THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> TURNING TO ELECTION NEWS,
ABSENTEE BALLOT DROP BOXES USED
ACROSS THE STATE DURING THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC ARE NOW
ILLEGAL AFTER A WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT WAS
RELEASED TODAY.
SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER
ZAC SCHULTZ JOINS US WITH MORE
FROM THE CAPITOL.
HEY, ZACH.
>> HELLO, FRED.
THESE WERE WIDELY USED.
DROP BOXES WEREN'T IN PART OF
THE OLD STATE HISTORY AND THEY
WEREN'T PART OF STATE LAW, WHICH
IS WHAT CREATED THE LEGAL
UNCERTAINTY OF WHAT HAPPENED TO
THEM.
CLERKS ARE AROUND THE STATE SAID
THEY'RE NOT BARRED AND WE'RE
GOING TO USE THEM.
AND THERE WERE NOW LAWSUITS AT
THAT TIME.
AND SINCE THEM THERE HAVE BEEN
LAWSUITS AND THE SUPREME COURT
FINISHED THEIR 4-THERE A A
DIS -- 4-3 DECISION, THEY SAY
THAT BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE
LANGUAGE IN STATE STATUTES
DEALING WITH ABSENTEE BALLOTS,
DROP BOXES ARE ILLEGAL IN
WISCONSIN.
>> SO WHAT DO VOTERS DO NOW?
>> WELL, I HAVE MY ABSENTEE
BALLOT RIGHT HERE.
WE'RE ABOUT A MONTH AWAY FROM
THE AUGUST PRIMARY ELECTION.
AND I COULD EITHER PUT THIS IN A
PAIL BOX IN MY MAILBOX OR ONE OF
THE OFFICIAL FEDERAL MAILBOXES
THAT LOOKS LIKE A DROP BOX BUT
IS NOT.
THE BIG DISTINCT, ACCORDING TO
WISCONSIN LAW.
OR I COULD BRING IT TO THE
MUNICIPAL CLERK WHERE I WOULD
VOTE AND HAPPENED IT IN THERE,
OR I CAN BRING TO IT THE POLL ON
VOTING DAY.
I CAN'T GIVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE
TO BRING IT IN.
THAT'S NOW ILLEGAL.
AND I ALSO CANNOT PUT IT IN THE
DROP BOX.
SO I HAVE TO THINK A LITTLE MORE
WHERE I WANT TO PUT IT.
AND FOR VOTERS WHO WAIT UNTIL
MUCH CLOSER TO THE ELECTION,
EITHER MAKE YOUR VOTE AND GET
THEIR BALLOT AND RECEIVE IT.
IF THEY DON'T TRUST THE FEDERAL
MAIL IS GOING TO GET IT BACK
WHICH IS A BIG QUESTION WITH THE
SLOW MAIL RETURNS DURING THE
PANDEMIC, OR IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE
TO TRAVEL IN, HOW DO THEY MAKE
THEIR VOTE COUNT PHYSICAL
THEY'RE VOTING ABSENTEE?
>> WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR
BANNING THESE OR PROHIBITING
THESE BOXES?
>> THERE ISINGING IN IN STATE --
THERE IS NOTHING SOME STATE
LAW -- IN STATE LAW ABOUT DROP
BOXES.
VOTE BE ANTE PUB -- VOTING BY
ABSENTEE.
WHAT THE STATE ANNOUNCED IS
BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE SAID IT HAS
TO BE DELIVERED TO THE MUNICIPAL
CLERK, THAT THEY MEANT
PERSONALLY HANDED TO THEM.
IT CAN'T BE PUT IN AN UNMANNED
DROP BOX WHICH WAS WHAT DROP
BOXES WOULD HAVE BEEN.
>> SO THE DISSENTING LIBERAL
JUSTICES HAD SOMETHING TO SAY
ABOUT THIS.
>> YEAH.
THEY BELIEVED THIS IS JUST
FURTHER ENCUMBERING VOTING
RIGHTS IN WISCONSIN.
THEY SAID IT WAS UNNECESSARY,
THAT IT PLAYS INTO CONSPIRACY
THEORIES BEING PUSHED BY
CONSERVATIVES.
TRUMP SUED SAYING IT WAS DROP
BOXES IN DANA, MILWAUKEE COUNTY,
THAT WERE FILLED WITH FORT
LAUDERDALE.
THERE'S NO BASIS FOR THAT
WHATSOEVER.
SO SOME OF THE LIBERALS SAY THIS
DOESN'T HELP WITH PEOPLE'S
BELIEF IN THE SECURITY OF OUR
ELECTIONS.
>> WE LEAVE IT THERE.
WE KNOW YOU HAVE SOME GOOD
ONLINE REPORTING ON THIS.