Full-time surveillance, lawmen sought where ballot drop boxes used

(The Center Square) – Two Wisconsin lawmakers have introduced legislation that would require cities or counties that use ballot drop boxes to have them under 24/7 video surveillance.

The proposals of state Rep. Scott Krug, R-Rome, and state Sen. Dan Knodl, R-Germantown, would also require police officers or deputies be on hand when the ballots are collected.

“This bill is a start toward standards that make sense," Krug said in a statement. “We should all be concerned that anything happening with drop boxes incorporates basic principles of ballot security and transparency in record keeping. Anything short of standardized rules for all is unacceptable. I rely on our clerks to make good decisions but the lack of directive here invites criticism and creates concern.”

Krug says ballot drop boxes need some level of security if people are going to trust them.

Knodl says lawmakers need to clarify the rules that Wisconsin’s Supreme Court foisted upon the state.

“With the State Supreme Court acting as a super-legislature and creating law, it must be the duty of our elected state Legislature to be the voice of the people and mitigate the damage inflicted by this ruling," Knodl said. "This proposed legislation will add another layer of transparency to our voting process and will be another tool for election security.”

The state Supreme Court earlier this month decided that Wisconsin law doesn’t specifically ban ballot drop boxes, and therefore said they will be allowed for this year’s elections.

Conservative justices, and Republican lawmakers, say the court played politics.