Patrick Marley

Madison, Wis.

National reporter focusing on voting issues in the Upper Midwest

Education: University of Iowa, BA in English; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, MS in Journalism

Patrick Marley writes about voting issues in the Upper Midwest for The Washington Post. He previously covered the Wisconsin Capitol for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Latest from Patrick Marley

How Trump may try to challenge the election results if he loses again

If Harris wins, election officials and experts worry Trump and his supporters will not peacefully accept that outcome.

October 14, 2024

Who’s who in Jack Smith’s massive Trump election interference filing

The special counsel’s filing that argues Trump isn’t immune from prosecution offered many details about his allies and advisers.

October 4, 2024
Stephen K. Bannon told a private gathering that “what Trump’s going to do is just declare victory,” which the president then did.

Vance refuses to say Trump lost in 2020, sparking debate’s biggest clash

Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz called Sen. JD Vance’s non-answer “damning” as the pair sparred over Jan. 6 and Trump’s refusal to concede defeat

October 1, 2024

Number of Arizona voters missing citizenship proof doubles

Officials say about 218,000 of the state’s 4.1 million voters were improperly recorded as having provided proof of citizenship, as required to vote in state and local elections.

September 30, 2024
A sign directs voters to a polling station at the South Phoenix Moose Lodge on Oct. 12, 2022, the first day of early voting that year.

On private call, Arizona’s top Democrats debated a ‘dire’ ballot dilemma

The three state officials learned a computer glitch meant 98,000 voters had not provided proof of citizenship. In a candid phone call, they debated what to do.

September 28, 2024
From left, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes  (Joshua Lott/The Washington Post; Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post; Go Nakamura/Reuters)

Justice Dept. sues Alabama over program aimed at removing voters

Federal prosecutors said Alabama’s efforts to strike more than 3,200 people from voting rolls was done too close to November’s election.

September 27, 2024

Investigation launched into Wisconsin mayor who removed ballot drop box

The Wausau mayor had unspecified concerns about his city’s drop box, so he put on a hard hat and moved the box to his office using a handcart.

September 25, 2024
Mayor Doug Diny at Wausau City Hall in Wausau, Wis., on June 6.

GOP asks court to change voting rules in one state, with impact for all

The case in Mississippi is one example of a nationwide effort by Republicans to invalidate mail ballots over issues unrelated to whether they were cast by a legitimate voter.

September 24, 2024
Gary Wilson, right, a poll worker in a Rankin County precinct, hands an “I Voted” sticker to a person who filled out a ballot Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

GOP effort to change how Nebraska allocates electoral votes hits roadblock

A key state lawmaker announced Monday he doesn’t support changing Nebraska to a winner-take-all system, a move that could benefit former president Donald Trump.

September 23, 2024
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) had said he could call a special legislative session if there is enough support to change how the state allocates its electoral votes.

Arizona’s top court says voters missing citizenship proof can receive full ballots

Nearly 100,000 voters will receive regular ballots this fall even though there is no record that they submitted citizenship documentation, as is required to vote in state and local elections.

September 20, 2024
A voter walks to a voting precinct before casting his ballot in the state's primary election on July 30 in El Mirage, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)