Article Summary –
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has cleared the way for the use of absentee-ballot drop boxes, reversing a decision made by conservatives when they controlled the court. The ruling came after liberals gained majority control of the top court and undid a gerrymander that had long given Republicans huge majorities in the state legislature. This decision illustrates how judicial elections can quickly change the direction of a state, with the court’s control up for grabs in April, which could impact a number of crucial cases including abortion rights and union powers.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Greenlights Absentee-Ballot Drop Boxes Ahead of Election
The liberal-majority Wisconsin Supreme Court has given the go-ahead for the use of absentee-ballot drop boxes, changing voting rules four months before the presidential election and reversing a decision by conservative justices from two years ago. This comes a year after liberals seized the majority in this crucial swing state’s top court, overturning a longstanding Republican gerrymander that had been affording Republicans significant majorities in the state legislature.
Significance of the Ruling
Ballot drop boxes were widely used during the 2020 presidential election due to the rise in absentee voting during the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of Wisconsin Republicans initially supported the use of these boxes but later opposed them after Joe Biden’s narrow victory over Donald Trump in the state. The recent 4-3 decision to reinstate the use of drop boxes demonstrates the potential for other major rulings to be overturned, as the justices have agreed to hear two abortion cases and an appeal concerning a law that has restricted union powers for government employees for over a decade.
Controversy Surrounding the Use of Ballot Drop Boxes
Leading up to the midterm elections in 2022, the conservative-controlled Supreme Court sided with a group of voters who argued against the use of drop boxes as state law did not explicitly authorize them. This decision was reversed a year later when a liberal justice was elected to replace a retiring conservative justice, ending the conservatives’ 15-year hold on the court. Despite objections from the dissenting justices who accused the court of acting politically, supporters of drop boxes lauded the ruling for providing voters with an easy, reliable way to return ballots.
The Political Impact of the Decision
Following the ruling, local officials will decide on the use of drop boxes, with Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, a Democrat, announcing plans to make them available starting with the state’s August primary. Local leaders in Republican areas, however, might face political challenges due to Trump’s longstanding disparagement of absentee voting. The decision also serves as a reminder of how quickly the direction of a state can change through judicial elections, as seen in North Carolina when conservatives overturned liberal decisions after gaining a majority on the Supreme Court in 2022.
Future Court Decisions
With control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court set to be contested in April, it is expected to make significant decisions before the election, such as whether abortions can continue in the state. The court recently agreed to review a decision stating that a 19th-century law does not ban most abortions and accepted a case filed by Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin regarding the state constitution’s guarantee of a right to abortion. Furthermore, the court is expected to hear a case concerning a 2011 law limiting collective bargaining for most public workers in Wisconsin, marking a significant moment for union rights in the state.
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