Wausau Mayor Doug Diny moving an absentee ballot dropbox. Image courtesy: Doug Diny
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Wausau’s City Clerk released a statement regarding a closed ballot dropbox placed outside City Hall last week.
Clerk Kaitlyn Bernarde says the box was “not yet functional” and clearly labeled as “Kiosk Closed.” No ballots, payments, or other official documents had been placed in it.
Bernarde adds that the container was labeled as an “official drop box” as would accept absentee ballots along with tax or utility payments and other documents.
“Once re-labeled, it was the intention of the Clerk’s Office to secure the drop box to the ground and then begin accepting absentee ballots,” added Bernarde. Recent State Supreme Court decisions have given local Clerks the authority to authorize and place ballot dropboxes at their discretion. However, Mayor Doug Diny said part of that involves making the boxes secure. He questioned how secure the box was when he noticed that it wasn’t bolted to the ground, making it possible for anyone to drive off with it.
“It was sitting on the sidewalk and it was not secured,” Diny told WSAU News on Tuesday. “I wheeled it up to my office to put it in a safe place. Because what if it had been taken and thrown in the river? What if it would have been stolen? It never left [City Hall.]”
RELATED: Wausau Mayor Removes Absentee Ballot Dropbox Last Weekend, Citing “Security”
A picture of Diny wheeling the box inside was widely circulated this week. In it, Diny is seen sporting a hard hat and yellow gloves.
The action has sharply divided residents and public officials alike. Council President Lisa Rasmussen said she was concerned about the optics of a public official moving something like a ballot dropbox saying it violates public trust and possibly state law. Bernarde notes that she has referred details of the matter to the Marathon County District Attorney’s office and Wisconsin Elections Commission for further investigation, citing Wisconsin Statute 7.15(1)(g). That requires Clerks to “report suspected election frauds, irregularities, or violations of which the clerk has knowledge to the district attorney for the county where the suspected activity occurs and to the commission.”
“Since this matter has been referred for investigation, the ballot drop box that was originally designated for use is not currently available. Existing video surveillance is not being released at this time to not compromise any potential investigations. At this time, eligible voters who wish to return their absentee ballot to the City Clerk can securely return their own ballot in the silver Payment Box in front of City Hall,” added Bernarde.
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