January 11, 2021 – New legislation is encouraging the continued use of ballot drop-off boxes.
The measure would allow local election authorities to make the drop-off boxes used in the November election, due to the pandemic, permanent. Supporters of the legislation say that it will provide a safe way for voters to cast a ballot and believe it should be extended.
Supporters also say that ballots will have to be dropped off by the time the polls close and that election authorities are responsible to keep the box secure. At a hearing over the weekend, Senator Bill Cunningham of Chicago answered questions about ensuring the integrity of elections.
“The deadline, the close of polls, (is) on election day, as it always is. As far as securing, that’s something that’s up to the local election authorities when it comes to securing those ballots,” he said.
The bill would also allow for curbside voting.
