MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) -- A computer system delay affecting early voting in Wisconsin does not appear to be the result of a cyberattack, state elections officials said Thursday.
Since early voting began on Tuesday, local clerks have reported delays in the system they use to print labels for absentee ballot certificate envelopes.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission said it updated its computer system on Wednesday to try to address the issue. It also recommended to clerks Wednesday night that they hand-write the required information on the outsides of the envelopes until the printing problems are resolved.
Hand-writing the information was the normal process until 2020, WEC said.
"Label printing is a newer and optional efficiency, but not critical to the administration of in-person absentee voting," WEC said in a statement. "Municipal clerks continue to report high levels of in-person absentee voting. No voters should be turned away due to label printing delays. The WEC is thankful to local election officials for their patience and professionalism while agency staff continue to work to improve label printing speed."
WEC says there is no reason to believe the computer system delay is affecting other areas of election administration or state government.