The Importance of Ballot Drop Boxes and Best Practices for Securing Them

The Rise of Ballot Drop Boxes: A Secure and Convenient Voting Option

As the upcoming election draws near, the use of ballot drop boxes is becoming increasingly popular as a secure and convenient way for voters to cast their ballots. These drop boxes, exactly as the name suggests, are boxes where voters can drop off their completed absentee or mail-in ballots.

According to the US Election Assistance Commission, these drop boxes serve as a secure and convenient option for voters, allowing them to deliver their completed ballots without relying on the mail service. This not only provides voters with an alternative to mailing in their ballots but also helps to improve voting access and lower the number of people who need to access traditional voting locations.

Drop boxes have been long utilized in western states such as Oregon, Washington, and Colorado, and are now gaining popularity in other states as well. These boxes can be either staffed or unstaffed, temporary or permanent structures, and are generally placed in designated public places such as near an election office, inside a library, or at a polling place.

To ensure the security of these drop boxes, the US Election Assistance Commission offers a series of recommendations. Unstaffed, 24-hour ballot drop boxes should be made of durable material such as steel and permanently cemented into the ground. They should also have video surveillance cameras, media storage devices, branding decals, extra keys for access, and security seals. Only designated election officials or drop box teams should have access to these boxes, ideally bipartisan teams of poll workers or temporary workers.

Each state has specific rules on how to secure these drop boxes, including requirements for locks, video feeds, chain of custody, police presence, and even fire suppression measures. By following these best practices, election officials can ensure that ballot drop boxes remain a secure and convenient option for voters in the upcoming election.