MILWAUKEE —  In the midst of a busy election season, the Wisconsin Supreme Court voted Friday to reinstate the use of ballot drop boxes across the state.

The 4-3 ruling overturned a decision the state’s high court made less than two years ago; the previous ruling banned the use of ballot drop boxes. Spectrum News was there when crews removed all ballot boxes from Milwaukee back in 2022.

Now, the city is putting those boxes back out ahead of the August partisan primaries.

“This is just another opportunity for us to provide a safe and secure way for people to drop off their absentee ballots here to the city of Milwaukee,” said Paulina Gutierrez, the executive director of the Milwaukee Election Commission.

Gutierrez said ballot drop boxes are an especially helpful option for people with special needs.

“People with American Disability Act considerations, you know, most of our ballot boxes we attempt to put in places where people can just drive up to them,” said Gutierrez.

Ballot drop boxes were used in Wisconsin since the 1980s and became more popular during the pandemic. However, their legality and security were questioned by many Republicans following President Joe Biden’s victory over former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election.

Gutierrez described the process that goes into making sure ballot boxes are extremely secure.

“We have a very robust paper trail and chain of custody process,” said Gutierrez. “Every time we are handling ballots, it’s always more than one person. We have security cameras at all of our drop box locations. There’s a whole process of making sure that information is completed. Pictures are taken. The ballots are then removed and put into a safe and secure ballot bag. They’re secured, sealed and transported immediately from the box over to our operations center where again all ballots come through and are handled in a secure fashion.” 

She said she believes adding back this voting option is a crucial step in making sure everyone in Wisconsin can cast their votes.

“It’s an opportunity to increase voter engagement and opportunities for people to submit their ballots to us in a secure way. It’s a great way to increase voter turnout,” said Gutierrez.

(Stats to be updated)

Here’s our looks for Saturday’s edition at “The Shoe” — which will feature the G3 Indiana Oaks and the G3 Indiana Derby. Two great races filled with great prospects and filled with promise for another exciting group of races.

Here’s hoping that you get a chance to go out to “The Shoe” and witness one of the best scenes in horse racing today. The songs blaring in-between the races. The crowd growing on the apron and moving to the rail just minutes before each post in a mass wave. The horses on their toes, just a bit more. The sweat dropping from the bill of the cap, just a touch more. And, the excitement in the air — with each call to the post and the great race delivery by one of the best announcers in the game ever — John G. Dooley.

Adds up to one heck of a day.

Here’s our picks:

1st: 7-4/2-1-5//6…J Pop (7) gets the call in the ole’ lid-lifter on this Indiana Derby Day celebration. This 4YO Indiana-bred gelding comes in off a near-miss 3rd in the career debut here on June 20. Pushed the pace from the outset and just tired at the end. If he improves any at all off the career debut? Look out. Like this one with a very capable gate rider up in the saddle. I bet the 7 across the board and double down on the win wager. I box the 7-4 in the exactas. Sternly. I key the 7 over/under the 4-2-1-5 in two smaller exactas. 

2nd: 3-1-2/8/5-7-6…Capt’n Pke (3) will make the debut here for a top barn operator and gets the call in the initial start, for me. The work on June 28 was spot on. Trainer wins with .20% in the MSW ranks. Breeding suggests the one should like the sod, as well. Adds up, and the rider is having a very solid meet. I bet the 3 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 over/under the 8 in two smaller units. 

3rd: 7/5/6-1-3/2..The first Key Play of the Day comes here with Head of the Class (7). This 3YO son of Awesome Slew is a Florida-bred and will make the career debut here for trainer Brad Cox, who I think is the best conditioner in the land these days. With first timers, the barn wins with .22%. Dam of this one has produced 6 winners from 7 starters. Work on June 29 at Churchill Downs was nice. Very nice. Adds up for me. I bet the 7 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will key the 7 over/under the 5-6-1-3-2 in the exactas. More with the 5 than the rest. 

4th: 6-1/7-3/4//5/2…Mari Hulman George Memorial Stakes…Loved (6) is a Godolphin Stables homebred and is coming off two straight G3 Stakes outings. Was the pace-setter in both of those and just tired before the wire. Gets a top rider to take the reins for the first time here. Looks like this class should fit just a tad better and this 5YO mare looks like she could be very salty in this spot. Hidden Connection (1) has won over $834,000 in her career and is still banging hands in the Graded Stakes company. In the last 5 starts, has been facing Graded company in 4 of them. Has a 2nd in that group and won a Stakes at the Fair Grounds back in December. Still can pick them up and put down. Will push our top pick every step of the way. I bet the 6 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will box the 6-1 in the exactas and then key the 6-1 over/under the 3-7-4 in two smaller units. 

5th: 11/9-8-10//7…The next “Key Play of the Day” comes here with Tiz Eddie (11). This 3YO Indiana-bred has hit the board in 4 of 6 lifetime tries and has been knocking on the door nearly every race this year, as well. Has speed. Will travel. Regular rider should fit him well. Look for this one to shoot out early and should be tough to catch. I bet the 11 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will key the 11 over/under the 9-8-10 in the exactas. 

6th: 6-10-1/3-11-2-4/8/9//5…Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial Stakes…Let’s hope this one stays on the sod after all the rain we have received in the area of late. Should be a dandy, if it does. I will go with Masteroffoxhounds (6). This 7YO veteran has run 27 times over the sod and has a record of 4-5-6. Has won over $650,000 in purses and comes in here off a run in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita last November. Although that day was not spectacular, this one nearly won the G2 John Henry at Santa Anita the race before. Has speed. Can stalk. Will be a tough out. Kupuna (10) could spice up the odds rack here. Listed at 10-1 in the ML. Has only 1 start over the sod in the career and it was a losing one. But? Has been very tough on the dirt in the last 3 and if he can convert that talent to the grass here? Look out. Worth a chance. Runaway Storm (1) has not been out since winning the G3 Bryan Station Stakes at KEE last October. Training well and does have a win over this sod. I bet the 6 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will also key the top 3 over/under the 3-11 in two smaller units. 

7th: 8-3/7/6-12-(13)-(15)-(14)/2-1-4-9…Snack Handicap Stakes…This is a 1-mile event over the sod and I saddle up with Molly’s Town (8). This 3YO gelding comes in off a 2nd last time out and has the speed to be very dangerous if no other horse and rider decide to push the pace. Hoosier Daddy Now (3) is a long shot possibility and is listed at 12-1 in the ML. Gets the meet’s top rider up and has a win the last time out over the dirt. Will try grass for the first time and this trainer wins with .30% of the last 10 to do that. Don’t leave out. I bet the 8-3 across thee board and then box these two in the exactas. I will key the 8-3 over/under the 7-6-12-13-15-14 in two smaller units. 

8th: 10-4/5-1/7-11/8-2/3…Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes…Mr. Wireless (10) is a special horse around these parts. The 6YO gelding won the Indiana Derby in 2021 and has gone on to win over $1 million in purses. Doesn’t show many signs of slowing down. Ran a huge one just two starts ago as well., Loves this track with 2 wins in 2 starts here before. Gets a new rider, who won the Kentucky Derby this year. Nice play. I bet the 10 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will box the 10-4 in the exactas. I will key the 10-4 over/under the 5-1-7-11-8-2 in two smaller units.

9th: 4-9/1-12/2-7-8-11/(13)-(14)/10…Ellen’s Lucky Star Handicap…I go with Under the Palms (4) in this one. This 3YO Enticed fillet has out-run her pedigree and has a nice win to break the MSW at Oaklawn Park. The addition of Lasix has helped this one immensely, too. Over the last 4 starts, this one has gotten much better. KY Derby winning trainer / rider team up again here. Could pull another rabbit. Best Cupcake (9) won the last time out here by an easy and increasing 2 lengths. I am not a big fan of this barn’s overall success, but this one is legit. Must use for me. I bet the 4 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will box the 4-9 in the exactas. I will key the 4 over/under the 9-1-12-2-7-8-11 in two smaller units. 

10th: 10-5-9/3-2/1-8//6-7…Indiana General Assembly Distaff Handicap…I go with the #10 in the 10th race — just for some luck. Right. I really like Elounda Queen (10). This 4YO Irish-bred picks up Lasix for the first time and Brad Cox is the best in the game today. With first Lasix, his steeds have won .34% of the time with the last 245 as a sample size. Has yet to win in this country, but a matter of time. Love it here. I bet the 10 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will  box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the 10 over/under the 5-9-3-2-1-8 in two smaller units. 

11th: 7-4/6-2-8//1-3…G3 Indiana Oaks…This is the first of two headliners for today’s magnificent card. I go with Impel (7) in this spot. The 3YO Quality Road filly ran a huge 2nd in the G2 Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs on KY Oaks day. Has trained great since then. In 4 starts, this one has hit the board each time and in two straight Graded Stakes. Look s like this one can lay a bit closer to the pace-setters here. And, that is a huge advantage. My solid pick. Neon Icon (4) will try Stakes company for the first time, but has flashed a lot of talent in two straight wins to start the career. May be the one to take the lead early and play a little “catch me if you can” with this field. I bet the 7 across the board and double/triple down on the win wager. I will box the top 2 in the exactas. Sternly. I will key the 7 over/under the 4-6-2-8 in two more solid units. 

12th: 8-2-7/5/3/6/1-4…G3 Indiana Derby…The finale on one great day of racing and I will hook up with Dragoon Guard (8) in the biggest race of the year here. This 3YO son of Arrogate has won 2 of the first 3 and was beaten a neck in the career debut at Churchill Downs last year. Has nothing zero wrong and should make the easy step up to face Stakes horses here. Training great for a top barn operation. Gets the barn’s go-to rider to ship in, as well. Lots to like here. Stronghold (2) won the G1 Santa Anita Derby just two starts ago and ran a very credible race in the G1 Kentucky Derby, too. Just seemed to get a bit tired late. California rider travels with the horse. Can’t leaver out. E J Won the Cup (7) comes in and will get the Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith to come with him. Get this. Mike Smith. Rides in the G3 Indiana Derby. Love it. The duo has teamed up to win a couple of times already, including the Texas Derby last time out. Getting better and better. I bet the 8-7 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. Sternly. I go back and do all those things again. I will key the top 3 over/under the 5-3 in two smaller units.

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene