With Election Day quickly approaching, a battle over the use of ballot drop boxes is intensifying in states and local governments across the United States.
As early voting looms, debates over drop box security, legality, convenience, and potential fraud are causing ripples across the nation’s election landscape, as Just the News reports.
Ballot drop boxes gained prominence during the 2020 election, but now, two months before the next general election, states and municipalities are reconsidering their use. From Ohio to Wisconsin to Wyoming, debates over the legality and security of drop boxes are raising concerns on both sides of the political spectrum.
In Ohio, the conversation around ballot drop boxes took a sharp turn after Secretary of State Frank LaRose issued a directive to local election officials last Saturday. LaRose’s directive restricts who can return ballots to drop boxes, limiting the task to the voter themselves. The move came as a response to a federal court ruling in July that partially invalidated a state law governing absentee ballots for disabled voters.
LaRose’s directive has drawn criticism from Ohio Democrats and local officials, who argue that it unfairly burdens voters and election workers. Jen Miller, the Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio, noted that the new restrictions could make it harder for people to return ballots for loved ones, especially if they have limited availability during regular business hours. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, however, dismissed the idea of banning ballot drop boxes altogether. He emphasized that Ohio’s elections are well-managed and suggested that any major changes would require evidence of significant problems.
In Wisconsin, the issue of ballot drop boxes has led to different outcomes in various municipalities. Two towns in Waukesha County -- Brookfield and New Berlin -- recently voted to prohibit the use of drop boxes for the upcoming general election. This decision followed a July Supreme Court ruling that upheld the legality of drop boxes, reversing an earlier ruling that had deemed them illegal.
Local officials in these municipalities cited cost-saving measures and logistical concerns as reasons for the decision. Maintaining chain-of-custody records, installing surveillance systems, and employing extra security for drop boxes were all identified as burdensome responsibilities. Wisconsin’s approach contrasts with other states where drop boxes remain legal but are increasingly scrutinized. The divide in approaches reflects the broader national conversation over the role of drop boxes in the election system.
In Pennsylvania, some counties are voluntarily stepping away from the use of ballot drop boxes. Westmoreland County decided in March not to utilize drop boxes for the November election, continuing a trend that began after the 2020 presidential election.
Other counties in Pennsylvania, such as Beaver, Butler, and Fayette, have also chosen not to use ballot drop boxes. While not facing outright bans, the dwindling presence of drop boxes in the state suggests a shift in how counties are handling absentee voting. Despite these decisions, drop boxes remain a contentious issue for election officials who see them as a convenient way for voters to submit ballots, especially during the pandemic.
In Wyoming, Secretary of State Chuck Gray took a firm stance on the issue in June by rescinding previous directives that allowed for the use of drop boxes. Gray argued that drop boxes were not a secure method for absentee voting and pointed to a lack of statutory support for their use in Wyoming’s election code.
However, his decision has not gone without opposition. Malcolm Ervin, President of the County Clerks’ Association of Wyoming, defended the continued use of drop boxes. He argued that the phrase “delivered to the clerk” in the state’s election law gives county clerks discretion over whether to use drop boxes. This split in interpretation has yet to be resolved, leaving some Wyoming voters wondering what changes might come for future elections.
As Election Day nears and early voting begins in less than two weeks, the debate over ballot drop boxes continues to divide states and municipalities. In Ohio, new restrictions have prompted criticism, while Wisconsin towns have taken a step back from using drop boxes despite a Supreme Court ruling. Pennsylvania’s counties are quietly moving away from drop boxes altogether, and Wyoming’s Secretary of State has made it clear that he does not support their use in future elections.
The differing approaches highlight the complex balancing act between security, accessibility, and election integrity that officials face as they prepare for the upcoming election.
