Wisconsin Supreme Court decisions coming Friday on ballot drop boxes, legislative powers

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is set to release two highly anticipated opinions on Friday, weighing in on issues including voter access and legislative powers.

With just four months to go until November’s presidential election, one of those rulings could once again give voters the option to return absentee ballots via drop box.

In 2022, the state Supreme Court concluded such drop boxes are illegal in most cases because they aren’t specifically authorized in state law. 

But, since then, Wisconsin’s high court has flipped from a conservative to a liberal majority. That’s prompted Democrats to hope a challenge, brought by the progressive group Priorities USA, will be successful in overturning the prior ruling.

Also on Friday, the court is scheduled to release its ruling on a lawsuit brought by Gov. Tony Evers to challenge legislative powers.

The Democratic governor argues that Republican-controlled legislative committees violated the Wisconsin’s Constitution separation of powers through what amounts to “legislative vetoes.” The lawsuit cites moves from those committees, such a blocking land conservation purchases.