BEFORETHEWISCONSINELECTIONSCOMMISSION
201WestWashingtonAvenue,SecondFloor P.O.Box7984,Madison,Wisconsin53707-7984
VERIFIEDCOMPLAINT
PURSUANTTOWIS.STAT.§5.05(2m)
IntheMatterof: RYANCHRISTOPHERSENDELBACH
(WisVoteVoterRegistrationNumbers701729934and701836482)
I.Introduction
1.Complainant,onpersonalknowledgeastothemattersidentifiedbelowandon informationandbeliefastoallothermatters,submitsthisVerifiedComplainttothe WisconsinElectionsCommission(the"Commission")underWis.Stat.§5.05(2m),Wis. Stat.§12.13,andWis.Admin.Codech.EL20.
2.ComplainantallegesthatRyanChristopherSendelbach,aWisconsinelector,hasbeen continuouslyandsimultaneouslyregisteredtovoteatTWOdifferentresidential addressesinTWOdifferentmunicipalitiesofDaneCounty,Wisconsin,underTWO differentWisVotevoterregistrationnumbers,bothreflectedasACTIVE/Registeredin theCommission'sstatewidevoterlist,sinceonoraboutAugust22,2022—aperiodof approximatelythreeyearsandeightmonthsasofthedateofthisComplaint, encompassingnotfewerthaneleven(11)Wisconsinelections.
3.TheconductallegedisaprimafacieviolationofWis.Stat.§12.13(1)(c)(intentional registrationinmorethanoneplaceforthesameelection),aClassIfelonyunderWis. Stat.§12.60(1)(a).AcontingentviolationofWis.Stat.§12.13(1)(b)(falsestatementin procuringregistration)isalsoimplicatedandispresentedfortheCommission's investigation.
4.ComplainantdoesNOTallege,andtherecordsproducedbytheCommission'sownBadger Voterportaldonotaffirmativelysupport,aviolationofWis.Stat.§12.13(1)(e)(voting morethanonceinthesameelection).TheCommission'sdatashowsasingle-ballot-per-
electionpatternfromAugust2022forward,andtheapparentoverlapofpre-August2022vote-historyentriesbetweenthetworegistrationsisexplainedbytheWisVote system'shistory-migrationbehavioroncreationofanewregistrationrecord.This Complaintislimitedtothedual-registrationviolationitself.
II.Jurisdiction
5.PursuanttoWis.Stat.§5.05(1),theCommissionhas"theresponsibilityforthe administrationofchs.5to10and12andotherlawsrelatingtoelectionsandelection campaigns,otherthanlawsrelatingtocampaignfinancing."UnderWis.Stat.§5.05(2m), theCommissionisauthorizedtoreceive,investigate,andadjudicateverifiedcomplaints allegingviolationsofthoseprovisions,andtorefermattersforprosecutionas appropriate.
6.TheconductallegedoccurredinDaneCounty,Wisconsin,placingprosecutorialauthority overanycriminalreferralwiththeDaneCountyDistrictAttorneyunderWis.Stat.§ 978.05.
III.Parties
Complainant
7.PeterBernegger,aresidentandqualifiedelectoroftheStateofWisconsin.Contact informationappearsintheverificationblockattheendofthisComplaint.
Respondent
8.RyanChristopherSendelbachisanaturalperson,alicensedWisconsinattorney,andan electoroftheStateofWisconsin.AccordingtotheCommission'sWisVoteregistrationlist asofApril20,2026,Mr.Sendelbachmaintainstwosimultaneously ACTIVE Wisconsin voterregistrations:
•VoterRegistrationNo.701729934—2624MonroeStreet,Unit308,Madison,WI53711 (CityofMadison–Ward71).SeeExhibitB.
•VoterRegistrationNo.701836482—8026LaufenbergBoulevard,CrossPlains,WI53528 (VillageofCrossPlains–Ward7).SeeExhibitA.
9.Mr.Sendelbach'spubliclyavailableLinkedInprofilelistsCrossPlains,Wisconsinashis residenceandidentifieshiscurrentemploymentasAssistantGeneralCounselatthe LeagueofWisconsinMunicipalities,Madison,Wisconsin.SeeExhibitH.
IV.FactualAllegations
A.TwosimultaneouslyACTIVEWisconsinvoterregistrations
10.OnApril20,2026,ComplainantobtainedfromtheWisconsinElectionsCommission's BadgerVoterpublic-dataportalthreeseparatevoter-listextracts:(i)thecompletevoter rosterfortheVillageofCrossPlains,DaneCounty(WECorder#16150);(ii)thecomplete voterrosterforCityofMadisonWard71,DaneCounty(WECorder#16151);and(iii)the completevoterrosterforCityofMadisonWard41,DaneCounty(WECorder#16152). EachextractreflectsthestateoftheWisVotestatewideregistrationlistmaintainedby theCommissionunderWis.Stat.§6.36asofthedateoftheorder.
11.Thefirsttwoextractseachcontainarecordfor"Sendelbach,RyanChristopher,"both reflectedas"VoterStatus=Active/VoterStatusReason=Registered."Therecordsare summarizedbelow;allunderlyingfieldvaluesaretakendirectlyfromExhibitsAandB.
Field Registration#1 Registration#2
VoterRegNumber 701729934 701836482
FullLegalName RyanChristopherSendelbach RyanChristopherSendelbach
RegistrationAddress 2624MonroeStreet,Unit308,Madison, WI53711 8026LaufenbergBoulevard,CrossPlains, WI53528
Ward/Municipality CityofMadison–Ward71 VillageofCrossPlains–Ward7
AssemblyDistrict Assembly–District77 Assembly–District81
StateSenateDistrict StateSenate–District26 StateSenate–District27
County DaneCounty DaneCounty
Telephone 507-9 507-9
EmailAddress ryansend@gmail.com ryanse
ApplicationSource OnlineRegistration(MyVoteWisconsin) OnlineRegistration(MyVoteWisconsin)
RegistrationDate January26,2022 August22,2022
VoterStatus ACTIVE/Registered ACTIVE/Registered
B.Thetworegistrationsarelinkedtothesameelector
12.Bothrecordssharefourindependentidentifiers:(i)identicalfulllegalnameincluding middlename;(ii)identicaltelephonenumber( ;(iii)identicalemailaddress ( );and(iv)identicalapplicationsource("OnlineRegistration"via theMyVoteWisconsinportal).Theuseofthesametelephonenumberandthesame emailaddressacrosstwocontemporaneousonlinevoterregistrationapplications,in conjunctionwithidenticalnameandmiddlename,establishesthatthetworecords referencethesameelector.
13.IndependentcorroborationisavailablethroughVoterReferenceFoundationLLC (VoteRef.com),whichobtainedtheWisVotedataonanentirelyseparatesnapshotdate ofFebruary3,2025,andwhichcontainsbothregistrationsunderidenticalidentifying information.SeeExhibitsDandE.
C.Thetworegistrationaddressesaremateriallydifferentresidences
14.Thetwoaddressesdifferinstreetname,housenumber,ZIPcode,ward,municipality, jurisdiction,schooldistrict,Assemblydistrict,andStateSenatedistrict.Theyarenotthe sameaddresswithcosmeticvariation.Specifically:2624MonroeStreet,Unit308, Madison(Ward71;AssemblyDistrict77;SenateDistrict26;AldermanicDistrict13; MadisonMetropolitanSchoolDistrict)isapproximately12milesfrom8026Laufenberg Boulevard,CrossPlains(Ward7;AssemblyDistrict81;SenateDistrict27;MiddletonCrossPlainsAreaSchoolDistrict).SeeExhibitsAandB.
D.TheCrossPlainsregistrationpost-datestheMadisonregistrationbyapproximately208 days
15.TheMadisonWard71registrationwascreatedonJanuary26,2022,viaonline registrationontheMyVoteWisconsinportal.TheCrossPlainsregistrationwascreated onAugust22,2022,alsoviaonlineregistrationontheMyVoteWisconsinportalapproximately208days(roughlysevenmonths)later.SeeExhibitsAandB.
16.UnderthenormaloperationoftheWisVotestatewidevoterregistrationlistmaintained bytheCommissionunderWis.Stat.§6.36,anonlineregistrationcompletedatanew residentialaddressbyanelectoralreadyregisteredelsewhereinWisconsinshouldcause thepriorregistrationtobeflaggedasamoveandthepriorrecord'sstatustotransition outof"Active."Thatdidnotoccurhere.TheMadisonWard71registrationwasnot
inactivatedwhentheCrossPlainsregistrationwascreatedonAugust22,2022,and remainsin"Active/Registered"statusasofApril20,2026.
E.WisVotemergelogicfunctionswhentriggered:theWard41controlcase
17.TheCommission'svoterlistcontainsathirdrecordassociatedwiththesameelector: VoterRegistrationNo.700835777,at214NBaldwinStreet,Unit2,Madison,WI53703 (CityofMadison–Ward41),originallyregisteredAugust23,2019,alsoviaonline registrationontheMyVoteWisconsinportal.SeeExhibitC.
18.TheWard41recordcarries"VoterStatus=Inactive"with"VoterStatusReason= Merged,"andshowsZEROvotinghistory.ThisisthehallmarkofacompletedWisVote merge—thehistoricalvotesofthepriorregistrationaremigratedforwardtothe successorregistration,andthepredecessorrecord'sstatusisupdatedtoInactive/ Merged.TheWard41record'sstatusconfirmsthattheWisVotemergemechanism functionsasintendedwhenproperlytriggeredbyanonlinere-registration.
19.WhenMr.Sendelbachre-registeredattheCrossPlainsaddressonAugust22,2022— usingthesameMyVoteWisconsinportal,withthesamename,telephonenumber,and emailaddressthatsuccessfullytriggeredamergesevenmonthsearlier—noanalogous mergeoccurred.TheMadisonWard71recordwasnotinactivated.TheresultisthedualactiveregistrationallegedinthisComplaint.
F.USPSNCOArecordsconfirmthemovefromMadisontoCrossPlains
20.UnitedStatesPostalServiceNationalChangeofAddress(NCOA)recordsreflectapostal change-of-addressfrom2624MonroeStreet,Unit308,Madison,to8026Laufenberg Boulevard,CrossPlains,withCOA_Move_DateofAugust1,2022—twenty-one(21)days beforetheAugust22,2022CrossPlainsvoterregistration.TheNCOArecordfortheprior MadisonWard41address(214NBaldwinStreet,Unit2)likewisereflectsamoveto8026 LaufenbergBoulevard,withanearliermovedate.BothrecordsarelinkedbyUSPSto WisVoteIDs701729934and700835777respectively,andthedestinationisUSPSconfirmeddeliverable(DPV_Confirmation="Y").SeeExhibitF.
21.TheNCOAevidenceissignificantfortworeasons.First,bytheelector'sownpostal change-of-addresssignal,hisfixedhabitationasofAugust1,2022was8026Laufenberg Boulevard,CrossPlains—andWis.Stat.§6.10(1)definesresidenceforvoterqualificationpurposesas"theplacewheretheperson'shabitationisfixed,withoutany
presentintenttomove,andtowhich,whenabsent,thepersonintendstoreturn."
Second,theexistenceofaUSPSNCOAhitlinkingbothpriorMadisonregistrationstothe newCrossPlainsaddressoughttohavetriggeredlist-maintenanceactionbythe CommissionandtheCityofMadisonClerkunderWis.Stat.§6.50—independentofany in-systemWisVotemergethatshouldhavefollowedtheAugust22,2022onlinereregistration.
G.Durationandelectionsaffected
22.FromAugust22,2022tothedateofthisComplaint,thetworegistrationshavebeen simultaneouslyACTIVEintheWisVotelistforapproximately1,348consecutivedays. Duringthatspan,thefollowingelectionshaveoccurred—foreachofwhichMr. Sendelbachhasbeenregistered,intheCommission'sowndata,asanelectorattwo differentaddressesintwodifferentmunicipalities:
•November8,2022(generalelection)
•February21,2023(springprimary)
•April4,2023(springelection)
•February20,2024(springprimary)
•April2,2024(springelection/presidentialpreference)
•August13,2024(partisanprimary)
•November5,2024(generalelection)
•February18,2025(springprimary)
•April1,2025(springelection)
•February17,2026(springprimary)
•April7,2026(springelection)
23.Ineachoftheseeleven(11)elections,Mr.SendelbachwasontheWisconsinvoterrolls asanactiveelectorintwodifferentmunicipalitiesatthesametime.SeeExhibitsAand
B.
H.WhatthisComplaintdoesnotallege
24.IntheinterestofaccuracyandcandortotheCommission,Complainantexpresslydoes NOTallegethatMr.Sendelbachcastmorethanoneballotinanysingleelection.The Commission'sdata,ineachoftheelevenelectionsidentifiedinparagraphGabove,
recordsavoteONLYontheCrossPlainsregistration(#701836482);theMadisonWard71 registration(#701729934)recordsnovoteinanypost-August-22,2022election.ThepreAugust-22,2022vote-historyentriesthatappearidenticallyonbothregistrationsare explainedbyWisVote'shistory-migrationbehavioronthecreationofanewregistration, asconfirmedbytheWard41controlcasedescribedinSectionIV.Eabove.
25.ComplainantneverthelessrequeststhattheCommission,inthecourseofitsinvestigation underWis.Stat.§5.05(2m),confirmbyreferencetothemunicipal-clerkpollbooksand absentee-ballotapplicationsretainedunderWis.Stat.§§7.15and7.23thatonlyone physicalballotwascastperelection,inordertoclosethequestiondefinitively.
I.Respondent'sprofessionalcontext(relevanttointent)
26.Mr.SendelbachisalicensedWisconsinattorney,havinggraduatedfromtheUniversity ofWisconsinLawSchoolin2022-thesameyearinwhichbothvoterregistrationsatissue werecreated.SinceonoraboutOctober2023,hehasbeenemployedasAssistant GeneralCounselattheLeagueofWisconsinMunicipalities,anorganizationwhosecore missionincludesadvisingWisconsinmunicipalclerksonmattersofmunicipallaw, includingelectionadministration.SeeExhibitH.
27.PublicreportingfurtheridentifiesMr.SendelbachastheChairoftheDaneCounty DemocraticParty.ThesefactsarepresentedtotheCommissionsolelyascontextrelevant tothe"intentional"elementofanyviolationallegedunderWis.Stat.§12.13(1), construedinaccordancewithWis.Stat.§§12.02and939.23.Complainantdoesnot assertthatanyinferenceofintentshouldbedrawnfromprofessionalorpolitical affiliationalone.
V.StatutoryViolationsAlleged
A.Wis.Stat.§12.13(1)(c)—RegistrationinMoreThanOnePlacefortheSameElection
28.Wis.Stat.§12.13(1)(c)makesitunlawfulforanyelectorintentionallyto"[r]egisterasan electorinmorethanoneplaceforthesameelection."TheCommission'sownvoterlist establishesthat,foreachoftheeleven(11)WisconsinelectionsenumeratedinSection IV.Gabove,Mr.Sendelbachhasbeenregisteredasanactiveelectorattwodifferent WisconsinaddressesintwodifferentWisconsinmunicipalities.Thisisaprimafacie violationofWis.Stat.§12.13(1)(c).
29.The"intentional"elementof§12.13(1)issupportedbythefactsalreadyinthepublic record,including:(i)theseven-monthgapbetweenthetworegistrations,duringwhich Mr.SendelbachtooknoactiontocanceltheearlierMadisonWard71registration;(ii)the demonstrablefunctioningofWisVote'smergelogicinhisearlierWard41→Ward71 transition,whichestablishesthathewasonactualorconstructivenoticethatreregistrationordinarilyinactivatesapriorrecord;(iii)thepersistenceofthedual-active stateacrossatleasteleven(11)Wisconsinelections,duringanyoneofwhichMr. SendelbachcouldhavesubmittedacancellationrequestunderWis.Stat.§6.50or contactedeithermunicipalclerk;(iv)theUSPSNCOArecordshowinghispostalchangeof-addressfromMadisontoCrossPlains,whichconstitutesanobjectivedeclarationof hisfixedhabitation;and(v)hisprofessionalcontextasaWisconsinattorneyspecifically engagedinadvisingmunicipalitiesonelectionlaw.
30.AviolationofWis.Stat.§12.13(1)(c)isaClassIfelonypursuanttoWis.Stat.§12.60(1)(a). ClassIfeloniesarepunishablebyafinenottoexceed$10,000,imprisonmentnotto exceedthree(3)yearsandsix(6)months,orboth.Wis.Stat.§939.50(3)(i).
B.Wis.Stat.§12.13(1)(b)—FalseStatementinProcuringRegistration(Contingent)
31.Wis.Stat.§12.13(1)(b)makesitunlawfulforanyelectorintentionallyto"[f]alselyprocure registrationormakefalsestatementstothemunicipalclerk,boardofelection commissionersoranyotherelectionofficialwhetherornotunderoath."TheMyVote Wisconsinonlineregistrationportal-throughwhichMr.Sendelbachcompletedhis August22,2022CrossPlainsregistration-incorporatestheelectorqualificationand residencyattestationsofWis.Stat.§§6.02and6.10,andrequirestheapplicanttoattest thattheelectorisqualified,hastherequisiteresidence,andhasprovidedaccurate information.
32.WhetherMr.SendelbachmadeafalsestatementontheAugust22,2022application-by, forexample,attestingtoCrossPlainsresidencywhileconcealingorfailingtocancelthe earlierMonroeStreetregistration,orbyenteringidentifyinginformationthatprevented WisVotefromrecognizinghispriorregistrationandeffectuatinganautomaticmergedependsonrecordsavailableonlytotheCommissionandtherelevantmunicipalclerks. ComplainantrequeststheCommissioninvestigatethisquestionpursuanttoitsauthority underWis.Stat.§5.05(2m).
33.AviolationofWis.Stat.§12.13(1)(b)isalsoaClassIfelonyunderWis.Stat.§12.60(1)(a).
C.PredicateProvisionsofWis.Stat.ch.6
34.Theconductallegediscontrarytotheelector-qualificationframeworkofWis.Stat.ch.6, includinginparticular:§6.02(qualifications,general-requiring28consecutivedays' residenceintheelectiondistrictorward);§6.10(1)(definingresidenceastheplacewhere theperson'shabitationisfixed,withoutanypresentintenttomove);§6.10(3)(governing votesfollowingintra-statemoves);§6.27(electorregistrationrequired);§6.36(official registrationlist);and§6.50(revisionofregistrationlist/listmaintenance).Verifiedtext oftheseprovisionsappearsintheWisconsinStatutesch.6(2023-24,certifiedApril3, 2026)referenceattachedasExhibitG.
VI.RequestedRelief
35.PursuanttoWis.Stat.§5.05(2m),Complainantrespectfullyrequeststhatthe Commission:
•PromptlyopenaninvestigationintothemattersallegedinthisComplaintand acknowledgereceiptofthisfilingwithinfive(5)days,inaccordancewiththe Commission'spublished§5.05complaint-processtimeline;
•Issuearecords-preservationdirectivetotheCityofMadisonClerkandtheVillageofCross PlainsClerkrequiringretentionofallpollbooks,absentee-ballotapplications,ballotlogs, andregistrationapplicationrecordsassociatedwithWisVoteVoterRegistrationNumbers 701729934,701836482,and700835777,orotherwiseinthenameofRyanChristopher Sendelbach,fortheperiodfromAugust23,2019tothedateofdispositionofthis Complaint;
•ObtainfromtheCityofMadisonClerkandtheVillageofCrossPlainsClerktheforegoing recordspursuanttoWis.Stat.§§7.15,6.55,6.86,6.87,7.23,and19.35,includingthefull textoftheAugust22,2022MyVoteWisconsinonlineapplicationthatproducedWisVote ID701836482;
•ProduceandreviewtheWisVoteauditlog/changehistoryforallthreeVoterRegistration Numbers(700835777,701729934,and701836482),includingallstatuschanges,address changes,mergeevents,history-migrationevents,andsystemflagsfromAugust23,2019 tothepresent;
•MakefindingsunderWis.Stat.§5.05(2m)on(i)whetherMr.Sendelbachintentionally registeredtovoteinmorethanoneplaceforthesameelectioninviolationofWis.Stat. §12.13(1)(c);and(ii)whetherMr.Sendelbachintentionallymadefalsestatementsinthe August22,2022MyVoteWisconsinapplicationinviolationofWis.Stat.§12.13(1)(b);
•Uponcompletionofinvestigation,takeallappropriateenforcementaction,including (wherewarranted)referraltotheDaneCountyDistrictAttorneypursuanttoWis.Stat.§ 978.05and/ortotheWisconsinAttorneyGeneral;
•CausetheMadisonWard71registration(#701729934)tobetransitionedtothe appropriatenon-activestatusunderWis.Stat.§6.50,withoutprejudicetothepending investigation;and
•ProvideComplainantwithawrittenacknowledgmentofreceiptofthisComplaintand periodicstatusupdatesasauthorizedbyCommissionpracticeandWis.Stat.§5.05(5s).
VII.ListofExhibits
Thefollowingdocumentaryevidenceisfiledconcurrentlyherewithandincorporatedby reference.
A WisconsinElectionsCommission,BadgerVoterdataextractfortheVillageofCrossPlains,Dane County,order#16150,purchasedApril20,2026(Sendelbachrow,WisVoteVoterRegistrationNumber 701836482,VoterStatus=Active/Registered).
B WisconsinElectionsCommission,BadgerVoterdataextractfortheCityofMadisonWard71,Dane County,order#16151,purchasedApril20,2026(Sendelbachrow,WisVoteVoterRegistrationNumber 701729934,VoterStatus=Active/Registered).
C WisconsinElectionsCommission,BadgerVoterdataextractfortheCityofMadisonWard41,Dane County,order#16152,purchasedApril20,2026(Sendelbachrow,WisVoteVoterRegistrationNumber 700835777,VoterStatus=Inactive/Merged)—submittedastheWisVotemerge-mechanismcontrol case.
D VoterReferenceFoundationLLC(VoteRef.com),public-recordarchiveofWisVote—CrossPlains recordforRyanChristopherSendelbach,archivedateFebruary3,2025.
E VoterReferenceFoundationLLC(VoteRef.com),public-recordarchiveofWisVote—Madison(2624 MonroeStreet,Unit308)recordforRyanChristopherSendelbach,archivedateFebruary3,2025.
F UnitedStatesPostalServiceNationalChangeofAddress(NCOA)recordforRyanC.Sendelbach(RECNO 1470113and1470123),linkingWisVoteIDs701729934and700835777toaforwardeddeliverypoint at8026LaufenbergBoulevard,CrossPlains,withCOA_Move_Date8/1/2022(MonroeStreet)and earlier(BaldwinStreet);DPV_Confirmation=Y.
G WisconsinStatutesch.6("TheElectors"),2023-24Wis.Stats.,publishedandcertifiedunders.35.18 onApril3,2026,includinginparticular§§6.02,6.10,6.18,6.27,6.36,6.50,6.55,6.79,6.86,6.87.
H PublicLinkedInprofileofRyanSendelbach(linkedin.com/in/ryan-sendelbach-37850195/)(three pages),establishingidentity,currentresidenceinCrossPlains,Wisconsin,andcurrentemploymentas AssistantGeneralCounselattheLeagueofWisconsinMunicipalities,Madison,Wisconsin. MyVote.wi.govwasusedtohelpconfirmthedoubleACTIVEregistrations.Thanksgoestothe thesixCommissionersfornotputtingonausernameorpassword-noranyothertypeof securitywhatsoever-sovoterfraudlikethiscanberootedout.PeterBernegger