Dodge County’s Republican sheriff pressed three municipal clerks not to use absentee ballot drop boxes this fall, warning it could create the appearance of fraud and “degrade trust in our system,” according to records obtained by WisPolitics.
Sheriff Dale Schmidt denied he was pressuring the clerks in Ashippun, Hustisford and the town of Beaver Dam when he expressed “serious concerns” to them after he learned they planned to use drop boxes for the election cycle. Instead, Schmidt said in a phone interview he was only seeking to ensure they were following best practices after the state Supreme Court in July allowed their use.
“The reason was entirely to protect the integrity of our election processes and to protect the law as laid out by the Supreme Court in this most recent Supreme Court decision,” Schmidt said. “If there is any claim that there is election fraud as a result of the drop boxes, I, as the sheriff, am responsible to investigate those… part of my job [is] to make sure that laws are followed before they’re broken.”
Still, all three clerks decided against using drop boxes after their email exchanges.
Town of Ashippun Clerk/Treasurer Michelle Liesener reversed course after Schmidt informed her the community was the only one in Dodge County that still planned to use a drop box, according to the emails obtained by WisPolitics. Schmidt wrote he expected to put out a statement that he had worked with clerks to “ensure security of our elections to the best of my ability.” Schmidt added he wasn’t planning to cite Ashippun in his release but would add that it was the only one accepting ballots via drop boxes if asked.
Liesener wrote back less than 15 minutes later that she had decided to close the box.
State Dem Party spokesperson Joe Oslund in a statement argued Schmidt was pushing conspiracy theories.
“It’s unfortunate that the Dodge County Sheriff appears to be trafficking in Donald Trump’s conspiracy theories to cast doubts on our elections,” Oslund said. “Ballot drop boxes are a convenient and secure way for folks in communities across the state to cast their vote, a reality that even Robin Vos acknowledged back in 2020 before Trump lost.”
The state Supreme Court on July 5 reversed a 2022 ruling that had barred the use of drop boxes, giving clerks the discretion to use them if they chose. Use of drop boxes in the 2020 election had been roundly criticized by former President Donald Trump and his supporters as Dem Joe Biden won the state four years ago by less than 21,000 votes.
Schmidt, who has endorsed Trump for president and Republican Eric Hovde for U.S. Senate, sent emails to the clerks of Ashippun, Hustisford and the town of Beaver Dam the evening of Aug. 1 writing he had heard they planned to use drop boxes and raising concerns.
Schmidt said in Friday’s phone interview they were the only clerks he was aware of in Dodge County that had considered using drop boxes.
While he noted in the emails it was their “right to do so, I strongly encourage you to avoid using a drop box.”
“I also struggle with even the appearance of the potential for fraud even if no fraud occurs,” he wrote. “The appearance of fraud can degrade trust in our system. Let me be clear, it is my intent to ensure every legitimate vote is counted and everyone who is legally permitted by law to vote has the opportunity to vote one time.”
The three clerks he contacted didn’t return calls from WisPolitics Friday. The news service requested the communications from the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department after being told of their existence while reporting on a story about the use of drop boxes by clerks across the state.
Schmidt’s emails asked the clerks to answer 10 questions on whether they planned to use drop boxes, where they would be located and how they would be monitored.
Beaver Dam Town Clerk Aimee Mallon initially told Schmidt that she decided to offer drop boxes following the July state Supreme Court decision because voters viewed them as “more secure than the mail and wanted to see it come back. They trust that it is getting to me securely, on time, and not potentially being tampered with in the mail.”
Mallon wrote she wasn’t advertising the use of drop boxes, but the town hall had a secure box at the main door that she couldn’t close off because it was used for tax and permit payments. There was a note posted on it that it wasn’t a drop box, but people had placed ballots in there anyway. In the past, she asked them to return to the town hall and physically hand the ballot to her and explain why it was placed in the box. If people failed to respond, the ballot was rejected at the polls. Those ballots would no longer be rejected following the court’s ruling, according to her email.
Schmidt responded that he was concerned that if Mallon allowed voters to drop off ballots in the box without requiring them to return to the office and physically hand them to clerk staff, it “will only spread” and more people would use the option.
He recommended still posting that it’s not a drop box and continuing to call those who place one there anyway. He noted now that drop boxes are legal, she wouldn’t have to reject the ballot at the poll if they didn’t show up.
“I think this would be best for the town, best for the integrity of the election process, and best to keep you out of any media (or social media) story that might pop up if people find the town does accept them,” Schmidt responded.
While noting it was up to her, he added, “I am confident if you don’t do it this way, it will snowball and be a bigger issue in future elections.”
Mallon responded she had placed a sign on the box asking people to mail absentee ballots to her or to deliver them in person.
“I think you made a wise decision,” Schmidt wrote to Mallon, adding he appreciated her taking time to evaluate his input.
