Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Michael Bohren issued a summary judgment decision earlier this month on January 13th banning ballot drop boxes in the state.
Judge Bohren also ruled ballot harvesting was illegal in the state.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) issued memos to Wisconsin clerks in March and August of 2020 encouraging their use, stating that absentee ballots do not need to be mailed by the voter or delivered by the voter, in person, to the municipal clerk, but instead could be dropped into a drop box. According to WEC, ballot drop boxes can be unstaffed, temporary, or permanent.
This advice was contrary to state law.
Joe Biden won the state after a stunning drop of Biden only ballots in the middle of the night following the election.
BREAKING: Judge rules WEC broke the law,that absentee ballot drop boxes and ballot harvesting are not permitted in state law. Waukesha Co judge also found WEC’s guidance documents on drop boxes should have gone through legislative rules process #wiright #wipolitics @WILawLiberty
— Empower Wisconsin (@EmpowerWi) January 13, 2022
NEW: Waukesha Judge Rules Absentee Ballot Drop Boxes, Ballot Harvesting Illegal Under State Law
Details –> https://t.co/7hYvQvoTMy pic.twitter.com/RUBdbuVuql
— WILL (@WILawLiberty) January 13, 2022
On Monday a state appeals court stayed Judge Bohren’s restrictions on the use of absentee ballot drop boxes.
FOX6 reported —
A state appeals court stayed a judge’s restrictions on the use of absentee ballot drop boxes Monday, finding that curtailing their locations with the spring primary only weeks away could confuse and disenfranchise voters.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission issued guidance to clerks in March 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic was taking hold that they could place drop boxes wherever they wish in an effort to avoid spreading infection in long lines at the polls. A number of Wisconsin municipalities placed them in multiple locations during the 2020 presidential election, including city parks.
Earlier today the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) planned an emergency session this evening. But following the court ruling and President Trump’s tweet on the attempts to reestablish dropboxes in the state the WEC canceled their meeting tonight.