***JOINT STATEMENT FROM WISCONSIN VOTING RIGHTS GROUPS***
Wisconsin Organizations Applaud WI Supreme Court Decision to Reinstate Drop Boxes
MADISON – We, the undersigned organizations, celebrate the Wisconsin State Supreme Court's Decision to reinstate drop boxes which are essential to Wisconsin voters.
As organizations representing Wisconsinites across the state, we know that voting rights and voter accessibility are the cornerstones of our democracy. Voting is a fundamental right that must be guaranteed; therefore, it must be accessible.
No matter who we are, where we work, or where we live we all deserve to have a say in who represents our communities. Drop boxes are a safe, secure way for voters to return their absentee ballots.
Whatever our color, origin or zip code, our vote is our power. Being a voter by mail or dropbox is a safe and easy way for us to exercise that power. This year, we can turn our outrage and energy into change by electing new leaders who reject the politics of division and who will govern for every one of us, whether we’re young or old, Black or white, native or newcomer.
We believe in Wisconsin, and as voters, we will make the future together.
Drop boxes proved indispensable during the 2020 election when the COVID-19 pandemic incented a historic number of Wisconsin voters to cast absentee ballots. Ballot drop boxes ensure that more Wisconsin voters can participate in democracy.
Drop boxes are especially useful for healthcare professionals, senior citizens, students, folks with disabilities, and those in rural communities to cast their ballots. It is also a convenient option for voters who missed the USPS deadline to mail back their ballots.
“This is a voting rights win for our community. We thank the Wisconsin Supreme Court for ruling on the side of voters. Allowing ballot drop boxes to return to our state creates a healthier democracy for us all. Let’s show up in large numbers this Fall; our vote is our power,” said Revered Greg Lewis, executive director of Souls to the Polls WI.
“We can hear voters across Wisconsin rejoicing because drop boxes are back. Wisconsinites deserve tried and true options to cast their ballot. Today’s decision gives the power back to the people by restoring one of those options to our elections in Wisconsin. Expanding access to our democracy is a victory for every Wisconsin voter,” said Nick Ramos, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
“Drop boxes provide voters who otherwise could not access an early voting location, their clerk's office or election day polling places as a safe and secure way to ensure their ballot will be counted and their voice will be heard,” said Debra Cronmiller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin.
"Secure ballot drop boxes provided voters all over Wisconsin with a sensible, reassuring way to return their absentee ballots in time to have them counted and have their voices heard. Then, in a misguided, partisan maneuver to suppress thousands of votes they were inexplicably and outrageously prohibited making Wisconsin the only purple state in the country without drop boxes. Today, common sense and justice prevailed and this return to sanity is welcomed and should be cheered," said Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause Wisconsin, which signed an amicus brief for this case decided by the Wisconsin Supreme Court today.
“Drop boxes are essential for rural voters who have to drive far and wide to vote on election day, voters in large cities who have limited ballot return options, and voters who work long hours or have caregiving responsibilities that make it difficult to return a ballot to a single clerk’s office during shortened hours in the middle of the workday,” said Deputy Advocacy Director James Stein, of the ACLU of Wisconsin.
“We know that we can build a WI that works for all of us, no matter the color of our skin, how much money we have, and whether we see a corn field or a skyscraper out of our window, when we come together, get organized and vote. Drop boxes are one way that we can safely cast our ballots and be heard in the halls of power. We applaud the Supreme Court of WI for their decision,” said Jenelle Ludwig Krause, Executive Director of GROWW.
“Wisconsin voters won big today with the decision to reinstate drop boxes across the Badger State. Drop boxes are an incredibly popular form of voting that offer greater access to the elections for those who may not be able to wait in line at the polls, particularly those with disabilities. Wisconsin voters should have more options, and drop boxes are a secure and easy way to increase civic participation and ensure voters have another safe, secure, and accessible way to cast their ballot,” said Sam Liebert, Wisconsin State Director of All Voting is Local Action.
“Wisconsin Voices and our partners celebrate the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s ruling on bringing back secure ballot boxes This decision restores an option for voters that ensures that their vote will be counted and that their voices are heard. It will also restore access for disabled voters who may be physically unable to vote and need someone to place their ballot into a drop box on a voter’s behalf. This decision is a victory on the side of a true and just democracy for all,” said Tim Schindler, Co-Executive Director of Wisconsin Voices.
Traditional voting methods can be a nightmare for individuals who face physical or mobility challenges. Long lines, crowded polling places, and inaccessible facilities can make casting a ballot a near-impossible task. But ballot drop boxes level the playing field, providing a convenient and accessible option for those who need it most.
Democracy isn't a game or a partisan playground. It's about fairness, equality, and giving everyone a seat at the table.
Signed organizations,
Souls to the Polls WI
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
League of Women Voters of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice
Common Cause Wisconsin
Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition
Wisconsin Voices
American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin
GROWW
All Voting is Local Action
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