George Dreckmann and his wife Diane are more than just a couple; they are also “ballot buddies” in Madison, Wisconsin, responsible for collecting ballots from drop boxes daily. These drop boxes, secure locations for voters to submit their mail-in ballots, have become a point of controversy in Wisconsin, particularly after conspiracy theories in 2020 falsely linked them to voter fraud.

Ballot drop boxes have been a focal point for election integrity debates in the state. Despite conspiracy claims, Paulina Gutierrez, Milwaukee’s new election administrator, emphasized the security of the process. “We have specially trained ballot courier teams and a robust chain of custody,” she told ABC News’ Deborah Roberts. “We follow best practices provided by national and federal partners and adhere to guidance from the Wisconsin Election Commission.”

Dreckmann also highlighted the safety of the system, explaining, “The drop boxes are secure. We have a chain-of-custody system in place so that we know exactly when the ballots are picked up and delivered.”

In 2022, Wisconsin’s conservative-leaning Supreme Court banned the use of drop boxes, but they were reinstated this past July by a newly liberal-controlled court.