‘Downright dangerous to our democracy’: Wisconsin’s supreme court restricts use of absentee ballot boxes

Drop boxes may be placed only in election offices and voters must return ballot in person, in blow to Democrats in battleground state

Wisconsin's conservative-controlled supreme court ruled on Friday that absentee ballot drop boxes may be placed only in election offices and that no one other than the voter can return a ballot in person, dealing a critical defeat to Democrats in the battleground state.

The court did not address the question of whether anyone other than the voter can return his or her own ballot by mail. Election officials and others had argued that drop boxes are a secure and convenient way for voters to return ballots.