Friday, May 31, 2024

In The News - May 2024



Republicans’ About Face On Ballot Drop Boxes Is Particularly Cartoonish In Wisconsin
May 23, 2024 - Khaya Himmelman, Talking Points Memo

Liberal, conservative groups weigh in as DOJ considers formal opinion on election workers
May 23, 2024 - Anya Van Wagtendonk, WPR, WI Public Radio

Swing State of the Union: Episode 4: Who gets to vote?
May 22, 2024 - Sam Woods, Joy Powers, WUWM 89.7 FM Milwaukee

Interview with Jay Heck on Wisconsin voters and drop boxes (begins 22:00)
May 19, 2024 - Mark Thomsen, The Paul Revere Show, Civic Media

Jay Heck on ballot drop boxes and Wisconsin voters in 2024
May 17, 2024 - Frederica Freyburg, Wisconsin Public Television, Here and Now

Wisconsin Republicans change their tune on ballot drop boxes ahead of state Supreme Court ruling
May 15, 2024 - Adam Edelman, NBC News

Wisconsin Republicans tell voters not to fear Supreme Court decision expected to overturn voting law
May 15, 2024 - Annabella Rosciglione, Washington Examiner

State supreme Court Hears Arguments on Use of Drop Boxes to Collect Absentee Ballots
May 14, 2024 - Greg Stensland, Between the Lines, WFDL fm radio

Wisconsin Supreme Court hears whether to allow absentee ballot drop boxes in the state again
May 13, 2024 - Chuck Quirmbach, WUWM 89.7 FM Milwaukee

Wisconsin Supreme Court to revisit ruling that banned most ballot drop boxes
May 12, 2024 - Adam Edelman, NBC News

Wisconsin advocacy group calls for campaign finance reform to curb cost of Supreme Court races
May 3, 2024 - Raymond Neupert, Wisconsin Radio Network

Read More...


Thursday, May 9, 2024

Common Cause Wisconsin Signs on to Lawsuit to Restore Secure Voter Drop Boxes in Wisconsin

For release: Thursday - May 9, 2024


Image: Ballot Drop Box (photo credit: WKOW 27)


Oral Arguments Before Wisconsin Supreme Court on May 13th in Case to Allow Voters to More Readily Be Able to Return Absentee Ballots

Common Cause Wisconsin (CC/WI), one of the state’s largest nonpartisan political reform advocacy organizations with more than 8,800 members and activists in every county and corner in Wisconsin, signed on to an amicus brief submitted in a lawsuit before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The suit seeks to overturn a 2022 decision to prohibit the use of secure voter drop boxes throughout Wisconsin. Voters used drop boxes safely and securely across the state from before the elections in 2016 until 2022 to return absentee ballots in time to be counted in elections.

In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of drop boxes was expanded to 570 located in 66 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. The expanded number of drop boxes, authorized by the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC), offered voters a more convenient and safe way to ensure that their absentee ballots could be returned in time to be counted, in part because of the uncertainty of delivery of ballots in time by the U.S. Postal Service.

But in 2022, conservatives attacked the use of secure drop boxes claiming that the WEC authorization of their use was not sufficient. On July 8, 2022 the Wisconsin Supreme Court created new barriers to voting, including prohibiting the utilization of the voter drop boxes throughout our state in their narrow ruling in Teigen v. Wisconsin Election Commission. Secure voter drop boxes were not in use in Wisconsin during the November 2022 midterm elections, during 2023 and thus far in 2024.

CC/WI strongly opposed that misguided decision nearly two years ago and we welcome the opportunity to help overturn it now.

Fortunately, the Teigen v. W.E.C. decision was challenged last year and the Wisconsin Supreme Court will now reconsider their 2022 decision by agreeing to hear the case, Priorities USA v. Wisconsin Elections Commission.

In 29 states voter drop boxes are required or broadly accessible including in our neighboring states of Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois. Voter drop boxes are also utilized, albeit with some limitations in Iowa, Indiana and in Ohio. But currently in Wisconsin they are prohibited – the only “purple” or non-deep red state in the nation that completely bans them.

CC/WI is grateful to Zachary Goldstein and Mark Cherry of the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP for drafting the brief and incorporating the suggestions and concerns of Common Cause regarding this significant voting rights issue.

The highest court in our state should not create barriers to voting or restrict access to casting a ballot, including returning an absentee ballot through a secure drop box. We are hopeful that the Wisconsin Supreme Court will restore secure voter drop boxes for voters to be able to more readily participate in the democratic process in the pivotal 2024 election and beyond in Wisconsin.

--------------------------


Jay Heck
608/512-9363 (cell)

Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 Johnson St, Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
www.commoncausewisconsin.org

Read More...