What to know about how Milwaukee will reopen absentee ballot drop boxes after court ruling

The Wisconsin Supreme Court's Friday ruling reinstating absentee ballot drop boxes means Milwaukeeans can expect the voting option to return for upcoming elections in August and November.

"We are pleased about the recent announcement from the state Supreme Court to give cities the discretion to utilize drop boxes," Milwaukee Election Commission Executive Director Paulina Gutiérrez said. "This is just another opportunity for us to provide a safe and secure way for people to drop off their absentee ballots here to the City of Milwaukee."

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson also praised the ruling from Wisconsin’s liberal-controlled Supreme Court.

"Government ought to take every reasonable step to allow voters to participate in elections, and today’s decision advances that goal," he said in a statement, adding, "There is no credible evidence drop boxes are an avenue for election law violations. And, Milwaukee will have appropriate protocols in place to assure continued election integrity."

Here's what we know — and don't know — about what this means for voters in the swing state's largest city ahead of consequential state and federal elections.

When did Milwaukee install its absentee ballot drop boxes?

The boxes were installed in September 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic and funded with a $70,000 grant from the Center for Tech and Civic Life, an organization financed by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan.

Where are Milwaukee's absentee ballot drop boxes?

Milwaukee installed 15 unstaffed absentee ballot drop boxes primarily at libraries across the city.

Not all of the drop boxes are expected to be available in upcoming elections.

Drop boxes that were struck by vehicles at the Election Commission warehouse at 1901 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. and at the Washington Park Library, 2121 N. Sherman Blvd., are being evaluated and possibly replaced.

There also was a drop box at the Martin Luther King Library, 310 W. Locust St., but the library is under construction.

How many absentee ballot drop boxes will be available for the July 30 special election for state Senate District 4?

None.

How many absentee ballot drop boxes will be available for the Aug. 13 partisan primary and the Nov. 5 presidential election?

That is still being determined.

The City of Milwaukee will offer 12 and possibly 14 drop boxes by next month's partisan primary, according to Gutiérrez.

Whether a temporary 15th location could be available near the site of the Martin Luther King Library will be determined in the coming weeks, she said.

How is Milwaukee making sure its absentee ballot drop boxes are still secure after years of disuse?

The city’s drop boxes have been locked and inaccessible since they were banned by the state Supreme Court two years ago.

The ballot boxes are being audited to make sure they are still usable for the upcoming 2024 elections, according to the Election Commission.

Gutiérrez said staff have been visiting all of the boxes and checking that the covers on them are secured, the locks are in place and that the boxes open up properly. The commission is also reviewing the signage and doing a "security enhancement" with cameras and local law enforcement.

The Journal Sentinel reported when the boxes were installed that they were under 24-hour video surveillance and equipped with seals to ensure they hadn't been opened in an unauthorized manner.

What does the reinstatement of absentee ballot drop boxes mean for voter turnout?

Absentee voting soared in the pandemic, and the 2022 midterms in Wisconsin saw a large increase in absentee voting from 2018.

Gutiérrez said that the Election Commission "always hopes for high voter turnout" and that the office is now focused on communicating information to Milwaukee voters so they feel confident in the absentee ballot drop boxes.

"Any opportunity to increase voter engagement and opportunities for people to submit their ballots in a secure way is a great way to increase voter turnout," Gutiérrez said.

Alison Dirr can be reached at [email protected]. Tristan Hernandez can be reached at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee will reopen absentee ballot drop boxes. What to know.