PondShots / Depositphotos.com
(Update: Sheboygan City Clerk Meredith DeBruin Confirmed, following initial publication of this story, that the City plans to reinstall the drop box at the Mead Public Library)
The recent decision by the Wisconsin Supreme Court allowing the use of absentee ballot drop-boxes during elections could mean the return of that option in Sheboygan County, although it’s unlikely to be widespread. Legal wrangling over their use had been ongoing since limitations were placed on them in 2022, and came to a head on July 5th when a 4-3 majority of the Justices ruled that they could be utilized to gather absentee ballots in any location, and not just at a municipal clerk’s office.
Use of drop boxes is entirely up to the municipal Clerk. Sheboygan County Clerk Jon Dolson told WHBL news that when their use was allowed during the pandemic, there was “no great movement” in adding and installing the boxes by the towns and villages, since many already used them to collect bills and fines, although a few did use federal dollars to purchase one. He said the most noticeable box was the large, white drop-box the City of Sheboygan had installed in the library book drop-off lane at Mead Public Library, and that was removed once the initial decision was reversed. Although we approached her and didn’t hear back initially, Dolson speculated that Sheboygan City Clerk Meredith DeBruin would not hesitate to return the drop box to that location. De Bruin later confirmed that intention through a response to our inquiry. Dolson also noted that with many small municipalities using part-time staff, existing drop-offs could be used once again out of convenience.
As for “stuffing” drop-boxes, Dolson said he didn’t see that as a problem, given that a voter is registered with their municipality just once, and their name appears in the poll book just once. Anybody submitting even 100 ballots would be counted only once, and then likely get a call from the District Attorney’s office. He also noted that Wisconsin neither sends absent ballots to the entire electorate, as some states do, nor does it allow “ballot harvesting”.
Should the drop boxes be returned, their first use would be collecting absentee ballots prior to the August 13th Fall Primary.
Comments