The Wisconsin Supreme Court listened to arguments on Monday regarding the use of ballot drop boxes in the state. The court, now with a liberal majority, seemed inclined to overturn a previous ruling that prohibited the placement of drop boxes outside of county clerk’s offices. The issue of ballot drop boxes became contentious during the 2020 election in Wisconsin, with Democratic Justice Jill Karofsky questioning the previous decision and urging the court to correct any mistakes.
Ballot drop boxes have been in use in Wisconsin since the 1980s and 1990s, but saw increased popularity in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the recent arguments, the liberal justices on the court raised concerns about the 2022 decision to ban the drop boxes, while conservative justices questioned the relevance of legislative support for the boxes.
Despite disagreements among the justices, there seemed to be a consensus among the court to overturn the 2022 ruling and allow the use of ballot drop boxes. This decision is expected before the 2024 general election, where Wisconsin will once again play a crucial role as a swing state. In the 2020 election, Joe Biden won Wisconsin by a narrow margin, highlighting the importance of voting practices in the state.
