Several states are making moves to ban the use of ballot drop boxes before Election Day, a practice that became widespread in 2020 due to pandemic-related concerns. Ohio, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania are among the states leading the charge to end this voting method.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) announced that voters must drop off their own ballots at designated drop boxes. His directive prohibits the use of drop boxes for anyone else’s ballot and requires those helping disabled voters to sign a legal document certifying their assistance. LaRose’s actions follow a federal court ruling in July that partially overturned state laws limiting who can submit absentee ballots.
Beyond limiting ballot drop boxes, LaRose has also spearheaded efforts to identify voter fraud, leading to the discovery of hundreds of illegal voter registrations from non-citizens. More than 100 cases have been referred for prosecution.
In Wisconsin, two cities — Brookfield and New Berlin — voted to ban drop boxes after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled they could be used again in 2024. Local officials argued the boxes were no longer needed, citing the logistical difficulties of maintaining them and the end of the pandemic.
In Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County became one of the latest jurisdictions to ban drop boxes. Counties like Beaver, Butler, and Fayette have also done away with drop boxes, citing a sharp decline in their use since 2020.
