More municipalities ban ballot drop boxes in Milwaukee, Dodge County

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- More communities in southeast Wisconsin will not allow voters to use ballot drop boxes during the November election.

It's becoming a growing trend after a state Supreme Court decision legalized unmanned drop boxes again in the battleground state.

A handful of clerks in recent weeks have decided not to use drop boxes, which is now creating a patchwork across the state.

In Milwaukee County, six municipalities have opted out and more could act in the coming days, according to the Milwaukee County Election Commission.

Clerks in Bayside, Fox Point, Hales Corners, Glendale, River Hills and St. Francis have banned voters from using drop boxes.

Michelle Hawley, director of the Milwaukee County Election Commission, said voters will be notified in the coming days about these changes.

In Waukesha County, Brookfield and New Berlin acted last month to reject drop boxes for the November election.

The decision to utilize them rests on the shoulders of city clerks, but the Dodge County sheriff admitted he played a role in convincing clerks to opt out.

Last month, Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt emailed three clerks in his county who were considering using drop boxes for the November election. Then, they ultimately changed their minds after Schmidt urged them not to, citing security concerns.

"I posed questions to our clerks, who were considering it, and asked them, do you have cameras in place? Do you have adequate recordings (of drop boxes)?" he said. "Our clerks in Dodge County unanimously made the decision they can't do that."

Placing security cameras outside drop boxes can be expensive and many smaller communities don't want to foot the bill.

The bipartisan elections commission did approve a list of best practices on how to secure drop boxes in wake of the state Supreme Court overturning a previous conservative ruling that effectively barred the use of absentee ballot drop boxes in the state.

Schmidt joins many Republicans who have scrutinized drop boxes in large part due to former President Donald Trump's unfounded claims of widespread fraud in 2020. Multiple reviews, court rulings and recounts have upheld President Joe Biden's victory over Trump.

Democrats have long argued drop boxes are safe, and a secure way for people to cast a ballot.

"I think it's really unfortunate there's now conspiracy theories being pushed out that are leading counties to actually pull back on drop boxes," said Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

"It really undermines the basic idea of our democracy, which is that everyone should be able to exercise their voice."

Schimdt said his biggest concern is ensuring each voter returns their absentee ballot, instead of someone else.

Justices on the state's high court ruled in July that voters can only return their ballot by mail, at the local clerk's office, or via drop box.

In 2020, 66 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties used ballot drop boxes, according to state election officials, and 39 states did as well.