Republicans launch defense of Wisconsin's legislative maps and ballot drop-box ban
MADISON - Republican state legislative leaders and GOP groups this week moved to defend 2022 Wisconsin Supreme Court decisions that banned absentee ballot drop boxes and upheld witness signature requirements.
The Republican Party of Wisconsin and the Republican National Committee filed a motion Tuesday to intervene in a case challenging absentee voting restrictions. The lawsuit was filed last month on behalf of two liberal-leaning organizations and a Dane County man.
“Wisconsin election integrity is under attack from far-left dark-money groups bent on destroying basic voting safeguards," said Ronna McDaniel, RNC chairwoman.
On Thursday, GOP legislative leaders also sought to intervene in the lawsuit, as well as any lawsuit that seeks to change the state's legislative maps. Taxpayers will foot the bill for the litigation.
Democratic groups behind the lawsuit argue the absentee voting restrictions — affirmed in a series of 4-3 rulings from the state Supreme Court's then-Republican majority — unnecessarily disenfranchise voters. The 2022 rulings banned voters from using drop boxes to return absentee ballots and election clerks from filling in missing address information on absentee ballots.
The lawsuit says drop boxes "are critical for voters — including the Alliance’s members and constituents — who are unable to vote in person because of disability, scheduling conflicts, lack of transportation, or other hardship."
Absentee ballot drop boxes were a longstanding practice in Wisconsin but came under scrutiny after their use proliferated during the COVID-19 pandemic and was heavily criticized by former President Donald Trump, who alleged — with no evidence — that absentee voting was rife with fraud and led to his reelection loss in 2020.
"While Democrats attempt to undo common-sense voting measures like requiring witness signatures on absentee ballots, we will continue to fight back against Democrat efforts to undermine safeguards every step of the way," said Brian Schimming, Wisconsin GOP chairman.
Republicans also say the lawsuit lacks substance and is an attempt to retry past cases in front of a more favorable 4-3 liberal majority following liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz's addition to the court Aug. 1.
Wisconsin Supreme Court could also take up redistricting, abortion ban
Other lawsuits challenging Wisconsin's 1849 near-total abortion ban and lopsided voting districts favoring Republicans — policies opposed by Democratic lawmakers — have already been filed in lower courts in hopes of reaching the court's new liberal majority.
Earlier this month, a liberal-leaning law firm filed a lawsuit with the state Supreme Court aimed at rewriting Wisconsin's legislative maps to favor Republicans less.
Law Forward, a Madison-based firm focused on voting issues, is bringing the legal challenge straight to the Supreme Court. By bypassing lower courts, the challenge would be expedited and could lead to an outcome before the 2024 elections.
“In the past 12 years, one political party captured the Legislature and has insulated itself from being answerable to the voters,” Jeff Mandell, partner at Stafford Rosenbaum and board president of Law Forward, said in a statement.
Tyler Katzenberger can be reached at tkatzenberger@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Republicans ask to intervene in absentee ballot lawsuit
