A Racine County jury has convicted Wisconsin election integrity activist Harry Wait on one felony identity theft charge and two misdemeanor election fraud counts after he exposed what critics describe as a major vulnerability in Wisconsin’s absentee ballot request system.

According to a newly circulated informational flyer produced by H.O.T. Government, Wait used only publicly available information — including names, addresses, and birthdates — to request absentee ballots in the names of Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Racine Mayor Cory Mason in July 2022. The purpose, Wait argued, was to demonstrate how easily someone could exploit weaknesses in the Wisconsin Elections Commission’s online absentee ballot system.

The flyer states that Wait voluntarily disclosed his actions to both officials the following morning and surrendered one ballot directly to the Racine County Sheriff’s Office, while the second ballot was intercepted by a clerk before delivery.

Prosecutors maintained that Wait knowingly violated Wisconsin law regardless of his intentions. The prosecution successfully argued that the “personal satisfaction” Wait gained from proving the vulnerability constituted a legal “benefit” under Wisconsin’s identity theft statute.

Supporters of Wait view the case differently. They argue the trial sends a chilling message to whistleblowers who attempt to expose weaknesses in government systems. The flyer claims the Wisconsin Elections Commission had long been aware of the vulnerability and failed to correct it before or after Wait’s demonstration.

The case has reignited debate across Wisconsin over election security, government accountability, and whether exposing a system flaw in the public interest should be treated as criminal conduct. Wait’s sentencing remains pending.