Posted on Jul 9, 2022
The Wisconsin Supreme Court says ballot drop boxes aren't allowed in the state
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https://www.npr.org/2022/07/08/ [login to see] /wisconsin-supreme-court-ballot-drop-boxes-disability-assistance
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that most ballot drop boxes aren't allowed in the state and that a voter can't have someone else return — in person — their completed absentee ballot on their behalf.
The high court's ruling Friday, which comes one month before the swing state's primary elections, is a loss for voting rights groups and disability advocates.
The decision is the latest in a legal battle that began in January, after a Waukesha County judge sided with a conservative legal group in a lawsuit, declaring state law doesn't allow for unstaffed ballot drop boxes and requires that voters physically return their own absentee ballots.
Although an appeals court temporarily blocked the order for contests in February, the ban was in effect for local elections in April.
"The key phrase is 'in person' and it must be assigned its natural meaning," wrote Justice Rebecca Bradley for the conservative majority, referring to the state statute governing ballot returns. "'In person' denotes 'bodily presence' and the concept of doing something personally."
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that most ballot drop boxes aren't allowed in the state and that a voter can't have someone else return — in person — their completed absentee ballot on their behalf.
The high court's ruling Friday, which comes one month before the swing state's primary elections, is a loss for voting rights groups and disability advocates.
The decision is the latest in a legal battle that began in January, after a Waukesha County judge sided with a conservative legal group in a lawsuit, declaring state law doesn't allow for unstaffed ballot drop boxes and requires that voters physically return their own absentee ballots.
Although an appeals court temporarily blocked the order for contests in February, the ban was in effect for local elections in April.
"The key phrase is 'in person' and it must be assigned its natural meaning," wrote Justice Rebecca Bradley for the conservative majority, referring to the state statute governing ballot returns. "'In person' denotes 'bodily presence' and the concept of doing something personally."
The Wisconsin Supreme Court says ballot drop boxes aren't allowed in the state
Posted from npr.org
Voting
Elections
Posted 2 y ago
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