Normally Convention of States is telling you about proposing amendments to our United States Constitution. But this blog is about Wisconsin’s constitutional amendment referendums on the ballot right now!
Wisconsin Convention of States encourages you to get out and vote. The upcoming election is Tuesday April 2, 2024. Early voting started Tuesday, March 19, 2024 and continues possibly through March 31, 2024. Office hours vary by municipality, so be sure to check with your local clerk. You can go to My Vote Wisconsin to check for all election dates and times.
There are two ballot questions, which are called constitutional amendment referendums. We do not take a side on either question. Wisconsin Convention of States is a Non-Profit, Non-Partisan Organization. We are all about advocating for our U.S. Constitution. Which organizes our government including the States and the Federal Government. This blog is to give you information only.
Here are the two Wisconsin constitutional amendment referendums on the ballot:
State of Wisconsin Use of Private Funds in Election Administration Referendum – Question 1
QUESTION 1: "Use of private funds in election administration. Shall section 7 (1) of article III of the constitution be created to provide that private donations and grants may not be applied for, accepted, expended, or used in connection with the conduct of any primary, election, or referendum?"
State of Wisconsin Election Officials Referendum – Question 2
QUESTION 2: "Election officials. Shall section 7 (2) of article III of the constitution be created to provide that only election officials designated by law may perform tasks in the conduct of primaries, elections, and referendums?"
Here Are Both Sides of the Issue
One side claims election interference. “In the 2020 presidential election, for the first time ever, partisan groups were allowed—on a widespread basis—to cross the bright red line separating government officials who administer elections from political operatives who work to win them.” (Footnote 1)
“Flush with $350 million in Zuckerbucks, the CTCL proceeded to disburse large grants to election officials and local governments across the country. These disbursements were billed publicly as “COVID-19 response grants,” (Footnote 2) CTCL stands for Center for Tech and Civic Life a voter outreach organization.
And another view is an argument with the process.
“But Jay Heck, the executive director of Common Cause Wisconsin, says it’s bad government for Republicans to push policies through the amendment process just because they can’t get them enacted into law.
This whole new trend now, whenever you can’t get something done, and you can’t get your way in the Legislature, and you can’t reach agreement with the governor, you take it and you try to put it on the ballot,” Heck says. “It’s just not the way to make public policy. And amending the Wisconsin Constitution, the Constitution is a document that’s supposed to give direction and stability. But if you’re going to amend it every time you want something but can’t get it, it sort of makes the Constitution less, I think, respected by people and then it becomes a partisan document.” (Footnote 3)
Wisconsin State Senator Chris Larson tweeted about question 1, “This would significantly increase costs for local gov'ts, who administer WI elections. Hundreds of municipalities use donated equipment to help keep taxpayer costs down. Milwaukee is currently seeking an $800k grant for voting equipment. This amendment would make that illegal.” (Footnote 4)
And
“By making it harder to purchase more or more modern voting equipment, voters could be forced to deal with longer lines, and timely counting of ballots could be hindered. The vagueness of the wording could lead to polling place closures at churches and other private buildings.” (Footnote 5)
“Question 2 is opposed by All Voting is Local Action Wisconsin, and Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. Sam Liebert, state director of All Voting is Local Action Wisconsin, said, "These proposals, under the guise of protecting our elections, are nothing more than thinly veiled attempts to restrict voting rights and undermine the very foundations of our democratic system. It is our duty to stand firm in defending the rights and inclusivity of all eligible voters in our democracy." (Footnote 6)
Civic Context &Details
Knowledge is power and civic power is often in the details. This is not an exhaustive list of all the details. It is to give you a richer civic context.
Candidates appear first on the ballot. Then the constitutional amendment referendums. Be sure to read and vote on the constitutional amendment referendums, they are on the back of your ballot.
Amendments to the Wisconsin Constitution are explained in Article XII. The Governor is not mentioned anywhere in the process. Which indicates the Governor does not have the ability to veto Amendments that have been ratified following the process.
“To amend the Wisconsin Constitution, two consecutive legislatures must adopt an identical amendment (known as “first consideration” or “second consideration” and a majority of the electorate must ratify the amendment at a subsequent election.” (Footnote 7)
“Since the adoption of the Wisconsin Constitution in 1848, the electorate has voted 200 times on whether to amend the constitution…148 of these proposed amendments have been ratified.” (Footnote 8)
“Other than candidates for office, anything that appears on a ballot is known as a ballot measure. There are two types of ballot measures—initiatives and referendums. Together, ballot initiative and referendum generally refer to the procedure that allows citizens to circumvent the state legislature through a petition in order to place a proposed state law or constitutional amendment directly on the ballot for citizens to adopt or reject at a referendum election.
“While there is no national initiative and referendum process in the United States, 24 states have a statewide ballot initiative and referendum process.(Footnote 9)
Early Voting Ends Possibly March 31,2024
Wisconsin Convention of States encourages you to get out and vote. Some experts believe voting early is important. This way you ensure your vote counts. If you wait until Tuesday April 2, 2024 circumstances beyond your control may prevent you from voting.
In person Absentee voting began on Tuesday, March 19th and possibly ends Sunday March 31, 2024. Some cities, villages, and towns will end in-person absentee voting on Friday March 29, 2024. Check with your local municipal clerk for hours.
Check with your local Municipality Clerk
To find your municipal clerk go to https://myvote.wi.gov and find the red words “Wisconsin Election Deadlines” click on the dark box that says “Learn More” scroll down to March 29, 2024 and click on the last sentence “Find your Municipal Clerk’s Contact Information here. Click on the last word “here” enter your address and click search.
At https://myvote.wi.gov you can perform many functions. Among them you can see your ballot, find your polling place, and vote absentee in person.
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Footnote Sources:
1-“Zuckerbucks” and the 2020 Election, Mollie Hemingway, Imprimis, October 2021, Volume 50, issue 10. https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/zuckerbucks-2020-election/
2-ibid (same as above)
3-“Constitutional Referenda On Ballot In April Take Aim at Republican ‘Zuckerbucks’ complaints” https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2024/03/15/constitutional-referenda-on-ballot-in-april-take-aim-at-republican-zuckerbucks-complaints/
4-Wisconsin State Senator Chris Larson, March 14, 2024 https://twitter.com/SenChrisLarson/status/1768365768813502939
5-ibid (same as above)
6- All Voting Is Local https://allvotingislocal.org/avl-action/set-of-unnecessary-election-amendments-passed-by-wisconsin-senate-will-cause-more-barriers-to-the-ballot/?fbclid=IwAR0BJuNMPqqtDi1SO7Hk9cC9QJb9SRuMq6JNBR0wl5W3fFzdt1xr5KBK7rA
7-Wisconsin Blue Book 2023 – 2024, page 514, note at bottom of table, see Art. XII, Sec., 1
8- ibid
9- “Ballot measures are also known as “ballot propositions” or “ballot questions.” Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, “Ballot Initiative and Referendum in Wisconsin”, Page 1, Staci Duros, PhD Legislative Analyst, Richard Loeza, Legislative, Wisconsin Elections Project, February 2020, Volume 1, Number 1.
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