An unusual incident occurred in the small town of Mineral Point, Wisconsin as Mayor Jason Gossett was seen removing an absentee ballot drop box from outside city hall. The mayor claimed that he was simply relocating the box to a more secure location, but his actions have raised concerns among residents and election officials.
The incident took place on Tuesday evening when Mayor Gossett was seen loading the drop box onto a cart and wheeling it away from its original location. A video of the incident circulated on social media, prompting backlash and accusations of tampering with election materials.
In response to the backlash, Mayor Gossett defended his actions, stating that he had received complaints about the drop box being left unattended and wanted to ensure the security of the absentee ballots. He insisted that he did not open or tamper with any of the ballots and was simply moving the drop box indoors for safekeeping.
However, the Wisconsin Elections Commission issued a statement condemning Mayor Gossett’s actions, stating that the removal of an absentee ballot drop box without authorization is a violation of state law. The Commission urged voters who had deposited their ballots in the box to contact their local municipal clerk to confirm the status of their ballots.
The Mineral Point City Council held an emergency meeting to address the situation and ultimately voted to reinstate the drop box outside city hall. Mayor Gossett has since apologized for his actions, acknowledging that he should have consulted with the council before making the decision to move the drop box.
The incident has sparked discussions about the security of absentee ballot drop boxes and the importance of following proper procedures during the election process. The Wisconsin Elections Commission has reminded voters that absentee ballots can be securely returned by mail or in person at designated drop-off locations to ensure their votes are counted.
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