CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS: CITY OF MILWAUKEE CENTRAL COUNT, AUGUST 11, 2026 PARTISAN PRIMARY Compiled September 14, 2026 from the eight tabulator audit logs, the Precincts Processed report sets, the EL-104 compilation, the MEC press release, the MEC letter to WEC of August 28, 2026, the WEC memorandum for August 31, 2026, WISN, the Wisconsin Examiner, and the Milwaukee County unofficial summary. Times are Central. Entries in black are established by a document in the record; entries in red mark a question, an unexplained event, or information that is missing from the record. By Peter Bernegger of Election Watch, Inc. www.electionwatch.info Pod numbers: pod 1 = 4520083566; pod 2 = 8514080144; pod 3 = 8516080262; pod 4 = 8516080260; pod 5 = 8515070187; pod 6 = 8514080143; pod 7 = 8510090022; pod 8 = 9523090674; pod 11 = 8516100271. Team A = download team led by Deputy Director Maricha Harris (five audit-log exports). Team B = second bipartisan team (three correct exports), followed by the Executive Director’s team on pod 1. Date
Event / action
Person(s)
2025-09
David Crowley launches campaign for governor.
David Crowley
2026-07-08
Crowley withdraws from the race and endorses Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez.
David Crowley
2026-07-08 to 07-16
Marquette Law School Poll field period; Hong 27%, Barnes 18%, Rodriguez 11%, Brennan 5%, Roys 2%, undecided 48%; Crowley not included.
Marquette Law School Poll
2026-07-17
Rodriguez withdraws.
Sara Rodriguez
Audit log cleared on tabulator serial 8516080262 (pod 3); election definition "2026 Fall Election" (EQC 6e3936e2) loaded from memory stick 3237101223550304.
MEC staff (unnamed)
Crowley re-enters the race with Gov. Evers’ encouragement; Evers campaigns with him through Election Day.
David Crowley; Gov. Tony Evers
2026-07-17
2026-07-18
Time (Central)
4:20 p.m.
1
Date
Time (Central)
Event / action
Person(s)
2026-07-21
10:32 a.m.
Audit log cleared and election loaded on serial 8515070187 (pod 5); system clock set at 11:43 and 11:44 a.m.
MEC staff (unnamed)
2026-07-22
9:41 a.m.
Audit log cleared and election loaded on serial 8510090022 (pod 7); clock set 9:45 a.m.
MEC staff (unnamed)
2026-07-24
2:38 p.m. / 4:27 p.m.
Audit logs cleared and election loaded on serial 8514080144 (pod 2) and serial 4520083566 (pod 1).
MEC staff (unnamed)
2026-07-28
2:04 / 3:27 / 3:45 p.m.
Audit logs cleared and election loaded on serials 8516080260 MEC staff (unnamed) (pod 4), 8516100271 (pod 11) and 8514080143 (pod 6).
2026-07-17 to 07-31
Pre-election testing on each tabulator: test decks scanned, Results Reports printed, results cleared, zero reports printed (each log shows two to four Clear Results events in this period).
MEC staff (unnamed)
Unknown
Audit log start date, election load, and pre-election testing for Unknown serial 9523090674 (pod 8): NO AUDIT LOG PRODUCED FOR THIS MACHINE.
2026-07-29
Marquette Law School Poll release: Hong leads, Barnes Marquette Law School second, Crowley third (per WisPolitics/Fox11 reporting of the Poll July 29 release).
2026-08-01 (Sat.)
7:41 to 7:54 a.m.
All eight logged tabulators powered on for the public test; test MEC staff (unnamed) decks scanned; results cleared; zero reports printed between 9:19 and 10:45 a.m.
2026-08-11 (Tue.)
6:22 to 6:58 a.m.
Seals broken "to power on" per tabulator EL-104s (pod 7 at 6:22, pod 11 at 6:30, pod 8 at 6:35, pod 4 at 6:56, pod 6 at 6:58; others illegible); logs show boots 6:24 to 7:00 a.m.
Initials on EL-104s (illegible)
2
Date
Time (Central)
Event / action
Person(s)
2026-08-11
7:46 and 7:56 a.m.
Serial 8510090022 (pod 7) boots twice; ABNORMAL SHUTDOWN flag at 7:57:58 a.m. Reason not recorded.
Unknown
2026-08-11
8:02 to 9:18 a.m.
Election-day zero reports printed on each tabulator (pod 5 MEC machine operators 8:02; pod 7 8:06 to 8:09 (four); pod 2 8:14, 8:16, 9:08; pod 3 8:19; pod 11 8:36, 8:37, 9:18; pod 4 8:44 to 8:45 (three); pod 6 8:44; pod 1 8:40 to 8:50 (three print failures, printed 8:51)).
2026-08-11
8:50:36 a.m.
First ballot scanned at Central Count: serial 9523090674 (pod Pod 8 operators 8), per its printed report. (unnamed)
2026-08-11
8:54 to 9:34 a.m.
First ballots on the other machines: pod 4 8:54, pod 6 9:01, pod 1 9:00, pod 2 9:19, pod 11 9:20, pod 5 9:21, pod 3 9:31, pod 7 9:34.
Machine operators
2026-08-11
9:00 to 9:54 a.m.
Pod 1 (serial 4520083566) scans Ward 342 (batch A0034, 9 ballots) and Ward 315 (batch A0035, 178 processed, 1 not processed) with 12 jams, repeated pick errors and multifeeds.
Pod 1 operators (initials "PD", "M?")
2026-08-11
9:55:36 a.m.
Override access code entered on pod 1; "Clear Results" Maricha Harris (Deputy selected at 9:55:37; 187 tabulated ballots wiped; second Zero Director) Report printed 9:55:44. EL-104: "Marisha deleted two wards because of a miscounted/misfed ballot. A 2nd zero report was printed."
2026-08-11
9:55 a.m.
QUESTION: Who authorized the Override code and the Clear Maricha Harris Results on a live election-day machine; was a reconciliation of the wiped batch (9 + 178 ballots) against the rescan (10 + 192) documented; were observers notified?
2026-08-11
10:08:36 a.m.
Pod 1 restarts scanning with Ward 315; this is the "First Ballot Pod 1 operators Date Time" shown on its official report. 3
Date
Time (Central)
Event / action
Person(s)
2026-08-11
9:18 a.m. to 4:20 p.m.
Routine election-day events across machines: 23 "Delete Batch" (unsaved run deleted), 21 "Rescan All", 35 "Manage Ballots" jam recoveries. All batch IDs remain contiguous.
Machine operators
2026-08-11
3:00 p.m.
Wards 291, 292 and 294 transferred from pod 1 to pod 8 (EL- Initials "PD", "M?" 104 for pod 1).
2026-08-11
3:15 p.m.
Ward 300 transferred from pod 1 to pod 8.
Initials "PD", "M?"
2026-08-11
6:01 and 7:38 p.m.
Precincts Processed reports printed on pod 7 before polls closed; also pod 2 at 7:42 p.m. Purpose not recorded.
Unknown
2026-08-11
6:16 to 6:19 p.m.
Ward 60 scanned on pod 6: 39 ballots (batch); 4 more at 7:44 p.m. = 43. Ward 60 EL-104 records 60 voters / 60 ballots / 0 difference.
Pod 6 operators; EL-104 initials "WRE", "CM"
2026-08-11
8:00 p.m.
Polls close statewide.
2026-08-11
8:18:05 p.m.
Last ballot scanned on pod 4 (2,880 total).
Pod 4 operators
2026-08-11
8:20:40 / 8:22:08 / 8:26:00 p.m.
Last ballots on pod 7 (3,130), pod 5 (2,965), pod 2 (3,098).
Operators
2026-08-11
8:37:12 / 8:40:32 / 8:40:55 p.m.
Last ballots on pod 1 (2,206), pod 6 (3,194), pod 11 (2,863).
Operators
2026-08-11
8:41:14 / 8:41:21 p.m.
Last ballots on pod 3 (3,051) and pod 8 (3,800). Central Count Operators total 27,187 ballots, 342 wards.
2026-08-11
8:22 to 8:45 p.m.
Multiple copies of Precincts Processed reports printed on Operators every machine (pod 6 six copies 8:44; pod 11 five copies 8:44 to 8:45; pod 7 six copies 8:27 to 8:28). 4
Date
Time (Central)
Event / action
Person(s)
2026-08-11
8:45 to 10:10 p.m.
No tabulator activity except pod 11 report reprints (7 copies MEC staff 9:49 to 9:51 p.m.) and pod 1 report at 9:21 p.m. QUESTION: what was done in this 85-minute interval (EL-104 reconciliation is presumed but not documented) and why did the download not begin until 10:10 p.m.?
2026-08-11
approx. 10:00 p.m.
Executive Director steps away from Central Count download to complete polling-place uploads; Deputy Director confirms she can lead the download (MEC letter to WEC, Aug. 28). Exact time not stated.
Paulina Gutiérrez; Maricha Harris
2026-08-11
10:10:59 p.m.
Precincts Processed report printed on pod 5 (serial 8515070187) for delivery (2,965 ballots, 28 wards). Download sequence A begins.
Team led by Maricha Harris
2026-08-11
10:11 to 10:14 Pod 5: Results Access Setting edited with Admin code; blank p.m. stick 3237121423050329 inserted 10:15:54.
Team A
2026-08-11
10:16:10 p.m.
Pod 5: "Export Audit Log" selected (wrong file); "Export audit log successful" 10:17:16; stick removed 10:17:45; scanner locked 10:18:05.
Team A (Harris)
2026-08-11
10:16:16 p.m.
Pod 7 (serial 8510090022): report printed for delivery (3,130). Team B (Absentee Ballot Download sequence B begins. Coordinator, name not disclosed)
2026-08-11
10:19:26 p.m.
Pod 7: "Export New Batches to Media" (correct); package 16022-8510090022-...-7-20260811T222034; "Export Files Success" 10:21:10.
Team B
2026-08-11
10:20:37 p.m.
Pod 4 (serial 8516080260): report printed (2,880).
Team A 5
Date
Time (Central)
Event / action
Person(s)
2026-08-11
10:22:48 p.m.
Pod 4: "Export Audit Log" selected (wrong); successful 10:23:48; locked 10:24:05.
Team A (Harris)
2026-08-11
10:23:17 p.m.
Pod 2 (serial 8514080144): report printed (3,098).
Team B
2026-08-11
10:24:23 p.m.
Pod 6 (serial 8514080143): report printed (3,194).
Team A
2026-08-11
10:25:02 p.m.
Pod 2: "Export New Batches to Media" (correct); success 10:26:35.
Team B
2026-08-11
10:25:52 p.m.
Pod 6: operator reaches results export and presses "Cancel Export Results"; stick inserted 10:26:01.
Team A (Harris)
2026-08-11
10:26:13 p.m.
Pod 6: "Export Audit Log" selected (wrong); successful 10:27:23; locked 10:27:49.
Team A (Harris)
2026-08-11
10:30:10 p.m.
Pod 3 (serial 8516080262): report printed (3,051).
Team B
2026-08-11
10:31:18 p.m.
Pod 11 (serial 8516100271): report printed (2,863).
Team A
2026-08-11
10:31:28 p.m.
Pod 3: "Export New Batches to Media" (correct); success 10:33:26.
Team B
2026-08-11
10:33:55 p.m.
Pod 11: "Export Audit Log" selected (wrong); successful 10:35:04; locked 10:35:38.
Team A (Harris)
2026-08-11
10:36:34 p.m.
Pod 8 (serial 9523090674): report printed (3,800). Export presumed approx. 10:38 p.m. and presumed audit log; NOT VERIFIABLE, NO LOG PRODUCED.
Team A (Harris)
2026-08-11
10:37:05 p.m.
Pod 1 (serial 4520083566): report printed (2,206); EL-104 entry "10:37p download," seal 45928422 broken.
Team led by Gutiérrez (per letter: she "returned ... and led a team in completing the 6
Date
Time (Central)
Event / action
Person(s) remaining tabulator download")
2026-08-11
10:40:25 p.m.
Pod 1: "Cancel Export Results" pressed after stick inserted 10:40:17.
Gutiérrez team
2026-08-11
10:40:43 p.m.
Pod 1: "Export New Batches to Media" (correct); success 10:42:09; locked 10:42:33. Nine drives complete.
Gutiérrez team
2026-08-11
approx. 10:45 p.m.
Nine drives and nine printed reports transported in sealed bags Unknown to Milwaukee County Courthouse. Departure time, courier, seal numbers, and chain-of-custody form NOT PRODUCED.
2026-08-11
10:42 p.m. to 11:10 p.m.
No tabulator activity. Who remained in the Operations Center Unknown and whether observers remained is NOT DISCLOSED.
2026-08-11
approx. 11:00 to 11:30 p.m.
MCEC opens drives, finds five contain audit logs, notifies Gutiérrez (MEC letter: "late on Tuesday ... immediately"). EXACT TIME NOT DISCLOSED.
2026-08-11
11:10:27 p.m.
Pod 4 navigated to Shutdown Scanner screen; shutdown never Unknown confirmed (cancelled 12:19:35 a.m.). Operator NOT IDENTIFIED.
2026-08-11
11:17:37 p.m.
Pod 5 shut down by command. Operator NOT IDENTIFIED.
2026-08-11
11:21:40 to 11:22:32 p.m.
Pod 7: someone navigates Election, Setup, Hardware, System Unknown and Scanning menus. Operator and purpose NOT IDENTIFIED.
2026-08-11
between 10:35:38 and 11:36:50 p.m.
Pod 11 loses power with NO shutdown command logged (machine reports "Battery: Not Found"; later flags ABNORMAL SHUTDOWN). Cause NOT EXPLAINED.
MCEC Executive Director (name not given); Paulina Gutiérrez
Unknown
Unknown
7
Date
Time (Central)
Event / action
Person(s)
2026-08-11
just before 11:30 p.m.
Hong addresses supporters at Atwood Music Hall, Madison, and leaves the stage (Wisconsin Examiner).
Francesca Hong
2026-08-11
approx. 11:30 to 11:50 p.m.
Gutiérrez informs news media of the error and states staff will Paulina Gutiérrez return to the Operations Center with MPD present (MEC letter); Examiner reports announcement "expected to take over an hour to fix." Exact time NOT STATED.
2026-08-11
11:36:50 p.m.
Pod 11 powered back on (boot sequence; Protected Count 13,966). Who powered it on NOT DISCLOSED.
Unknown
2026-08-11
11:45:19 p.m.
Pod 5 powered back on (Protected Count 11,883). Who powered it on NOT DISCLOSED.
Unknown
2026-08-11
before 12:19 a.m.
"MEC staff and security personnel confirmed that no unauthorized individuals were in the facility and secured the surrounding areas"; MPD stationed outside (MEC letter). Names and times NOT GIVEN.
MEC staff; MPD
2026-08-12 (Wed.)
12:08 a.m.
AP: 94% of Wisconsin counted; Crowley leads Hong by more Associated Press than 3,000 (WISN). No City of Milwaukee absentee ballots included (County uploaded all nine files together at approx. 1:00 a.m.).
2026-08-12
approx. 12:15 a.m.
Gutiérrez, Deputy Director Harris and BOEC members return Gutiérrez; Harris; BOEC to Operations Center under MPD escort with "secured data (Martin, Ruiz-Cantu, sticks issued by MCEC"; media admitted. Haag; which members present NOT STATED); MPD
2026-08-12
12:19:35 a.m.
Pod 4: pending shutdown cancelled; election code entered (one invalid attempt 12:19:44, accepted 12:19:52).
Re-export team 8
Date
Time (Central)
Event / action
Person(s)
2026-08-12
12:19:58 a.m.
Pod 4: Precincts Processed report reprinted (2,880; identical to 10:20 p.m. report).
Re-export team
2026-08-12
12:20:14 a.m.
Pod 8: report reprinted (3,800; identical). Its export time is NOT KNOWN (no log).
Re-export team
2026-08-12
12:20:49 a.m.
Pod 11: login (one invalid election code 12:20:24); Public Count 2,863; ABNORMAL SHUTDOWN acknowledged 12:21:43.
Re-export team
2026-08-12
12:22:15 to 12:22:48 a.m.
Pod 11: Admin code rejected twice, accepted third try; Results Re-export team Access Setting saved 12:22:59.
2026-08-12
12:23:19 a.m.
Pod 11: report reprinted (2,863; identical).
Re-export team
2026-08-12
12:23:26 / 12:23:32 a.m.
Pod 4: Override code rejected once, then accepted; "Export Files to Media" selected 12:23:33; package ...-420260812T002435; success 12:25:09.
Re-export team
2026-08-12
12:25:03 to 12:25:22 a.m.
Pod 5: login; Public Count 2,965; report reprinted 12:25:22 (identical).
Re-export team
2026-08-12
12:25:41 a.m.
Pod 11: "Export New Batches to Media" under Election code; Re-export team package ...-11-20260812T002655; success 12:27:41.
2026-08-12
12:25:43 to 12:25:58 a.m.
Pod 6: login; report reprinted (3,194; identical).
2026-08-12
12:27:23 a.m.
Pod 5: Override code accepted; "Export Files to Media" Re-export team 12:27:33; package ...-5-20260812T002845; success 12:29:29; locked 12:29:46.
Re-export team
9
Date
Time (Central)
Event / action
Person(s)
2026-08-12
12:27:25 a.m.
Pod 6: Override code accepted; "Export Files to Media" Re-export team 12:27:26; package ...-6-20260812T002839; success 12:29:14; locked 12:29:36.
2026-08-12
12:23 to 12:29 QUESTION: why three machines were re-exported with the Re-export team a.m. Override code and "Export Files to Media" while pod 11 used the Election code and "Export New Batches"; who held the Override code.
2026-08-12
after 12:29 a.m.
Original and reprinted reports shown to media; five sticks and Gutiérrez; Harris; BOEC both report sets transported back to the Courthouse (MEC letter). Departure/arrival times and seal numbers NOT PRODUCED. No new seals recorded on the tabulator EL104s for the re-export.
2026-08-12
approx. 1:00 a.m.
MCEC uploads all nine Milwaukee central-count results files (MEC letter).
2026-08-12
1:05 a.m.
County Clerk announces Milwaukee County results: Crowley George Christenson, 65,131 (43.04%), Hong 62,739 (41.46%) (WISN). Milwaukee County Clerk
2026-08-12
1:21 a.m.
Milwaukee County unofficial Summary Results Report generated, 521 of 521 precincts.
2026-08-12
1:31 a.m.
AP: 98% counted statewide; Crowley 312,286, Hong 308,401 Associated Press (WISN).
2026-08-12
2:34 a.m.
AP calls the race for Crowley after Hong concedes; lead "just Associated Press; over 3,200" at 98% (Wisconsin Examiner). Unofficial final: Francesca Hong Crowley 315,413, Hong 311,740.
MCEC staff (unnamed)
MCEC
10
Date
Time (Central)
Event / action
Person(s)
2026-08-12
8:26:04 a.m.
Pod 4 logs "System on battery": power to the Operations Unknown Center cut while tabulators still running; no machine was ever shut down (all flag ABNORMAL SHUTDOWN on Aug. 28).
2026-08-12
9:00 a.m.
Crowley accepts the nomination in Milwaukee; unity breakfast with Godlewski, Baldwin, Pocan later that morning (Examiner).
2026-08-12
7:15 p.m.
MEC press release created (Word metadata 00:15 UTC Aug. MEC; media contact 13); describes a "one-hour delay," "nearly" five of nine drives, Maricha Harris and a comparison of "the first report detailing ballot totals by ward with the final version."
2026-08-24
3:51 p.m.
WEC staff memorandum and draft letter to MEC prepared for WEC staff; Chair Don the Aug. 31 Commission meeting at the request of the Chair; M. Millis requests public release of the audit logs to show "no activity" between the two downloads.
2026-08-28 (Fri.)
8:26 to 11:25 a.m.
Audit logs exported from the eight tabulators (pod 3 8:29, pod MEC staff (unnamed) 4 8:41, pod 5 8:48, pod 11 8:48, pod 6 11:07, pod 7 11:07, pod 1 11:17, pod 2 11:25). Every machine reports ABNORMAL SHUTDOWN on boot. Seal breaks for this access NOT RECORDED on any EL-104. Pod 8 export NOT PRODUCED.
2026-08-28
11:12 a.m.
MEC letter to WEC Administrator signed/created: identifies the Deputy Director’s team as having made the error on five machines; promises logs, EL-104s and reports by Sept. 4.
2026-08-28
1:26 p.m.
Precincts Processed report sets (1st and 2nd Delivery) scanned MEC staff on the MEC Xerox.
David Crowley
Paulina Gutiérrez to Meagan Wolfe
11
Date
Time (Central)
2026-08-31 2026-09-03
4:53 p.m.
2026-09-04
Peter Bernegger Election Watch, Inc.
Event / action
Person(s)
WEC Commission meeting; agenda item F, discussion and possible action re Milwaukee. Outcome not in the files.
Wisconsin Elections Commission
EL-104 compilation (742 pages) assembled in Adobe Acrobat; includes three misfiled polling-place sheets (Wards 76, 282, 305).
MEC staff
Promised posting date for logs, EL-104s and reports at city.milwaukee.gov/election/ElectionInformation/CentralCount. Whether pod 8’s log was posted is UNVERIFIED.
MEC
September 14, 2026
12