Wausau ballot drop box now in use after mayor removed prior box

(The Center Square) – Wausau’s ballot drop box has returned.

City Clerk Kaitlyn Bernarde announced an official drop box was secured outside of Wausau City Hall after a box was previously removed from the spot before it was in use by Mayor Doug Diny.

Bernarde previously said she reported Diny’s drop box removal to the Marathon County District Attorney and Wisconsin Elections Commission.

The drop box can be used to submit absentee ballots, payments and other city requests.

“The drop box has been re-labeled for use and is secured to the ground, in accordance with guidelines from the Wisconsin Elections Commission and the United States Election Assistance Commission,” Bernarde’s statement said. “The previously utilized silver payment box in front of City Hall has been removed and will no longer be in service.”

Ballot drop boxes remain a highly debated issue in the state after the Wisconsin Supreme Court first blocked the use of ballot drop boxes and then earlier this year allowed drop box use without requiring it.

The difficulty after the recent ruling is for communities to maintain a ballot chain of custody and ensure that only the voter is dropping their own ballot in the drop box.