Use of most ballot drop boxes banned by Wisconsin Supreme Court


In a 4-3 ruling on Friday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court voted to prohibit most absentee voter ballot drop boxes in the state, "handing a victory to conservatives who sought to roll back the option" following the 2020 election, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The court's conservative majority ruled that state law requires an absentee ballot be either returned by mail, or delivered to the local election office by the voter him or herself. The ruling did not mention whether someone voting absentee by mail must put their own ballot in the mailbox.
The decision comes as a pre-election blow to Democrats, as well as voting rights groups and disability advocates, Axios and NPR note. Democrats and party allies believe drop boxes and third-party collection efforts (something critics often call "ballot harvesting") make voting easier and help those who struggle with the system, while Republicans are concerned such practices lead to possible fraud, the Journal notes.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In dissent, Wisconsin Justice Ann Walsh Bradley wrote Friday that although the majority's opinion "pays lip service to the import of the right to vote," it has "the practical effect of making it more difficult to exercise it."
The new requirements arrive just over a month out from the state's Aug. 9 primary, where state Gov. Tony Evers (D) and Sen. Ron Johnson (R) are both seeking re-election.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
5 editorial cartoons about ICE raids
Cartoons Political cartoonists take on ICE raids, harvesting Big Macs for Donald Trump, and what to do when Stephen Miller shows up at the front door
-
Grilled radicchio with caper and anchovy sauce recipe
The Week Recommends Smoky twist on classic Italian flavours is perfect to grill, drizzle and devour
-
What we know about Iran's nuclear programme
In the Spotlight The global nuclear watchdog has declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in 20 years
-
Israel strikes Iran, killing military and nuclear chiefs
Speed Read Israeli officials said the attack was a 'preemptive' strike on Iran's nuclear program
-
Israel deports Thunberg after seizing Gaza aid boat
speed read The Swedish activist was delivering food and medical aid to Palestine, highlighting the growing humanitarian crisis there
-
Colombian senator shot on streets of Bogotá
speed read Miguel Uribe Turbay, who has announced his candidacy for next year's presidential election, was shot at a rally
-
Trump says Putin vowed retaliation for Kyiv strike
speed read The Russian president intends to respond to Ukraine's weekend drone strikes on Moscow's warplanes
-
Dutch government falls over immigration policy
speed read The government collapsed after anti-immigration politician Geert Wilders quit the right-wing coalition
-
South Korea elects liberal Lee as president
speed read Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, was elected president following months of political instability in the wake of Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment
-
Nationalist wins tight Polish presidential election
speed read Karol Nawrocki beat Rafal Trzaskowski in Poland's presidential runoff election
-
Ukraine hits Russia's bomber fleet in stealth drone attack
speed read The operation, which destroyed dozens of warplanes, is the 'biggest blow of the war against Moscow's long-range bomber fleet'