Wisconsin election officials will announce guidelines Thursday for absentee-ballot drop boxes — a decision of huge importance since President Biden won the state by barely more than 20,000 votes in 2020.
After former President Donald Trump’s allegations of election interference in the state, the then-conservative Supreme Court of Wisconsin banned absentee-ballot drop boxes in 2022.
But last week the Supreme Court reinstated ballot drop boxes, overturning Teigen v. Wisconsin Election Commission, with the majority stating, “It is not up to this court to ‘regulate’ absentee voting.”
The court was able to overturn the decision thanks to the 2023 appointment of Janet Protasiewicz to the court, which handed liberal justices the majority.
Dissenting Justice Rebecca Bradley argued that overturning the drop-box ban was politically motivated: “Nothing relevant has changed since this court decided Teigen two years ago. There have been no changes in the facts or law to warrant overruling the decision.”
In a harsh jab at the liberal majority, Bradley added, “The majority disagrees with the decision as a matter of policy and politics, not law. The members of the majority believe using drop boxes is good policy, and one they hope will aid their preferred political party.”
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers applauded the ruling, stating, “This is a victory for our democracy, and we’re going to keep fighting to ensure that every eligible voter can cast their ballot safely, securely, and as easily as possible to make sure their voices are heard.”
It came just days after another controversial court decision in Wisconsin, with a liberal judge ruling that disabled voters can fill out electronic ballots.
Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump gathered the GOP faithful Monday for a Protect The Vote Rally in Waukesha, Wis. Attendees received handouts detailing how to spot voter fraud.
“We want people in place. We want poll watchers, we want poll workers, we want legal experts on the ground so we’re not waiting days, weeks or months later to address the problem. We address them in the moment,” the former president’s daughter-in law-said.
When asked if she wanted people to monitor mailboxes, Trump replied, “I think that’s a little bit too far.”
On Thursday, commissioners will determine how the state will reinstate ballot drop boxes throughout the state.