Earlier this summer, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that local municipalities across the state can use drop boxes to collect absentee ballots. That decision overturned the 2022 ruling barring the drop boxes. This is a major win for voters with disabilities across Wisconsin. “Many voters, including those with disabilities, face barriers when casting their ballot,” says Council Executive Director Denise Jess. “Having absentee ballot drop boxes available reduces some of these potential obstacles.”
Absentee ballot drop boxes are a great way to securely cast a ballot for anyone unable to make it to their polling place on Election Day. For example, voters who work overnight can easily cast their vote before or after work. For voters with disabilities, it provides a wider window to secure transportation to drop off their ballot. While you can also mail your absentee ballot to your local election clerk, some areas of Wisconsin may not have reliably fast mail service. Furthermore, if you choose to mail back your ballot, you must make sure you mail it early enough to arrive at your local clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day in order for it to be counted.
Absentee ballot drop boxes are exactly what they sound like. They are large, heavy, metal boxes that are bolted into the ground to make sure they cannot be easily removed. Most are placed in safe, well-lit areas around town, and are clearly visible and often monitored by security cameras. To submit your vote through a drop box, first fill out your absentee ballot as you normally would. Remember to fill out both your address and your voter witness’ address on the envelope, and make sure that both you and the witness sign the ballot envelope. Absentee ballots without all the proper information may be tossed. Once you have properly filled out your ballot and envelope, simply go to the nearest drop box and place it in the slot. Only the voter or someone helping a voter with disabilities is allowed to place the ballot into the drop box. Voters with disabilities do have the right to have an assistant who can help with reading, filling out and delivering their ballot. An assistant can be anyone of the voter’s choosing except for their employer or union representative.
While many municipalities have absentee ballot drop boxes, they may not all be ready to use for the Primary Election on August 13. Even if you know that a drop box is in your neighborhood, you should contact your local election clerk and ask if they are being used in this election. Your clerk can also help you make sure your absentee ballot is filled out correctly, tell you the location of drop boxes in your community, and inform you of all your options for returning your ballot.
You can find more information about drop boxes and about the State Supreme Court ruling in this excellent article from Wisconsin Watch.
