MADISON, Wis. — An absentee ballot drop box previously removed by the mayor of Wausau has been reinstated as of Monday.
The Wausau city clerk confirmed that the drop box is now accessible outside city hall, allowing residents to submit absentee ballots, payments, and other essential requests as intended.
Mayor Doug Diny initially removed the drop box on September 22 without consulting the clerk, who holds the authority to implement such a resource according to a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling that legalized drop boxes, although their use is not mandated statewide.
This incident highlights the ongoing debate in Wisconsin regarding the use of absentee ballot drop boxes in various communities. Although the state Supreme Court ruled in July that drop boxes are legal, the decision to utilize them remains with local governments.
Currently, over 60 towns, villages, and cities in nine counties have opted out of using drop boxes for the upcoming presidential election. Conversely, heavily Democratic areas like Milwaukee and Madison continue to support their use.
Mayor Diny has expressed a desire for the full Wausau city council to discuss the drop box’s use. Absentee ballots were mailed to voters starting September 19 in preparation for the November 5 election.
Wausau clerk Kaitlyn Bernarde stated that the drop box has now been secured to the ground following recommendations from the Wisconsin Elections Commission and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, a precaution not taken when the mayor removed it.
Following the mayor’s actions, the Marathon County district attorney has requested an investigation from the state Department of Justice. It was confirmed by both the mayor and the city clerk that the drop box was locked and empty at the time of removal.
The mayor, who shared a photo of himself transporting the drop box, maintains that his actions were justified.
The use of drop boxes surged during the 2020 election, driven by a notable increase in absentee voting amid the COVID-19 pandemic. At least 500 drop boxes were established in over 430 Wisconsin communities during that election, including multiple locations in Madison and Milwaukee. Additionally, drop boxes were utilized in 39 other states for the 2022 election, as reported by the Stanford-MIT Healthy Elections Project.
