Common Cause Wisconsin Urges “NO” Vote on Cynical Constitutional Ballot Question About Voting

For release: Tuesday - October 16, 2024

Image: Our voting rights are on the ballot! Vote No. November 5 Wisconsin Constitutional Amendment

Measure Could Disenfranchise Many Current Wisconsin Voters

Wisconsin voters have a number of critical choices to make at the ballot box this November. The U.S. Presidency, political control of the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and the Wisconsin Legislature are all up for grabs. But also slipped onto the ballot by a partisan and divisive vote of state legislators is a confusing constitutional amendment ballot question about voting rights. Common Cause urges voters to resoundingly reject the amendment with a ‘NO’ vote.

The question on the statewide ballot reads: “Eligibility to vote. Shall section 1 of article III of the (Wisconsin) constitution, which deals with suffrage, be amended to provide that only a United States citizen age 18 or older who resides in an election district may vote in an election for national, state or local office or at a statewide or local referendum?”

Much of that sentence is already enshrined in the Wisconsin Constitution. The major change is the word “only” replacing the current word “every.” And why is that change critically important and significant?

Because the Republicans, under the control and manipulation of Donald Trump, are hoping to frighten more people to the polls by raising the possibility of undocumented immigrants illegally voting -- even though they can’t and don’t. Under current law, if a non-citizen tries to vote in a Wisconsin election, they are subject to severe civil and criminal penalties and even deportation. Immigrant voting just doesn’t happen in our state. Federal law already prohibits noncitizens from voting for the U.S. President or Congress. Violators can be sentenced up to five years in prison and to deportation for simply registering to vote.

Additionally, the more restrictive language in the ballot question, if adopted, could lead to the disenfranchisement of American citizens at the ballot box. An unrestrained court could conceivably block a citizen from voting if they do not possess a U.S. passport or cannot access their birth certificate and cannot produce them when voting. There are numerous Wisconsin voters who currently do not possess a passport or cannot readily and easily locate their birth certificate. Should all or any of those eligible U.S. citizens be prevented from voting? That could occur if this misguided ballot question passes on November 5th.

“I will be voting NO on the constitutional amendment that could limit the voting rights of many people. Wisconsin citizens do not need more red tape when it is time to cast their vote,“ said Penny Bernard Schaber, the Chair of the Common Cause Wisconsin (CC/WI) Advisory Board and a former state representative from Appleton from 2009 to 2015.

“This abusive attempt to amend the state constitution is a continuation of an ongoing scheme by the current gerrymandered Republican majority in the Wisconsin Legislature to enact their partisan agenda and get their way, bypassing the Governor rather than working with him and others to reach a bipartisan consensus on this and other matters,” added Jay Heck the executive director of CC/WI since 1996.

State voters wisely and decisively defeated two such ballot questions this past August after being educated about them and should rise up and do so again on November 5th. A resounding “NO” vote is the only sane and responsible option on this ballot question as well.

On Wisconsin. Forward!

Jay Heck, Common Cause Wisconsin Executive Director

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Jay Heck

608/512-9363 (cell)

Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 Johnson St, Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703

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The fight for the survival of democracy will be won at the ballot box

For release: Monday - September 16, 2024

Image: Mikayla Hughes singing during an early voting gathering at the Midtown Center in Milwaukee. 

(Photo | Isiah Holmes, Wisconsin Examiner).

This Opinion Editorial was published in the Wisconsin Examiner – September 15, 2024

“The cure for the ills of democracy is more democracy,” is a famous maxim from the early 20th century that has been variously attributed to the prominent American social worker and women’s suffrage leader Jane Addams, to the leading American philosopher and psychologist of that era, John Dewey and, most famously, to the iconic former Wisconsin Governor and U.S. Senator Robert M. “Fighting Bob” LaFollette. Regardless of who actually coined that phrase, it was utilized by all three and has proven to be predictive and prescriptive time and again over the years. Now, it may never be more applicable and essential for the survival of our 235-year-old American Experiment in representative self-government than it is today, in 2024.

This year so far in Wisconsin has been an astonishingly positive period for the advancement of democratic engagement and participation after more than a decade of continuous diminishment and destruction of what was once considered the nation’s foremost laboratory of democracy.

Fair maps

In February, after 13 years of enduring one of the most partisan, unfair and unrepresentative political gerrymanders in the nation of our state’s legislative districts, Wisconsinites rejoiced as Gov. Tony Evers signed into law new, much fairer and more competitive state legislative voting maps. The new maps are in effect for 2024 and likely will remain in place until the end of this decade. These maps favor neither Democrats or Republicans. Instead, they much more accurately reflect the very closely divided, 50/50, “blue/red” partisan divide that is Wisconsin, arguably the most “purple” state in the nation.

The return of ballot drop boxes

In July the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned a misguided and injurious decision made two years ago by the previous court majority that wrongly prohibited the use of secure ballot drop boxes for all Wisconsinites. Disabled and elderly voters and people who live in areas where voting hours are limited used drop boxes to safely and securely return absentee ballots to election clerks in time for them to be counted on Election Day. Eliminating drop boxes was a callous voter suppression measure that was put in place only in Wisconsin and in about a dozen deep red southern and western states. Fortunately, the current Wisconsin Supreme Court majority corrected this travesty of justice and in many (but not all) communities, ballot drop boxes have been restored for the Nov. 5 election and beyond.

Voters reject constitutional amendments

Finally, in August during the partisan primary elections in Wisconsin, voters rose up and decisively defeated two constitutional ballot measures that would have hamstrung the ability of the governor of Wisconsin to distribute federal funds allocated to Wisconsin in times of emergency, such as a natural disaster or pandemic, without the permission of a small group of powerful partisan legislators. When voters were educated about the effect of this last gasp of a gerrymandered partisan legislative majority to seize more power and further upset the critical balance of political power in this state, voters resoundingly voted “No!” Voter turnout in August was higher in this state in a partisan primary election than any other in the past 60 years.

These three momentous and heartening victories for all of the voters of Wisconsin and for democracy signify that if citizens get engaged and informed they will support the expansion of voting rights, people empowerment and the preservation and enhancement of democratic norms and traditions and will defeat attempts to curtail these liberties. The recent developments in Wisconsin also demonstrate that a fully engaged citizenry and very robust voter turnout are as critical to the survival of democracy as oxygen is to the act of breathing and to life itself.

The cure for the ills of democracy in Wisconsin and nationally is voting. When we vote we help to cure the sickness of citizen disengagement that afflicts us as well as the despair, pessimism and cynicism that accompanies that sickness. When we vote we become a healthier and more empowered citizenry. The upcoming election on Nov. 5 is the most important and consequential of any for most of us in our lifetimes. There is no excuse for not actively participating in this election by, at the very least, voting. And each of us can and should do even more to promote voting by expressing its urgency with family members, friends, neighbors, and even strangers if we are able. Vote as if our country and democracy depend on it because in a very real and tangible way, it does.

Jay Heck

Since 1996 Jay Heck has been the Executive Director of Common Cause in Wisconsin, the state’s largest non-partisan citizens political reform advocacy organization with more than 12,000 members and activists.

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Jay Heck

608/512-9363 (cell)

Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 Johnson St, Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703

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College and University Students: Prepare now for the November General Election!

For release: Thursday - September 12, 2024

Image: Students Voting at polling place / iStock photo: Evgeniy Shkolenko

Important Information Students Need to be Able to Vote in Wisconsin! 

Welcome back, students! Fall semester is underway on public and private college and university campuses across Wisconsin. Now is the best time for students to make sure they are prepared to vote in the upcoming pivotal November 5th Election. Wisconsin is once again one of the most closely contested “battleground” states in the nation and is so important on so many levels: for the Presidency of the USA, for control of the US Senate and US House and, with fairer, more competitive new state legislative voting maps now in place, control of the Wisconsin Legislature may also be up for grabs. With so much at stake this November, we want to be sure you know what you need to have, and that Wisconsin law requires, in order for you to be able to make important choices at the polling place that will do so much to determine your lives and future.

First, students will find straightforward information from Common Cause Wisconsin on how to register to vote, find your polling place, and which photo IDs are eligible to cast a ballot in Wisconsin.

Three Things College Students Need to Do To Vote in Wisconsin

Additionally, Common Cause Wisconsin and Campus Vote Project has created an easy reference for students to look up their institution across the state to see if their current student ID is an acceptable form of ID for voting. Many public and private institutions' initially issued school ID is not compliant with Wisconsin’s voting laws. It’s very important to find out now your college or university-issued ID is acceptable for voting. If the student ID cannot be used for voting, students can find out if a separate school-issued photo ID card for voting is available and where to get one.

So, if you don't have a WI driver license or one of the other acceptable IDs, know your options and look up your school today!

Note: you can use a school-issued ID for voting that is expired. If you do present an expired student ID, you must also present (or display electronically) at the polls, a separate, current proof of enrollment document, such as an enrollment verification form, class schedule or tuition bill. If your student ID is unexpired, then you do NOT need to present proof of current enrollment.

It is important for students to find out and know now whether or not the photo ID issued by their public or private college or university in Wisconsin can be used when voting.

And, if you can complete your voter registration before Election Day, you will save yourself time on Election Day when you go to vote. Even if you move across the hallway to a new space in your dorm or apartment complex, you must re-register to vote with your current address. Don't wait until November to do this! If you were previously registered to vote in Wisconsin, you can re-register at your new address online through the official source at MyVote.wi.gov.

Please share this information widely with anyone you know who is attending a college, university, community or technical school in Wisconsin!

Ready to go above and beyond to help others be ready to vote this November?

Join Campus Vote Project and partners for the 4th Annual Wisconsin Student Voting Summit at Milwaukee Area Technical College for hybrid programming (virtual/in-person) 9/27 or in-person at MATC on 9/28. Learn how to inspire students to vote and have a great election! Get more information and register here.  

Students: Make voting an important part of what will make your fall semester successful. Prepare now, so your voter experience is smooth and without hassle when you cast your ballot in this November’s election and beyond.

One last thing. Your vote, especially in Wisconsin really matters and every vote really does make a difference. Four of the six elections for President of the United States since the year 2000 have been decided in Wisconsin by less than one percent of the vote! That means as few as about 6,000 votes have separated the winner from the loser in our state. So that means your voice does get heard and your vote really does count and will matter. So, make voting a priority this Fall and to make it easier on yourself, prepare to vote now!

Forward and On Wisconsin!

Jay Heck

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Jay Heck

608/512-9363 (cell)

Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 Johnson St, Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703

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Democracy Scorecard 2024

For release: Monday - September 9, 2024

Image: Holding Power Accountable

Dismally Low Scores for Three Wisconsin Members of Congress on Common Cause’s 2024 Democracy Scorecard 

Common Cause, the nonpartisan watchdog, released its 2024 Democracy Scorecard, recording every member of Congress’ support for voting rights, Supreme Court ethics, and other reforms.  

“Our 2024 Democracy Scorecard shows a surge of support in Congress for reforms that strengthen the right to vote, take back the Supreme Court, and break big money’s grip on our politics,” said Virginia Kase Solomón, President & CEO of Common Cause. “The number of members of Congress with perfect scores increased more than 100% from 2020, with 58 members in our 2020 Scorecard to 117 today. As we see the wealthy and well-connected try to influence our politics and our very livelihoods, we must demand our leaders deliver on the people’s pro-democracy agenda.”   

 

Since 2016, Common Cause has tracked support and co-sponsorship of key democracy reform legislation. This year’s scorecard includes ten bills and votes in the U.S. Senate and 13 in the U.S. House, including the Freedom to Vote Act, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act, and more.

   

“The 2024 Democracy Scorecard empowers Wisconsin voters with information to hold their elected U.S Senators and U.S. House Members in Washington accountable for a government that works for all,” said Jay Heck, Executive Director of Common Cause Wisconsin, since 1996.

“Three of Wisconsin’s members of Congress earned a ‘zero’ on this year’s scorecard, demonstrating that democracy is not a shared value experienced equally by some of those entrusted to uphold and protect it. With this year’s pivotal election in our key battleground state, we must drive these key reforms to the top of the public agenda so everyone can have access to an accountable federal government, no matter what part of Wisconsin these elected officials represent,” Heck added. 

Wisconsin Members of Congress with perfect scores:   

• Senator Tammy Baldwin: 10/10  

• Representative Mark Pocan: 13/13  
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Wisconsin Members of Congress with scores of zero:   

• Senator Ron Johnson: 0/10  

• Representative Scott Fitzgerald: 0/13   

• Representative Tom Tiffany: 0/13  
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Common Cause is a nonpartisan organization and does not endorse or oppose candidates for elected office.  

To view the 2024 Democracy Scorecard and the scores of all of Wisconsin’s Members of Congress, click here.   

Common Cause is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to create open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity, and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process.  

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Jay Heck, Executive Director

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Jay Heck

608/512-9363 (cell)

Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 Johnson St, Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703

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