Brookfield residents speak in favor of ballot drop boxes, but Common Council says no

The City of Brookfield won't offer voters an absentee ballot drop box option in the Nov. 5 presidential election, even though many residents said they'd only help make elections more accessible.

That was decided by Common Council members in a vote Tuesday night at the recommendation of city staff, making Brookfield the second community in Waukesha County behind New Berlin to vote against utilizing the locked drop box.

City Attorney Jenna Merten submitted to the Common Council a memo outlining the reasons for her recommendation with City Clerk Michelle Luedtke to not offer an absentee ballot drop box. They brought the discussion to city officials since they "knew it was a hot button issue," the city attorney said in Tuesday's meeting.

The Common Council voted 10-4 to pass the resolution to not have drop boxes in the general election. Officials also voted to approve an amendment to allow people to drop off their ballots in-person on Saturday, Oct. 26, at City Hall.

Before the votes, all residents who spoke at the meeting said they were in support of drop boxes, residents told the Journal Sentinel. Prior to the meeting, the city received at least 10 emails from residents asking for the reinstatement of drop boxes, according to emails obtained by the Journal Sentinel.

Here’s what to know:

City attorney, clerk recommend Common Council not use absentee ballot box in November election

The Wisconsin Supreme Court restored the use of absentee ballot drop boxes in Wisconsin in July, reversing a past decision from the court. That decision doesn't force municipal clerks to use drop boxes, but left the decision up to clerks and made it once again legal to use the locked, unmanned boxes in time for the Aug. 13 partisan primaries and Nov. 5 presidential election.

As a result, the Wisconsin Election Commission issued guidance to help clerks implement best practices for those drop boxes to ensure voters safely use them and the ballots can be secure and safely retrieved.

When offering an absentee ballot drop box, per WEC's guidance, Brookfield would need a surveillance camera, storage of video footage, decals, extra keys and security seals for the unstaffed box, Merten said in the memo. At least two people would be required to remove ballots and chain of custody logs would have to be completed, she wrote.

City staff will, however, provide drive-up voting for people who can't get out of their car, extended hours for in-person absentee voting early and other options for voters to drop off their absentee ballots, Merten said in the memo.

"With such provisions in place, we do not think a drop box is necessary at this time," she wrote.

Common Council members at odds over the drop boxes before vote to leave them behind in November's election

As the Brookfield Common Council discussed whether to offer absentee ballot drop boxes, some aldermen questioned how the boxes would affect "election integrity."

In an Aug. 21 press release posted to his Facebook page, Alderman Mike Hallquist characterized those claims as "unsubstantiated election denialism-like."

In the release, Hallquist said he received 20 comments in favor of drop boxes and 0 against.

Hallquist and other members in favor of the drop box said it is a secure way for people who can't vote in person to be counted, especially those with disabilities, a lack of transportation or those strapped for time as a parent or caretaker.

Alderwoman Sara Monty, who represents District 1, described how in her experience as an election inspector in past elections she has watched absentee ballots from drop boxes be processed safely.

"There is no proof of any problem with absentee balloting," Monty said. "There are so many people that this will be an encouragement (to) and increase their ability to participate in our process.

Alderman Kris Seals of District 7 argued people can drop their absentee ballots in the mail or take time off to drop off their vote at City Hall.

"It already works, I don't know why we need to change it," Seals said.

Alderman Bill Carnell motioned for an amendment to approve the utilization of a drop box for the November election, but was shot down in an 11-3 vote. Alders Carnell, Hallquist and Monty voted for the boxes.

Alderman Jason Anderson of District 3 then offered an amendment to offer in-person receiving of ballots on Oct. 26 as extra time on a weekend before the election, which passed in a 10-4 vote.

Brookfield residents at the meeting say they want an absentee ballot box

Kayce Deshotels was disheartened that alders voted against offering the ballot boxes despite all residents who attended the meeting speaking in favor of the resource, she said.

Amy Zimmerman, a Brookfield resident and mom of two, sees the decision to not offer a drop box as a lack of empathy and understanding from some Brookfield officials for the situations of voters with disabilities and those who are parents and would find ease in dropping their ballot off in a drop box.

“I think that a lot of our aldermen are very far removed from the days of young children or never had those responsibilities themselves,” Zimmerman said.

While working the polls in the August primary, Zimmerman saw voters confused by the seemingly ever-changing protocols of absentee ballots over the last five years.

“We had a dozen or so individuals come in throughout the day with their absentee ballot in hand, unsure about the best way to return,” she said.

She said she sees most election integrity issues brought to the media's attention from people affiliated with the Republican party.

“So, it's a bit disingenuous to say there's a public perception of issues with integrity, but oh, hey, I also spend my time supporting those individuals that are pushing those claims,” Zimmerman said.

Absentee drop boxes not new, but politicization is, League of Women Voters executive director says

Drop boxes have been used in Wisconsin and other states for years ― it's the politicizing of drop boxes that's new, said Debra Cronmiller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin.

Drop boxes became a focal point during the coronavirus pandemic as a way to help voters cast ballots while limiting interaction with other people.

That process, however, was highly criticized in 2020 by former President Donald Trump and Republicans who claimed without evidence that the boxes and absentee voting were rife with fraud.

Cronmiller said drop boxes are an issue of accessibility and removing them can lead to voter disenfranchisement. They're especially important for voters in rural areas, she said.

Voters can contact their municipal clerk to learn how their municipality is handling absentee ballot drop boxes.

How can I submit my absentee ballot in the City of Brookfield?

If you request an absentee ballot, the City of Brookfield will mail it to you on or before September 19, 2024. Requested absentee ballots will be mailed up until the Thursday before the election.

If you submit an absentee ballot request before that first mailing date, you will have at least 30 days to return your ballot by mail and be nearly certain that the clerk’s office will receive it prior to Election Day, according to Merten’s memo.

You can also drop off your ballot at Brookfield’s City Hall, 2000 N. Calhoun Road during business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

City Hall will be open for extended voting hours during in-person absentee voting for the two weeks prior to the election from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Voters can also drop off their ballots to a clerk at that time, according to Merten.

Voters can also use a drive-up ballot drop-off during in-person absentee voting.

“Voters who cannot exit a vehicle can park in a disabled parking space and ring the doorbell next to the space from their vehicle to have a clerk pick up their ballot from the parking lot,” the memo said. “This doorbell will be available during the entire time that City Hall is open for voting, including extended hours.”

Additionally, disabled voters could always call the City Clerk’s office during its regular business hours to request that the clerk come to the parking lot and take their ballot.

They noted in the memo that their recommendation may change depending on factors like pandemics, poll worker availability, court rulings, and other unforeseen circumstances.

Bridget Fogarty covers Brookfield, Wauwatosa and Elm Grove for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be contacted at [email protected].

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporters Lawrence Andrea and Molly Beck contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brookfield won't offer voters a ballot drop box option in November