Wisconsin Bill Requires Photo ID at Milwaukee Absentee Drop Boxes

A bill introduced in the state legislature on July 10 would require voters using absentee ballot drop boxes to present a government-issued photo ID at the time of deposit. The measure, co-sponsored by Republican lawmakers in the Assembly, would apply to all 72 counties but targets the state's most populous voting jurisdictions, including Milwaukee.

The legislation, named the Secure Absentee Voting Act, comes ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Milwaukee County had 142 drop boxes during the 2024 presidential election, according to the Milwaukee Election Commission. The city alone accounted for 38% of all drop-box returns statewide, per records from the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

How the Change Would Affect Milwaukee's Voting Process

Under the current rules, voters can return absentee ballots to any drop box without showing identification, as long as the ballot envelope itself has a valid witness signature and a voter signature. The new bill would require a poll worker or municipal clerk to verify the voter's photo ID before accepting the ballot into the box.

Milwaukee officials say the requirement would likely create lines at drop box sites. The city operates 13 drop boxes, one at each early-voting site, plus a central box at the Milwaukee Election Commission, 200 E. Wells St. A 2025 report from the city's Budget and Management Division noted that each of those sites processed an average of 1,200 ballots on the final day of early voting in November 2024.

The bill does not include additional state funding for extra poll workers or extended hours at drop box locations. The nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum estimated in a June analysis that staffing each drop box with a full-time ID checker would cost Milwaukee an additional $385,000 per election cycle.

Next Steps and Potential Impacts

The bill is expected to be taken up by the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections in August. If it passes both chambers and is signed by the governor, it would take effect 30 days after enactment, well before the Nov. 3 election.

Mayor Cavalier Johnson's office declined to comment on the bill, saying it would not weigh in on pending legislation. The Milwaukee Election Commission said it is reviewing the proposal and expects to issue a public statement next week.

Voter advocacy groups have raised concerns. The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, which operates a drop-box monitoring program, said in a statement that the requirement could suppress turnout among elderly and disabled voters who rely on drop boxes for convenience. Under current Wisconsin law, those voters can already vote absentee by mail without photo ID.

The bill's sponsors argue that the change ensures ballot security. State Rep. Scott Krug, R-Nekoosa, said during a July 10 press conference that the legislation would bring drop boxes in line with in-person voting rules, where photo ID is already required.

For Milwaukee residents, the practical effect could be longer wait times and fewer return options. The city's early-voting period runs Oct. 20 through Nov. 2, and drop boxes have been the most common method of ballot return for city voters since 2020, according to Milwaukee Election Commission data.