by Natalia Mittelstadt
“The rule of law should not be undermined by Democrats attempting to overrule a case which was decided just two years ago,” RNC Chairman Michael Whatley said.
The Republican National Committee, the Republican Party of Wisconsin, and RITE PAC are fighting a lawsuit seeking to legalize ballot drop boxes in Wisconsin.
The RNC announced Monday that they had filed an amicus brief with RPW and RITE PAC on behalf of the defendants in the lawsuit before the Wisconsin Supreme Court that is seeking to make ballot drop boxes legal in the state.
“The rule of law should not be undermined by Democrats attempting to overrule a case which was decided just two years ago,” RNC Chairman Michael Whatley said in a statement Monday. “Wisconsinites deserve a fair and secure election, not a rushed effort to throw out precedent and implement a system susceptible to dishonesty and fraud. The RNC and our partners are stepping up to protect voter confidence in Wisconsin.”
In a 4-3 decision in 2022, the state’s high court ruled that the Wisconsin Elections Commission was not authorized to allow the use of ballot drop boxes as alternative balloting during the 2020 presidential election.
The majority opinion was based on the interpretation of state rules and considered a loss to liberals who largely support the method.
“Only the legislature may permit absentee voting via ballot drop boxes,” the court said. “WEC cannot. Ballot drop boxes appear nowhere in the detailed statutory system for absentee voting. WEC’s authorization of ballot drop boxes was unlawful.”
However, in April 2023, then-Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz won the election for the vacant seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, flipping it to a liberal majority.
Last July, the Elias Law Group sued the commission on behalf of Priorities USA, the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans and a voter over the ruling against ballot drop boxes.
Both Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul have asked the state Supreme Court to allow the ballot drop boxes.
– – –
Natalia graduated from Regent University with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Communication Studies and Government.
Photo “Ballot Drop Box” by CliffordSnow. CC BY-SA 4.0.
