Municipal Clerk Nominations

Maribeth Witzel-Behl

Nominated by 19 people!

1) Maribeth will do almost anything to help all people vote, as long as it's legal. She trains volunteers non-stop to register people to vote, help at the polls and in nursing homes. She will even hand deliver materials to volunteers when needed. She always keeps issues of equity in mind as she trains, plans, implements and oversees. makes sure there is always curbside voting available, and during the pandemic instituted ballot drop boxes to help older folks avoid COVID exposure. Those are just a few examples of the many amazing things she does to help people vote.

2) Maribeth beautifully organized the pick up and turn in of the Voting in the Park event materials

3) Provides very thorough training to volunteers assisting in Voter Registration in order to be certified. Provided staffed unique drop-off stations for absentee ballots in Madison City Parks during 2020 election.

4) Maribeth feels it is her mission to ensure everyone is able to exercise their right to vote. She spends hours going out into the community, training people in how to register voters. She created the Democracy in the Park program. She worked with 100 Black Men on their Democracy Project and spent hours preparing and training a cadre of high school students in civics and the electoral process over the course of 8 weeks. When I asked about having clergy at polling places during the Nov. election to help keep the peace, Maribeth not only said it was OK, she also offered to provide them with city vests so it would be clear they had the city's OK to be there.

5) Maribeth is absolutely outstanding. She is totally and tirelessly committed to every eligible voter being able to cast a vote and have that vote counted. This goal and the service ethic accompanying it permeate every encounter with her. As the WI election laws change (many times since 2013), training is updated each time (and required for election officials between every election), and offered remotely     even before COVID so it's more convenient. Creative ways of     eliminating/reducing barriers to registering voters are implemented including going to the voters (like homeless encampments, prisons--to  inform felons of their rights once they are off paper, public library branches). When the law no longer allowed Special Registration Deputies, she created the Voter Education Ambassador program to disseminate voting information widely. She works closely with the Dane County LWV and supports our volunteers, e.g., creating ways of managing voting on the college campuses to meet new legal barriers to voting (such as working with the University to supplement UW Madison student ID's because they do not meet the requirement for voter ID). In the fall of 2020, when some of the US Post Office high-speed sorting machines were eliminated (all our mailed goes to Milwaukee and back), it became clear that mailing times for absentee ballots were affected (both to the voter and back from the voter) and       might not arrive in time to be counted. Maribeth created two Saturday events in our City Parks (260 of them!) and staffed sites with trained election official volunteers (outdoors, masked and with lots of hand   sanitizer) so that absentee ballots (which eligible voters had requested and received in the mail) could be collected and conveyed directly and securely, as soon as the event ended, to the Clerk’s office. Early voting and absentee ballot collection is provided wherever the eligible voter is, e.g., in hospitals and nursing homes, and in easily accessible locations with public transportation, free parking and handicap access, e.g., public libraries. Curbside access (with two Election Officials going from the polling place to the voter’s car with a ballot) is provided on Election Day. She is always "out there" (where the voters are) with her office staff, Voter Education Ambassadors and LWV members: accessible, role modeling, leading the way. She advocates for voters and for her staff with the Madison Common Council as needed for funding and resources (such as having all public library staff trained and equipped to register voters year-round in accessible locations spread throughout the city permeate). She's flawlessly non-partisan, fair, and attentive to the rule of law.

6) Supports volunteers for voter registration in countless ways. I attended a workshop she held about voter registration in the evening, something she did after a full day of work in her office. People in my group were working on a presidential campaign and wanted to talk about the other political party, but she did not speak a word of criticism.

7) Maribeth goes above and beyond to make sure that all Madison residents can exercise their right to vote. She works to see that residents become registered and that the process is streamlined. During the pandemic voting she employed whatever means possible to keep voters safe and able to vote. Her trainings for poll workers and for Voter Ambassadors who help people register are comprehensive and cover the basics, but also include topics such as customer service and treating diverse voters of all types with respect. She provides     training on assisting people with disabilities and special considerations when interacting with people with disabilities. We are extremely fortunate to have someone of her caliber as the City of Madison Clerk.

8) Every time I contacted the clerk's office for some information or    clarification, I received an extremely expeditious and helpful response. I remember one email specifically that came directly from Ms Witzel- Behl. During the entire last four years, and specifically in the run up to the '20 presidential election I had the distinct impression that Ms. Witzel-Behl was doing absolutely everything she could do to make voting easier, more accessible, and less stressful. Examples of this are  the emergence of the new ballot drop-boxes, the events to accept ballots in the neighborhood parks, the extra "covid precautions" and supplies at the polling places, etc. She has been exceptional, and has given ample and repeated examples that she understands the true meaning of "public service". In a very real sense she has done a great service in defending democracy from the assaults it has been under. I'm very grateful to her, and for her efforts.

9) Despite obstacles thrown up by a Republican State Legislature, the State Supreme Court and the previous governor's administration, Maribeth has put into place many procedures and initiated many events that make it easier for Madison's voters to register to vote and to cast their ballots. Her efforts made voting during a pandemic safer and less stressful. Her professionalism during the recounts and court challenges after the 11/3/20 election is also to be commended.

10) I think Maribeth Witzel-Behl deserves an award for municipal clerk of the century. Her training of election officials has been exemplary in her effort to encourage accessibility and to support and encourage a diverse voting population. And her office was remarkable in its efforts to adapt to the pandemic and ensure that all voters could safely   participate in the election in the way that they felt most comfortable (whether through early voting, absentee voting, or at the polls),      including the establishment of new and secure ballot drop boxes when it became clear that the post office was going to have difficulty handling absentee ballots as well as was needed. But it is really the innovation of the "Democracy in the Park" events that was most remarkable: such a wonderfully creative way to celebrate the election and democratic participation while also relieving an important concern and increasing voting access. Democracy in the Park was such a joyous response to the pandemic; it was one of the few positives in this very sad year.

11) She does an incredible job!! As a poll worker during the Democracy in the Parks effort 2020, I needed to deal with an aggressive poll watcher. Maribeth showed up in person! She has created an amazing system for all voters in our city - we exist to assist is the motto - she is calm, cool and always collected. And always about making sure every vote counts through our training and our voting place options.

12) In the 2020 Presidential election, she made Voting in the Park an easy place for people to deposit their completed ballots to authorized poll workers like myself and my husband. People could also bring their mailed, empty ballots to us so we could serve as their witnesses. For people unable to get to a friend or neighbor (due to Covid restrictions) this outdoor venue served as a safe place for both the voter and poll workers, to do their jobs; to vote and to serve as sanctioned poll   workers. Meriter also communicates to poll workers all year round to keep us updated on any changes instituted at the polling sites and general voting updates. She is an excellent teacher and able to make allowances for safe, secure voting for all.

13) Maribeth is mild mannered and always polite. She is very knowledgeable and positively answers questions during any of the trainings. Any early voting is done at accessible locations. At the polling locations, there is often a Spanish speaking poll worker, wheelchair accessible polling booth, and a touchscreen voting     machine. There is also curbside voting for those who would find it difficult to enter the building. Maribeth is a prime example of a caring   person who supports the voting rights of the older voters as well as someone who has a disability!

14) Maribeth is thorough and transparent. Every election is reviewed for issues that come up, poll workers are alerted to things that they may need to be more aware of, and feedback from poll workers is incorporated in election planning. I especially like that at every training for poll workers she says "the goal is for every eligible voter to be able to cast a ballot and for that ballot to be counted".

15) Maribeth does everything possible to make voting easy—early voting sites in all the public libraries, special events like "Democracy in the Park," where people can register and drop off absentee ballots at any city park, having trained Voting Ambassadors who know the system and can help voters. She's super organized and bent on   providing assistance to every voter who needs it.

16) MW-B has long history of involving citizens in voter outreach, has excellent and accessible classes on how to register to vote and help others to do so. She communicates clearly and in timely fashion all the nuances and law changes which have increased in the past 6 years. But she outdid all of her past excellence when she helped all of us help each other during the COVID crises in the spring and fall elections of 2020. Her creative, well-researched and well-executed DEMOCRACY IN THE PARKS absentee ballot collection effort is only one example. Most       importantly, she is ALWAYS positive and affirming--and believes in her work. That's why I (we) believe in her. Thanks