Justice Hagedorn Sides with Liberals as Wisconsin Supreme Court Allows Ballot Drop Boxes for Spring Primary
Justice Brian Hagedorn was the deciding vote in the four to three ruling. The other three conservative justices dissented, deciding the stay should have been lifted.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that absentee ballot drop boxes will be allowed for the spring primary election.
In a 4-3 ruling, the court ruled drop boxes must be allowed for the Feb. 15 primary in order to avoid confusion—as absentee ballots were already mailed out to voters, some with instructions indicating voters could use drop boxes.
The court also agreed to hear an expedited appeal of the case to rule on the legality of absentee ballot drop boxes for future elections in Wisconsin.
According to Wisconsin Public Radio , Hagedorn explained that it was too close to an election to change the rules for voting, saying, "Whether the circuit court's decision to deny a stay constituted an erroneous exercise of discretion or not, further judicial relief would be inappropriate at this time."
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