Breaking down the constitutional amendments on Wisconsin’s primary ballot

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - Two constitutional amendments slated for Wisconsin’s April 2 ballot could change the way the state’s elections are run.

When you get your ballot, don’t forget to flip it over. Depending on where you live, these two referendum questions may be placed on the back of your ballot instead of the front.

The first referendum would ban the use of private donations for administering elections.

“This is the money that private give to city clerks to spend for the purposes of helping people get to the polls and cast votes,” Howard Schweber, a political science professor at UW Madison said.

The referendum was inspired by what Republicans call “Zuckerbucks,” grants given to more than 200 communities in Wisconsin to aid election administration, like buying equipment and sending mail. The grants are funded by Facebook’s founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife.

“Every election we see people standing in line for six to eight hours in Milwaukee to vote because of the shortage of polling places,” Schweber said. “Starting in 2020, some groups, private groups stepped in to fund elections in those areas to make it more possible for people to vote.”

Republican State Sen Eric. Wimberger, the author of the proposal, said this outside money has to go.

“You want people to vote,” Wimberger said. “But to do it in a way that is using the levers of government to get out the vote in particular areas over others is the problem.”

Wimberger said there’s no need for private donors.

“So far I haven’t heard anything from anyone asking the state for supplemental funding because they’re lacking it,” Wimberger said.

The second referendum would mean only election officials designated by law could “perform tasks” in elections. However, advocates criticize the ambiguity of the language.

“It’s so vague and so broad that we’re even uncertain whether or not we would be allowed to do something that’s not in statute,” Debra Cronmiller, the executive director of the League of Women Voters, said.

Schweber added on his uncertainties, “[it] potentially can go even as far as driving people to the polls.”

The proposal’s author said that’s just how constitutional amendments are written.

“When you get too specific in the language, then you can find another path around it,” Wimberger said.

This is not the first time Wisconsin’s Constitution has been up for a change. The document has been amended nearly 150 times over the years.

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