Wisconsin mayor who removed ballot drop box won't be charged

Wausau mayor faced ethics violation but no criminal charges for removing unattended drop box before 2024 elections

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:23pm

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A realistic oil painting depicting a lone ballot drop box on a city sidewalk, the box's metal surface reflecting the warm glow of the afternoon sun. The scene conveys a sense of quiet contemplation and the weight of civic responsibility.The removal of an unattended ballot drop box before the 2024 elections exposed the political tensions surrounding voting access in a swing state.Madison Today

A Wisconsin mayor who removed a ballot drop box from outside City Hall before the 2024 elections will not face criminal charges, a special prosecutor announced. Wausau Mayor Doug Diny said he took the action to secure the unattended box, which he claimed anyone could have stolen, but the city's ethics board determined he violated the local ethics policy. The state Justice Department and a Republican district attorney both concluded there was no basis for criminal charges since the box remained sealed and contained no ballots.

Why it matters

The removal of the ballot drop box became a flashpoint over the use of such receptacles in swing state Wisconsin, where the 2024 elections were highly contested. The case highlights ongoing debates around election security and access to voting, with some officials seeking to limit drop boxes while others argue they are crucial for voter convenience and turnout.

The details

In September 2024, Wausau Mayor Doug Diny removed a ballot drop box from outside City Hall, posing for photos in a hard hat and work gloves. The box had not yet been unlocked by election officials, but voters had started receiving their absentee ballots. Diny claimed the box was not secured to the ground and could have been stolen, so he decided to move it to City Hall for safekeeping. The city's ethics board later determined Diny violated the local ethics policy, but a state investigation found no basis for criminal charges. A Republican district attorney who is running for state attorney general launched another probe, but also concluded there was no evidence to prove charges beyond a reasonable doubt since the box remained sealed and contained no ballots.

  • In September 2024, Diny removed the ballot drop box from outside Wausau City Hall.
  • In October 2024, Wausau's ethics board determined Diny violated the city's ethics policy.
  • In 2026, a special prosecutor concluded there was no basis for criminal charges against Diny.

The players

Doug Diny

The mayor of Wausau, Wisconsin, who removed a ballot drop box from outside City Hall before the 2024 elections.

Kaitlyn Bernarde

The elections clerk for the city of Wausau who raised questions about Diny's removal of the ballot drop box.

Eric Toney

The Fond du Lac County District Attorney who acted as a special prosecutor and concluded there was no basis for criminal charges against Diny.

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What they’re saying

“Diny denied he did anything wrong, saying the box was not secured to the ground and that anyone could have stolen it so he decided to secure it in City Hall.”

— Doug Diny, Mayor of Wausau

What’s next

The case highlights ongoing debates around election security and access to voting, with some officials seeking to limit drop boxes while others argue they are crucial for voter convenience and turnout. The 2024 elections in Wisconsin were highly contested, and the removal of the ballot drop box became a flashpoint issue.

The takeaway

This case underscores the politically charged nature of election administration decisions, even at the local level. While the mayor claimed he was acting to secure the drop box, his actions were seen by some as an attempt to limit voting access. The lack of criminal charges, despite an ethics violation, suggests the legal boundaries around ballot box policies remain murky and open to interpretation.