Wisconsin Supreme Court refuses to release voter records sought by conservative activist

By — Scott Bauer, Associated Press Scott Bauer, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/wisconsin-supreme-court-refuses-to-release-voter-records-sought-by-conservative-activist Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Wisconsin Supreme Court refuses to release voter records sought by conservative activist Politics Jul 7, 2026 2:12 PM EDT MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected an attempt by a conservative activist to obtain guardianship records in an effort to find ineligible voters in the presidential battleground state. The case has been wending its way through the courts for years and stems from attempts by conservatives to overturn President Joe Biden's victory in Wisconsin over President Donald Trump in 2020. Here's what to know: A conservative activist brought the case The case tested the line between protecting personal privacy rights and ensuring that ineligible people can't vote. Former travel executive Ron Heuer and a group he leads, the Wisconsin Voter Alliance, brought the lawsuit in 2022 alleging that the number of ineligible voters doesn't match the count on Wisconsin's voter registration list. The lawsuit doesn't specify how many people could be affected. In Wisconsin, a guardianship order is granted by a court giving a person certain legal rights over another who is determined to be unable to make decisions about their life. A court has the power to remove the right to vote from a person under a guardianship order if the person is determined to be unable to understand "the objective of the election process." Heuer asked the state Supreme Court to rule that counties must release records filed when a judge determines that someone isn't competent to vote so that those names can be compared to the voter registration list. READ MORE: Federal judge dismisses Justice Department lawsuit seeking detailed Maryland voter data Heuer's attorney, Erick Kaardal, argued that privacy concerns could be balanced with the public's right to access government records by redacting identifying or sensitive information on the forms. But the attorney for Walworth County said those seeking access to the records wanted to cross-check ineligible voters against the names of those registered. They can't do that, attorney Sam Hall said during oral arguments, without releasing the person's name and address. Hall praised the ruling, saying it "protects the privacy of vulnerable individuals while preserving their dignity." Kaardal did not immediately return an email seeking comment. The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, which advocates for public access to documents but did not take a position on this case, said the court's decision was "narrowly tailored and should not have a huge impact." The council praised the court for clarifying the standard for deciding similar cases in the future, but that "it's always disappointing when access t