In an extremely disappointing turn of events, a circuit court judge in Wisconsin ruled that bans on ballot drop boxes will still be in effect for primary elections in February. On Friday, Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren ruled to keep absentee ballot drop boxes from voters, in spite of the fact that changing rules one month before an election is inevitably going to confuse folks, as reported by Wisconsin Public Radio. We know Wisconsin, in particular, saw a significant turnout from absentee voters in the last election.
Even still, Bohren stuck to the ruling he’d made previously, which was that the Elections Commissions had exceeded its authority in issuing guidance to clerks on how to use the ballot drop boxes. Most recently, Boren was asked to hold off the ruling via an injunction until after the Feb. 15 primary—again, with the goal of not confusing voters—but he declined. In short: This is a terrible setback no matter your political views—provided you believe everyone should have the right to participate in a free and fair election process, that is.
"I'm satisfied that the law is clear,” Bohren said part. “And that the communities, the public, deserve to have the election in February, guided and administered by their elected representatives and not administered and not called out by the individuals on the Elections Commission.”
But…. Republicans have been absolutely hellbent on making it harder for people to vote, even and perhaps especially during the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic. Ballot drop boxes make sense in general and especially during a public health crisis; they’re reliable, convenient, and proven to work well. Disabled people, parents, workers with non-traditional hours, people with chronic illnesses…. The list of who might find a drop-off box useful feels endless. It’s about equality, access, and safety.
Scott Thompson, an attorney for Law Forward, appealed to Bohren along similar lines. Thompson argued that there are people in Wisconsin who “believe they cannot vote.” He also stressed that absentee ballots have already been sent out, so in a sense, it’s not just changing rules before an actual—it might be changing rules “in the midst of an election.”
Thompson also pointed out that changing rules close to an election is discouraged by even the U.S. Supreme Court, looking back to a 2006 ruling in Purcell v. Gonzalez. Unfortunately, as reported by Courthouse News Service, Bohren ultimately said he didn’t see it “having the dramatic impact” Thompson described, and said he was “satisfied” the case addresses federal court interference with procedures for state elections.
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Even still, Bohren stuck to the ruling he’d made previously, which was that the Elections Commissions had exceeded its authority in issuing guidance to clerks on how to use the ballot drop boxes. Most recently, Boren was asked to hold off the ruling via an injunction until after the Feb. 15 primary—again, with the goal of not confusing voters—but he declined. In short: This is a terrible setback no matter your political views—provided you believe everyone should have the right to participate in a free and fair election process, that is.
"I'm satisfied that the law is clear,” Bohren said part. “And that the communities, the public, deserve to have the election in February, guided and administered by their elected representatives and not administered and not called out by the individuals on the Elections Commission.”
But…. Republicans have been absolutely hellbent on making it harder for people to vote, even and perhaps especially during the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic. Ballot drop boxes make sense in general and especially during a public health crisis; they’re reliable, convenient, and proven to work well. Disabled people, parents, workers with non-traditional hours, people with chronic illnesses…. The list of who might find a drop-off box useful feels endless. It’s about equality, access, and safety.
Scott Thompson, an attorney for Law Forward, appealed to Bohren along similar lines. Thompson argued that there are people in Wisconsin who “believe they cannot vote.” He also stressed that absentee ballots have already been sent out, so in a sense, it’s not just changing rules before an actual—it might be changing rules “in the midst of an election.”
Thompson also pointed out that changing rules close to an election is discouraged by even the U.S. Supreme Court, looking back to a 2006 ruling in Purcell v. Gonzalez. Unfortunately, as reported by Courthouse News Service, Bohren ultimately said he didn’t see it “having the dramatic impact” Thompson described, and said he was “satisfied” the case addresses federal court interference with procedures for state elections.
Sign the petition and tell the 48 Democratic U.S. senators who voted to reform the Senate filibuster so that it could no longer block voting rights legislation: ‘Thank you!’