MADISON, WI (WSAU) – A ruling Friday from the Wisconsin Supreme Court says absentee ballot drop boxes are not allowed under state election law.
The ruling holds that the Wisconsin Elections Commission lacks the authority to approve drop boxes. “Only the legislature may permit absentee voting via ballot drop boxes,” Justice Rebecca Bradley wrote for the 4-3 majority. The ruling take effect immediately, including for the August 9th primaries.
In all future elections in Wisconsin, absentee ballots will have to be mailed or delivered in-person to clerks’ offices.
Drop boxes were used extensively in the fall 2020 elections when there were concerns about COVID-19. The drop boxes were not allowed in the spring 2022 elections under a temporary order, which now becomes permanent.
The drop boxes were challenged by the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, who sued on behalf of two Milwaukee residents.
Many conservative groups had claimed that drop boxes compromised election integrity, because unauthorized ballots could be put into the system without being verified. Supporters said the drop boxes made it easier to vote.
The court’s ruling did not cover whether mailed absentee ballots could be handled by someone other than the actual voter.
