Wisconsin Attorney General Joins Legal Battle Over Absentee Ballot Drop Boxes

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has entered the legal battle over the use of absentee ballot drop boxes in the state, filing a brief with the state Supreme Court arguing that state law does not prohibit their use. The ongoing lawsuit, brought by Priorities USA, challenges the ban on drop boxes that was put in place by the state Supreme Court in 2021.

Democratic Governor Tony Evers has also joined the lawsuit, advocating for the use of drop boxes in Wisconsin elections. The ban on drop boxes was implemented due to a challenge by Waukesha County voters, with the Court ruling that they were illegal because they were not staffed by municipal clerks or their employees.

Kaul’s brief argues that Wisconsin law allows for the use of drop boxes and that municipal clerks should have the discretion to decide whether to offer this convenient method of voting in their communities. The Court is scheduled to hold oral arguments in the case next month.

The brief highlights the decentralized nature of Wisconsin’s election system, giving significant control to municipal clerks to choose the tools they need to run their local elections effectively. Kaul emphasizes the importance of ensuring that voting is safe, secure, and accessible, and believes that drop boxes play a crucial role in achieving this goal.

The outcome of this legal battle could have significant implications for future elections in Wisconsin, as the use of drop boxes has been a contentious issue in recent years. Stay tuned for updates as the case progresses through the state Supreme Court.