The Wisconsin Elections Commission has voted 5-1 to request nearly $2 million in state funding to establish an Office of Election Transparency and Compliance, aimed at enhancing election integrity and responsiveness to public inquiries. This new office would consist of 10 staff members and focus on tasks like election audits and handling public records requests. The proposal comes after a significant increase in complaints received by the commission since 2020, reflecting heightened scrutiny of electoral processes. Republican commissioner Don Millis emphasized the importance of this initiative in building public trust, while Democratic chair Ann Jacobs highlighted the need for timely responses to public inquiries. However, commissioner Bob Spindell opposed the measure, advocating for a bipartisan leadership structure within the office. The commission's previous attempts for similar funding in the last budget were rejected by the Republican-controlled legislature.