Some changes could come your way if you plan on voting absentee this fall. A court case scheduled to be heard this week in Marinette County is asking a judge to require voters to return a signed copy of their absentee voting request with the ballot they return for their vote to count. Currently, those wishing to vote absentee must be registered with the state before logging onto the MyVoteWI website to answer a few questions, including which ballots you want delivered to your home.

The same lawsuit also wants election officials not to use a redesigned absentee ballot certificate envelope because of language printed on the ballot stating that the envelope is “an original or copy of voters’ original absentee ballot request” is misleading. The newly designed envelopes use bolded text and full-color designs to help voters find all the places they should fill out before mailing their ballot back. Common Cause Wisconsin Executive Director Jay Heck says the challenge could be successful in lower courts but expects it will struggle on its way through the court system. He believes the case is a ruse to confuse voters ahead of the fall election cycle despite the absentee voting changes being approved bipartisanly.

According to WisconsinWatch, Marinette County Circuit Court Judge James Morrison was supposed to have heard the case on Wednesday, but he accepted a request from intervenors Disability Rights Wisconsin and the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin for a substitute judge.