Wisconsin Supreme Court limits use of absentee ballot drop boxes

Supporters argue drop boxes are a better option than mailing ballots because they go directly to the clerks and cannot be lost or delayed in transit [File: Morry Gash/AP]

The Supreme Court of the US state of Wisconsin has ruled that absentee ballot drop boxes may be placed only in election offices and that no one other than the voter can return a ballot in person, in a decision Democrats said would make it harder to vote in the battleground state.

The court’s decision on Friday did not address whether anyone other than the voter can return their own ballot by mail. That means that anyone could still collect multiple ballots for voters and, instead of using a drop box, put them in the mail.