Courts

Marathon County DA pursues investigation of Wausau mayor's removal of the city's absentee ballot drop box

Marathon County District Attorney Theresa Wetzsteon said she is requesting an official investigation with the assistance of the Wisconsin Department of Justice into the personal removal of the city's lone absentee ballot drop box by Wausau Mayor Doug Diny.

Associated Press

September 26, 2024

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Doug Diny uses a two-wheeled dolly to move a metal box with a Wausau wordmark and the words Official Drop Box visible on two sides and a hinged door at its top across a concrete-paved patio of a multi-story masonry building with tall glass windows, with trees in the background.

In this photo provided by Wausau Mayor Doug Diny, he uses a hand truck to remove the city's lone drop box from in front of City Hall on Sept. 22, 2024. (Source: Doug Diny via AP)


AP News

By Scott Bauer, AP

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin district attorney said Sept. 26 that her office is pursuing an investigation into the removal of an absentee ballot drop box by the mayor of Wausau.

Mayor Doug Diny removed the drop box, located outside of City Hall, on Sept. 22 and distributed a picture of himself doing it while wearing worker’s gloves and a hard hat. Diny is a conservative opponent to drop boxes. He insists he did nothing wrong.

The drop box was locked and no ballots were in it. The city clerk notified Marathon County District Attorney Theresa Wetzsteon and she said in an email on Sept. 26 that she is requesting an official investigation with the assistance of the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

Wetzsteon said she was waiting to hear back from DOJ on her request.

A spokesperson for DOJ did not immediately return a message on Sept. 26.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers weighed in on Sept. 26, calling the removal of the drop box “wrong.” Evers said it should be restored “immediately.”

“Drop box voting is safe, secure, and legal,” Evers posted on the social media platform X. “As elected officials, we should be working to make it easier — not harder — for every eligible Wisconsinite to cast their ballot. That’s democracy.”

The incident is the latest example in swing state Wisconsin of the fight over whether communities will allow absentee ballot drop boxes. The Wisconsin Supreme Court in July ruled that drop boxes are legal, but left it up to local communities to decide whether to use them.


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