Republicans are seeking to intervene in a Dem lawsuit that aims to legalize drop boxes and make other changes to voting absentee.
In a filing Tuesday, the national GOP, Republican Party of Wisconsin, and the chapters in Rock and Walworth counties argued the possible changes if the suit is successful could confuse voters and undermine confidence in the electoral process. That would potentially make it less likely that Republicans in Wisconsin will vote.
They also argued they should be heard in a lawsuit filed by the Dem group Priorities USA and the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans.
“This Court should not consider whether to change Wisconsin’s election rules without giving one of the two major political parties a seat at the table,” the motion to intervene argues.
The state Supreme Court a year ago ruled absentee drop boxes aren’t allowed in Wisconsin. But the majority flipped 4-3 in liberals’ favor this month.
Along with requesting a declaration that the state Supreme Court wrongly decided the drop box case a year ago, the Dem suit seeks orders:
*nullifying a requirement that those voting absentee have the ballot envelopes signed by a witness;
*overturning a requirement that voters cure any problems on their absentee ballot envelopes by 8 p.m. on election day; and
*declaring unconstitutional a state law that absentee voting “is a privilege exercised wholly outside the traditional safeguards of the polling place.”
Read the motion here.
