The Government Accountability Board will finish certifying recall petitions against Gov. Scott Walker, Lieutenant Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and four state senators by Friday, March 30, according to a request for a second extension filed with the Dane County Circuit Court Tuesday.
In the formal request, the GAB concluded it would not have reviewed enough of the petitions by the March 19 deadline to rule on the necessity of recall elections.
Extending the deadline back to March 30 would push the primary elections to May 8 and the general recall elections to June 5.
The GAB’s proposed March 30 deadline extension was determined in conjunctions with both the recall-organizing committees and recall-targeted politicians.
While all petitions have been filed, the GAB has not yet started checking for duplicate signatures, and does not believe it will have checked for enough to make a decision about recall elections unless given more time for review.
Additionally, the request pointed out problems with potential elections following the March 19 deadline.
According to state laws, recall elections must be held on the Tuesday six weeks following the board’s ruling. If a ruling was made on March 19, the general recall elections would be held the Tuesday following Memorial Day, presenting problems for preparations, many of which are completed in the days immediately preceding the election date.
The federal holiday would give municipal clerks “significant difficulties, if not impossibilities” in adequately preparing for elections, according to the GAB.
Judge Richard Niess will consider the request at a Wednesday hearing.
