Monday, March 11, 2024

Two Constitutional Amendment Questions On April 2nd Spring Election Ballot

For release: Monday - March 11, 2024



Image: No Photo by Morgan Bryan on Unsplash


Both Measures Could Adversely Affect Elections

On the April 2nd Spring Election ballot in Wisconsin, in addition to contests for local offices, judgeships, school board members and other positions, the Wisconsin Legislature had directed that there were also be two constitutional amendments passed by the Republican majority in the Legislature over the last several years to be put before voters for approval or rejection.

These questions received comparatively little public attention, but they are extremely important in how they may affect elections and democracy in Wisconsin and in your ability to participate in those elections fairly and freely.

In order to help you better understand these questions and their implications we defer to election law legal and policy expert, attorney Doug Poland of the Madison law firm of Stafford Rosenbaum, and one of the founders of the public interest consortium Law Forward, which defends and prosecutes many voter rights cases. Law Forward filed the legal challenge on behalf of 19 named Wisconsin plaintiffs to the 2021-22 Wisconsin gerrymander of state legislative districts last August which ultimately resulted in 2024 Act 94 – the establishment of new, constitutional and far more fair state legislative district maps for the upcoming 2024 August primary and November general elections.

Here is how Mr. Poland ably explains the two constitutional amendment questions:

Question 1

The first question, which will appear as Question 1, reads as follows:

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?”

The background for this proposed amendment is that in 2020, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, donated a total of $350 million to the Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL), an existing nonprofit based in Chicago that describes itself as “a team of civic technologists, trainers, researchers, election administration and data experts working to foster a more informed and engaged democracy, and helping to modernize U.S. elections.” Approximately $10 million of those funds were used by over 100 municipalities in 38 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties that applied for and received funding to cover the increased costs of administering elections during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds that were donated were given to support the following types of expenses:

  • Poll worker recruitment, hazard pay, and training

  • Polling place rental

  • Temporary staffing support

  • Drive-through voting

  • Equipment to process ballots and applications

  • Personal protective equipment (PPE) for poll workers

  • Nonpartisan voter education from cities and counties

A majority “yes” vote for Question 1 would create a constitutional amendment banning the use of funds donated from private sources for future elections. Generally speaking, conservative groups and those that promote “election integrity”—meaning the most restrictive reading of voting laws—favor a “yes” vote on Question 1. On the opposite side of the spectrum, groups that seek to maximize the opportunity and participation of all those who are eligible to vote in our elections favor a “no” vote on Question 1.

An excellent summary of Question 1 and the positions of various groups both supporting and opposing this constitutional amendment may be found here.

Question 2

The second question, which will appear on the April 2 ballot as Question 2, reads as follows:

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?”

Wisconsin’s statutes already provide extensive and rigorous requirements for “election officials,” a category that is more typically referred to as “poll workers” and includes chief election inspectors, election inspectors, greeters, tabulators, election registration officials, and special voting deputies. For example, among other requirements, election officials must be approved by the municipality from a list of nominees submitted by the two major political parties; must be able to read and write English; must be qualified voters in the county in which the polling place where they will serve is located; cannot be candidates on the ballot; and cannot be immediately related to any candidate on the ballot.

A majority “yes” vote for Question 2 would restrict the performance of tasks “in the conduct of primaries, elections, and referendums” only to election officials. Yet because Wisconsin Statutes currently provide that “only election officials appointed under” the two statutory provisions governing the appointment of election officials “may conduct an election,” it is unclear how the addition of this provision to the Wisconsin Constitution would enhance Wisconsin’s election laws. The Legislature has identified no specific need for this constitutional amendment, nor has it pointed to any shortcoming of the present statutory restrictions on who may serve as an election official. Consequently, it appears that the inclusion of this question on the ballot is an attempt to enshrine in the Constitution provisions that exist now only in statutes, which would make them much more difficult to change should political control of the legislature and the legislative process shift from its current state.

As with Question 1, conservative and “election integrity” groups favor a “yes” vote on Question 2, whereas groups that seek to expand access to and participation in voting (such as Common Cause Wisconsin) favor a “no” vote on Question 2. There is a concern among some pro-democracy groups that amending the Constitution to include the provision reflected in Question 2 might lead to efforts to stifle current practices that enhance voter participation. Further information regarding this constitutional amendment may be found here.

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With this excellent information, we hope you will better understand the constitutional amendment questions on the April 2nd ballot and will be able to make an informed decision as to whether or not Wisconsinites should amend the state constitution and add these provisions. We believe we should not do so.

On Wisconsin. Forward!

--------------------------

Jay Heck
608/512-9363 (cell)

Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 Johnson St, Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
www.commoncausewisconsin.org

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Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Your Vote Powers Our Future

For release: Wednesday - March 6, 2024



Image: Voting is your Voice, Power, Right


Visit MyVote.wi.gov for official voting information


The 2024 Spring General Election is fast approaching - Tuesday, April 2nd! And there are things you can take care of now to prepare for Election Day or to cast your absentee ballot in advance. Be ready for April 2nd by reviewing and sharing the information below.

 

Remember every election matters, and local races have a direct impact on your daily life. Your ballot may include City, Town, or Village Council; Mayor; Judges; School Board; County Board; and Alders. (Find out what is on your ballot at MyVote).The more localized the election, the more likely the people seeking elections may live in your neighborhood. Your vote matters in our state and local elections.

 

Register to Vote: You must be registered to vote to cast your ballot in the April 2nd Spring Election. Register online at MyVote.wi.gov by Wednesday, March 13. After that date, you can register with your municipal clerk in advance or register at your polling place on Election Day. 

 

Secure your photo ID: Visit BringIt.wi.gov for more information about the types of ID that can be used to vote. At this site, you can also learn about how to get a free ID to use for voting.


Choose the Way You Want to Cast Your Ballot: Make a plan to vote one of three ways that are available to all Wisconsin voters:

  1. At your polling location on April 2nd,

  2. With an absentee ballot by mail,

  3. Or in person by absentee ballot via your clerk’s office or other designated location (aka early vote) beginning on Tuesday, March 19th.

 

Go to MyVote.wi.gov and make a request for your absentee ballot to be sent to you by mail in just seconds. In Wisconsin, any registered voter can vote absentee - no reasons or excuses needed. Request your ballot for the April election today. The sooner you make your request, the more likely you are to receive it and be able to send back your ballot in time for it to be counted.

 

You can also go to MyVote.wi.gov to get information about in person voting by absentee ballot from your clerk prior to Election Day (aka early vote). And you can find your polling location if you choose to vote in person on Election Day.

 

On Your Ballot: Get to know who wants to represent you and which candidates best represent your values and share your views before you vote. Many local papers across the state will also publish candidate interviews prior to the election. The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin will go live with Vote411.org on Friday, March 8.

 

Wisconsin's youngest voters need to stay engaged and should plan to vote in 2024. Are you a college student voting in Wisconsin? Or do you know a student who wants to vote in Wisconsin? Here is important information from the Common Cause Wisconsin website to share: Three Things College Students Need to Do To Vote in Wisconsin


Know Your Rights: Sometimes our voting situations and life circumstances require special attention. ACLU WI, Disability Rights Wisconsin, and Common Cause Wisconsin created a nonpartisan voting guide for 2024 with detailed information to assist you in understanding how you can cast your ballot. Check out and share this resource: Voting in Wisconsin: Know Your Rights


Help is just a call or email away: Voting by absentee ballot, having the correct ID, finding your polling place, and knowing the deadlines can be overwhelming, but helpful resources and people are ready to assist you.


Voters with disabilities have the right to an accessible polling place. This includes the right to use an accessible voting machine, assistance marking a ballot, and voting curbside. Call the Disability Rights Wisconsin Voter Hotline: 1-844-347-8683. Or email: info@disabilityvote.org. Additional online resources are at the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition website


If you experience problems at the polls or have questions, there is help. Call the Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) with your questions or to report a problem. You will receive support from nonpartisan election protection volunteers.


If you’re all set for April 2nd, consider becoming a poll worker or a nonpartisan election observer. Both are great opportunities to support your communities and democracy. 


Poll Workers: Find your clerk and reach out to see if poll workers are needed in your municipality.

 

Election Observers: The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin will provide you with online training (beginning March 19), a reporting form, a polling place assignment with flexible shifts, and an Election Day hotline number for questions or to report a problem. Sign up TODAY!


Our local democracies are as important as our state and federal elections for democracy. Plan to vote in this Spring's Election. Your vote powers our future.


--------------------------

Jay Heck
608/512-9363 (cell)

Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 Johnson St, Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
www.commoncausewisconsin.org

Read More...


Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Fair Price for Fair Maps

For release: Wednesday - February 28, 2024



Image: Tim Cullen


Wisconsin Taxpayers to Pay Just $64,000 for Fair Voting Maps After Doling Out More Than $3 Million for Unfair,  Partisan Gerrymandered Maps Over last 13 Years

On Monday, consultants hired by the Wisconsin Supreme Court submitted bills totaling about $128,000 for advice and analysis of state legislative voting maps submitted to the court in January after the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional, partisan gerrymandered state voting maps passed by the Wisconsin Legislature during 2021-22 and imposed on Wisconsin by the previous Wisconsin Supreme Court majority.

Of the $128,000 to be paid to the consultants, about half that amount – $64,000 will come from Wisconsin taxpayers. The other half will be paid for by private funds.

The $64,000 being shouldered by taxpayers for fair, constitutional state legislative district maps stands in stark contrast to the more than $3 million taxpayers were forced to pay for to devise and defend for 13 years among the most secretive, unfair, uncompetitive, unconstitutional and most partisan gerrymandered voting maps enacted into law in the nation, first in 2011 and then again during 2021-22.

Among the maps submitted to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in January that the consultants judged to be much fairer and more constitutional than the voting maps currently in place, are the maps submitted by Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers. Those maps were passed by the Wisconsin Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Evers on February 19th and will be in place for the 2024 elections.

Governor Evers and the Wisconsin Legislature, prompted by the Wisconsin Supreme Court's landmark December 22nd decision striking down the current state legislative voting maps, have come together in achieving a significant victory for the voters of Wisconsin and at a fraction of the financial cost to taxpayers that 13 years of unfair partisan gerrymandering has cost them.

"The savings to be realized by the end of unfair voting maps is just the icing on the cake for this new era of fairer and more representative elections that the recent enactment of new maps has set in motion," said Common Cause Wisconsin Board member and former State Senate Majority Leader Tim Cullen of Janesville. "Wisconsin taxpayers paid over $3 million for gerrymandered maps which greatly decreased the value their vote in 2011 and then again in 2021-22, but only $64,000 to help restore the value of their vote. That's real value and progress!" Cullen, a longtime leader and advocate for fair voting maps, added.

--------------------------

Jay Heck
608/512-9363 (cell)

Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 Johnson St, Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
www.commoncausewisconsin.org

Read More...


Tuesday, February 20, 2024

The Polls are Open for the Spring Primary

For release: Tuesday - February 20, 2024



Image: Vote Here sign outside of polling place / Photo: E Grunze

Check to see if you have an Election Today!

School board, alderperson, mayor, judges, town board or city council, county board members - these are elected positions that could be on your ballot today. However, because there is not a statewide contest in the spring primary, not all voters have a primary ballot to cast today, February 20th. You can check if you have any candidates on your ballot today by reviewing your sample ballot on MyVote Wisconsin.


These contests are important because you have the opportunity to narrow the field of candidates for school board seats and other local offices on the April 2nd Spring Election ballot. These school and local government officials represent you and your neighbors – and the decisions they make have a direct and real impact on your local community. So please do not miss this chance to make your voice heard at the ballot box in a big way. Look over the information below to make sure you have what you need to vote in this primary election. Polls in Wisconsin are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.


After you’ve checked MyVote to see if you have an election today and you know that you do, see if you are registered to vote at your current address by checking your voter status on MyVote. And, if you’re not registered (or your address or name has changed since you last voted), you can register to vote today at your polling location. Be sure to bring a proof of residence document (hard copy or electronic on your cell phone or tablet) when you vote today.


If you need to find out where to go to cast your ballot, visit the "Find My Polling Place" page on the Wisconsin Election Commission's My Vote Wisconsin website and type in your address.


If you want to see candidate information for those wanting to represent you, check vote411.org.


AND REMEMBER, every voter needs to bring an ID to the polls to vote. Bringit.wi.gov has complete information about what IDs you can use. Students attending any Wisconsin private and public universities, colleges, and technical colleges can see if their IDs can be used to vote at CCWI's student information page.


If you have any questions or have any problems at the polls, call the Election Protection Hotline, 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-886-687-8683).


The year’s elections kick off today! Be ready to vote in each election this year - April 2, August 13, November 5 - by making a plan. Your vote. Your voice. Your right.


--------------------------

Jay Heck
608/256-2686 (office)
608/512-9363 (cell)

Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 Johnson St, Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
www.commoncausewisconsin.org

Read More...