Activists call for answers at Wausau City Hall after ballot box removal

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) - Wausau Mayor Doug Diny is under scrutiny after photos show him removing the ballot drop box from outside City Hall on Sunday.

A rally was held outside City Hall on Tuesday evening, demanding answers from the mayor.

Not only were they demanding answers from Mayor Diny, but they also emphasized the fair use of ballot drop boxes.

“The City of Wausau is just trying to confuse the voters, make it harder for people to vote, and undermine our elections,” Wausau activist Nancy Stencil said.

Stencil, who organized the rally, was among the people looking for answers.

One Wausau man says it was mortifying to hear the ballot drop box was removed.

“Who is he to think, how dare he take away this ballot box,” Fred Tealey stated. “And it’s against the law for him to do it.”

NewsChannel 7 is working to learn if any laws were broken.

While the mayor is researching legal options, City Clerk Kaitlyn Bernarde is working with the Wisconsin Elections Commission about how to move forward.

“This act was done in a way that deliberately avoided transparency with our community,” Sarah Brock of Wausau said. “It is obvious that this decision was made to ensure maximum outrage, confusion, and frustration.”

“It is of utmost importance that all legal voters are able to cast their ballot. This is how our democracy works,” Christine Martens of Wausau added.

While the Wausau Police Department has no plan to investigate further, protesters hope the right decision will be made.

“I have faith that the city council, and if necessary, the Wisconsin Election Commission and law enforcement will do their job and determine why the ballot box was moved and if any laws were broken in doing so,” Brock said.

At one point there were about 20 people outside Wausau City Hall on Tuesday rallying for the ballot drop box to be put back where it was.

Mayor Diny did not respond to calls from NewsChannel 7. The city clerk also denied an official interview.

Mayor Diny did respond to NewsChannel 7 via email earlier this evening.

He says, “I was hired to tighten things up at city hall. This action is consistent with my overall position and what I heard from residents when I was knocking on doors. I was uncomfortable with certain staff actions that ran counter to previous agreements I had with the clerk on the matter. I too am researching legal opinions.”

In 2022 the State Supreme Court ruled ballot drop boxes outside of clerk’s offices were illegal.

After a shift in balance, the court reversed that decision this past July.

The 2024 ruling does not force or require the use of drop boxes. Instead, they leave the decision up to the clerk’s discretion.

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