Recently, a judge out in Waukesha County issued a ruling that stated that ballot drop boxes are no longer allowed to be used within the state of Wisconsin, going on to state that the Wisconsin Elections Commission has “no authority” to bypass and allow these drop boxes.
“It’s all good and nice, but there’s no authority to do it,” stated Michael Bohren, the Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge in question.
Judge Bohren issued this ruling in the wake of a lawsuit filed by a group of voters that were represented by the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL), reported The Federalist on Monday.
Most Notably, Bohren’s decision also has the effect of blocking outsiders from returning a voter’s absentee ballot for them. “That means political groups can’t pick up ballots for voters — a practice that has not been widely used in Wisconsin,” stated the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
As part of a press release, WILL stated that Judge Bohren’s ruling bans ballot harvesting.
The plaintiffs “argued that state law allowed for only two methods of returning an absentee ballot: Through the mail or in person at the municipal clerk’s office. Nowhere does it allow for a ballot to be dropped off in a drop box,” explained The Federalist. Also, Wisconsin law makes it quite clear that no person “may receive a ballot from or give a ballot to a person other than the election official in charge.”
Just before the 2020 elections, the Wisconsin Elections Commission stated in a memo to all clerks that “a family member or another person may also return the ballot on behalf of the voter’ and that ballots could be returned in drop boxes instead of in person at the clerk’s office,” reported The Federalist. Almost 500 voter drop boxes were established across the states and proceeded to collect tens of thousands of absentee ballots prior to the closing of the 2020 general election.
“The guidance from the Wisconsin Elections Commission on absentee ballot drop boxes was unlawful. There are just two legal methods to cast an absentee ballot in Wisconsin: through the mail or in-person at a clerk’s office,” claimed Luke Berg, the Deputy Counsel for WILL. “And voters must return their own ballots. We are pleased the court made this clear, providing Wisconsin voters with certainty for forthcoming elections.”
Earlier this month, Old Uncle Joe gave a highly controversial speech that outlines the Democrats’ plan to rebuild the nation’s election laws by strongarming through the so-called “Freedom To Vote Act.”
The ensuing backlash caused Biden to liken his opponents of the radical coting legislation to outright racists.
“So I ask every elected official in America: how do you want to be remembered? …Do you want to be the side of Dr. King or George Wallace?… Do you want to be the side of Abraham Lincoln or Jefferson Davis? This is the moment to decide…,” claimed Biden.
Judge Bohren stated a finalized injunction was still to come “ordering the state Elections Commission to withdraw long-standing advice to municipal clerks around the state that says they can use absentee ballot drop boxes,” as reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The judge’s ruling is expected to be appealed.
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