Under Fire Over Duplicate Ballots, Green Bay Clerk Resigns
Jeffreys leaves post as Elections Commission finds probable cause of state law violations.
Green Bay City Hall is seen in this file photo. Source: City of Green Bay
The Green Bay city clerk is stepping down amid an investigation into how her office mailed out duplicate absentee ballots in back-to-back elections this year.
The city made the announcement Friday morning that Celestine Jeffreys is stepping down from her role as city clerk.
“We wish her the best in her future endeavors,” the city said in a statement posted to social media.
She has served as Green Bay’s city clerk since 2021 and previously served as Mayor Eric Genrich’s chief of staff.
Celestine Jeffreys was appointed Green Bay city clerk in 2021. Source: City of Green Bay
Jeffreys was placed on leave last month, the same day the Wisconsin Elections Commission voted to investigate how Green Bay issued duplicate ballots in both the April election and the August primary.
The city’s mistakes drew sharp criticism from Elections Commission member Ann Jacobs, who called it “unconscionable” for it to happen a second time.
In April, the Republican Party of Wisconsin filed a complaint against Jeffreys with the Wisconsin Elections Commission after the city issued two absentee ballots to 152 voters.
Then Green Bay issued duplicate ballots again in June, this time for the August primary election.
A review by Elections Commission staff found probable cause that Green Bay violated state law by issuing duplicate ballots for the Spring Election.
While Green Bay has been the target of much Republican scrutiny over its elections following false claims the election was stolen in 2020, there has been probable cause Jeffreys violated election law before.
In one instance, she accepted absentee ballots from some voters without proof of disability. Another involved the city’s voter registration procedures.
The Green Bay City Council will receive a presentation at its Aug. 18 meeting on the city’s internal investigation into how duplicate absentee ballots were sent out twice this year.
The council will receive the same files and information the city is submitting to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, according to a city spokesperson.
Green Bay City Clerk Celestine Jeffreys to step down amid duplicate ballots scandal was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.
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