As the name suggests, a ballot drop box is a box where voters drop off their completed absentee or mail-in ballots.
It serves as a “safe and convenient” method of voting for voters, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, a nonpartisan agency created under the Help America Vote Act of 2002. Among other things, voters can drop off their completed ballots. You can receive your box without relying on a mail service.
For election officials, drop boxes can also improve access to voting, reduce the number of people who need access to a polling place, and give more space to those who want to vote in person, the commission said. are.
Dropboxes have been used in the western states of Oregon, Washington, and Colorado for years.
Best practices for securing your dropbox
Drop boxes can be either manned or unmanned and can be temporary or permanent structures. They are typically placed in designated public locations, such as near election offices, inside libraries and polling places, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
The committee has put forward a series of recommendations to ensure the safety of the boxes.
The commission said unmanned, 24-hour ballot drop boxes should be made of durable materials such as steel and permanently cemented into the ground, and typically cost about $6,000 each. It is said to be expensive. In addition, the commission recommends that drop boxes be equipped with video surveillance cameras, media storage, branding and informational decals, and additional keys and security seals for access.
According to the commission, to receive ballots on a regular basis, they should only be accessible to election officials or a designated drop-box team, ideally a bipartisan group of poll workers or temporary staff. Teams will be able to receive ballots.
Each state has specific regulations on how to secure these drop boxes, including locks, video feeds, chain of custody requirements, police presence, and even fire suppression.
