Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl and Alder Samba Baldeh appeared at a press conference Monday morning to showcase 14 ballot drop boxes recently installed throughout the city.
“We need all eligible voters to cast their ballot on, or before, election day,” the mayor stated. “We are here to highlight an innovation in election services here in Madison thanks to the City Clerk’s work.
The City of Madison Clerk’s Office installed the 14 secure ballot drop boxes at 13 Madison Fire stations and at Elver Park shelter to better facilitate the collection of absentee ballots. The boxes, decorated with Madison’s city flag, are manufactured with a minimum of ¼” steel with full welded seams to prevent damage and tampering.
Since the drop boxes were installed last Friday, 1,118 ballots have already been returned to them. Rhodes-Conway took the opportunity to drop off her own absentee ballot at the dropbox on Lien Road in front of the Madison Fire Department Station 8.
City Clerk Witzel-Behl thanked several departments for assisting with the planning and placement of ballot boxes, including the Department of Planning, the Madison Fire Department, Madison Parks, City of Madison Traffic Engineering and City of Madison Engineering.
Ald. Samba Baldeh, who will be on the ballot running for the State Assembly District 48 seat, urged Madison voters to take the time to cast their ballot for this election.
“Election day is Nov. 3, but voting has already begun,” Baldeh said. “This election is very, very important, not only for us as individuals, but for us as a country, for us as a county and for us as a city. I advise everybody out there: please find time to cast your vote.”
On a separate but just as important note, Rebecca Cnare, an urban design planner that worked on the boxes, was such a fan of the design concept that she made “‘NOT’ City of Madison Official” dropbox Halloween costumes for her twin children.
“It was so rewarding to be a part of the city’s team for an effort to aid in democracy! What a wonderful addition to our City’s infrastructure!” she said.
Madison voters will be able to drop off their absentee ballots at ballot boxes until 5 p.m. on Nov. 2, the day before Election Day.
Addison Lathers is the Editor in Chief of The Daily Cardinal. She has covered city and campus news and held two editor positions. Follow her on Twitter at @addisonlathers.
