The only ballot drop box in Wausau, Wisconsin, was removed by the city's mayor, who was seen transporting the box with a dolly.

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Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

U.S. Elections

Wisconsin city mayor tows away only ballot drop box, investigation launched

Sep 26

Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Ian Kennedy (Lead Video Editor)

The only ballot drop box in Wausau, Wisconsin, was removed by the city’s mayor, who was seen wearing a hard hat and gloves while using a dolly to transport the box back inside City Hall. The drop box had been placed outside for residents to submit their absentee ballots.

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The legality of the mayor’s action is now under investigation. Since the 2020 presidential election, state law regarding ballot boxes in Wisconsin has fluctuated. They were legal during the pandemic, but a conservative-majority state Supreme Court ruled them unlawful in 2022. However, this past summer, the court reversed that decision, establishing a liberal majority and allowing municipalities to decide whether to use ballot boxes.

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Following this ruling, the Wisconsin Elections Commission updated its guidance, stating that the use of drop boxes is at the discretion of municipal clerks. The commission’s website notes, “The use of drop boxes is not mandatory and is at the discretion of the municipal clerk. The decision permits all municipal clerks to choose to use secure absentee ballot drop boxes in their jurisdiction if they wish, starting immediately.”

In Wausau, the drop box was placed outside City Hall as 4,000 absentee ballots were mailed out last week. The mayor moved the box, intending for the city council to vote on its future.

Doug Diny, the mayor elected in April, stated, “I’m a member of staff. There’s nothing nefarious going on here. I want it to be done properly and with the proper input and consent of citizens. I was hired to tighten things up at City Hall. This action is consistent with my overall position and what I heard from residents when I was knocking on doors.”

City Council President Lisa Rasmussen disagreed, expressing “huge concerns” about the mayor’s actions.

“There is no place for elected officials to manage, alter, or tamper with drop boxes, whether they agree with their use or not,” Rasmussen said.

Currently, the drop box remains inside City Hall. The state Elections Commission confirmed it was locked and contained no ballots when the mayor removed it. The city was waiting for a crew to secure it to the ground before its removal.

In Wisconsin, it is a felony to impede or prevent the free exercise of the franchise at an election. It remains unclear whether the mayor could face charges related to this incident.

This story will continue to be followed as developments arise.

Tags: Absentee Ballots, Ballots, Mail-in voting, Wisconsin

Karah Rucker

THE ONLY BALLOT DROP BOX IN ONE WISCONSIN CITY WAS CARTED AWAY BY THE CITY’S MAYOR –

PICTURED HERE IN A HARD HAT AND GLOVES –

USING A DOLLY TO TOW THE DROP BOX BACK **INSIDE WAUSAU CITY HALL –

AFTER IT WAS STATIONED **OUTSIDE FOR RESIDENTS TO DROP THEIR ABSENTEE BALLOTS INTO.

WAS IT LEGAL FOR THE MAYOR TO MOVE THE BALLOT BOX?

THAT’S THE QUESTION NOW AT THE CENTER OF AN INVESTIGATION.

THE STATE LAW OVER WHETHER BALLOT BOXES ARE LEGAL TO USE IN WISCONSIN HAS EXPERIENCED A BIT OF WHIPLASH SINCE THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

THEY WERE LEGAL DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND THEN THE CONSERVATIVE-MAJORITY STATE SUPREME COURT RULED THEM **UNLAWFUL IN 2022.

BUT OVER THE SUMMER – THE STATE’S HIGH COURT FLIPPED – NOW WITH A LIBERAL MAJORITY.

THE NEW BENCH REVERSED THE RULING IN JULY –

LEAVING THE DECISION TO USE BALLOT BOXES OR NOT –

IN THE HANDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL MUNICIPALITY.

THE “WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION” – UPDATED ITS GUIDANCE FOLLOWING THE RULING –

LEAVING THE DECISION TO “MUNICIPAL CLERKS”.

HERE’S THE EXCERPT DIRECTLY FROM ITS WEBSITE.

“The use of drop boxes is not mandatory and is at the discretion of the municipal clerk.

The decision permits all municipal clerks to choose to use secure absentee ballot drop boxes in their jurisdiction if they wish, starting immediately.”

THAT BRINGS US BACK TO THE BALLOT BOX BATTLE IN WAUSAU.

THE CITY’S ONLY BALLOT BOX WAS PLACED OUTSIDE CITY HALL JUST AS 4 THOUSAND ABSENTEE BALLOTS WERE SENT IN THE MAIL LAST WEEK.

THE MAYOR – DOLLYING IT AWAY – WANTING THE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE ON WHETHER TO HAVE A DROP BOX IN THE CITY.

DOUG DINY – ELECTED MAYOR IN APRIL – SAYING “I’m a member of staff. There’s nothing nefarious going on here. I want it to be done properly and with the proper input and consent of citizens. I was hired to tighten things up at city hall. This action is consistent with my overall position and what I heard from residents when I was knocking on doors.

HOWEVER – THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT DISAGREES – SAYING “I have huge concerns about this behavior, as there is no place for elected officials to manage, alter or tamper with drop boxes, whether they agree with their use or not

RIGHT NOW –

THE DROP BOX IS INSIDE CITY HALL.

THE STATE ELECTIONS COMMISSION SAID IT WAS STILL LOCKED WITH NO BALLOTS INSIDE WHEN IT WAS TOWED AWAY BY THE MAYOR.

THE CITY WAS WAITING FOR A CREW TO SECURE IT TO THE GROUND PRIOR TO ITS REMOVAL.

IN WISCONSIN – IT IS A FELONY TO “IMPEDE OR PREVENT THE FREE EXERCISE OF THE FRANCHISE AT AN ELECTION.”

IT’S UNCLEAR WHETHER THE MAYOR COULD FACE CHARGES.

WE’LL BE SURE TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING THIS STORY –

AND YOU CAN TO.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS – I’M KARAH RUCKER.