
She “was” interim Clerk while the “new board” worked through other important changes starting in 2023.
What you’re basically saying is that Shannon is a long term employee that worked in the clerk’s office (before and after the new board) and was a big part of the success of Salems election team.
So hats off to her !
But if and when something goes wrong or right, it’s the hired Clerk that gets the blame and the credit.
As for the pedestal, people are quick to assess blame but slow to give credit.
And this board deserves credit at every juncture in its term.
Village terms are just 2 years each. Change happens fast. At least we hope so. And so far, Salems board has risen to the challenge.
So accolades are appropriate at each major decision.
It is my opinion that “once fixed”, day to day operations of the village will become less and less monthly decisions and changes and more and more rubber stamps on department heads reports and plans.
Isn’t that what we want ??
I don’t want us to keep hiring from corrupt IL.
Amen to that!
Don’t IL my WI
Because the New Salem Board hired a competent clerk. And assistants.
That’s why Salem’s election went smoothly.
Along with the history of the leadership of Mike Ulstrup. Remember him ? Mike was a fixture in Salem for many years. Gave unselfishly of his time, knowledge and energy. RIP
Mike was great, he’s greatly missed. Fortunately, Al is doing a fine job.
I was an observer at the central count for Salem Lakes. I must say it was a very well run organization. It would not hurt to use them as a training example for the rest of the county.
And to the Election Workers at all locations, please don’t be angry with us observers. We do not think you are corrupt. We just want to ensure our elections and results are legit. Bad apples at other locations that are not honest and deceptive, cause We the People to take actions to ensure free and fair elections. We are all just doing our jobs.
Now is the time for good conservatives to run for Bristol Village Board and Bristol School Board. There will be positions open this spring and it’s time to kick the idiots out.
If someone wants to run, contact Kenosha County Eye and he will get you in contact with someone to help get you elected.
They complain about the Democratic areas. Lol.
ps. I’m an independent
I truly believe this is incompetence, not fraud. But there’s no excuse for it regardless!
Preparation should be done months in advance not weeks or days. The clerk has failed her sworn duties on multiple occasions and has lost the trust of the community. She should step down and be replaced by someone capable of following election laws and doing the job correctly.
“Step Down” would be if she was elected.
She was hired. So you’re asking her to resign.
Yes she should but, when she doesn’t, it’s up to the board to fire her. And if “they” don’t, then it’s up to us to “fire” the board.
All roads lead back to the voters.
Don’t forget that
Amen to that
Because we were not given an extra poll book or extra workers, we could not leave the location until about 2:30 AM.
Do you want to talk about being overworked and unappreciated? Speak with us workers from FCC.
I’ve worked several elections in the City of Kenosha and never had issues like we experienced on Wednesday. Based on this past election, the Bristol locations will be hurting for workers in the future unless some fundamental changes are made!
Thank you to Trustee Leker for voting for the extra poll book and workers; your efforts are not unnoticed.
Keep Leker, the rest can go!
Add Elfering
It sounds like one big happy family out there !
Kerkman and Farell have a tendency of being missing or quiet when these issues come up. Casinos, legal disputes, water tower,incoming business, bad advice from village attorney that causes more suits,and a huge lawsuit they are fighting and trying to keep under wraps currently. Those two along with a few board members that have been hanging around way to long for perks and benefits will be the reason Bristol stays on the hot seat
The clerk was offered multiple resources and refused all of them.