Agard campaign: Senator Melissa Agard, Mayor Luke Diaz and Supervisor Chad Kemp voice support for ballot drop boxes

VERONA – Today, Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison), Verona Mayor Luke Diaz and Dane County Supervisor Chad Kemp hosted a press conference outside of Verona City Hall to discuss the use of drop boxes in local elections and the importance of voting in this fall’s elections. On July 5th, the Wisconsin Supreme Court reversed its 2022 decision banning ballot drop boxes and restored the ability for Dane County to collect absentee ballots prior to Election Day. This ruling will increase participation and accessibility for voters all across Dane County and Wisconsin by allowing safe and secure access at convenient times for voters.

“Over the years the people of Wisconsin have made it resoundingly clear that when it comes to our elections we all want a transparent, easy to understand, safe process that is fair and that we can trust,” said Senator Melissa Agard. “Many folks in our communities, such as the elderly, single parents, and folks with disabilities, people in rural areas are unable to travel to their polling place on Election Day. Ballot boxes help to even the playing field by ensuring that everyone can cast their vote.”

”After the recent State Supreme Court ruling, the City of Verona has drop boxes available at City Hall for dropping off your ballots,” said Verona Mayor Luke Diaz. “Using these secure drop boxes makes exercising the fundamental right of voting a little bit easier and I encourage voters to take advantage of them. The City of Verona also has four voting places – up from the previous two – in order to keep lines short on Election Day. All of this help increase participation in the voting process and make people’s voices heard!”

“The voters of Dane County need to feel confident that their votes matter, are accounted for accurately and that we are doing everything we can to work cohesively with local, county, state and federal officials to safeguard their fundamental right,” said Dane County Board Supervisor Chad Kemp. “The right of every citizen to have their vote counted is of the utmost importance to me personally. Whether you are using secure drop boxes, a mail in ballot or voting on election day, every vote should be counted and election workers should be safe to conduct the business of the people.”

First becoming popular during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic as a safe way for voters to participate in elections, the drop boxes were ruled unconstitutional in 2022 by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The July 2024 reversal of that decision will increase accessibility to elections across Dane County and Wisconsin. Voters in Dane County are eligible to vote “early” or in-person absentee starting two weeks before Election Day with August 8th being the last day to request a regular absentee ballot by mail for the August 13th Primary Election. Please check your local municipal clerk’s website for information on hours for early voting.

For more information about Dane County and Wisconsin Elections, please visit www.myvote.wi.gov.