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Wisconsin Question 2, Only Designated Election Officials to Conduct Elections Amendment (April 2024)
Wisconsin Question 2 | |
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Election date April 2, 2024 | |
Topic Elections and campaigns | |
Status Approved | |
Type Constitutional amendment | Origin State legislature |
Wisconsin Question 2, the Only Designated Election Officials to Conduct Elections Amendment, was on the ballot in Wisconsin as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on April 2, 2024. It was approved.[1][2]
A "yes" vote supported this amendment to provide that only election officials designated by law may administer elections. |
A "no" vote opposed this amendment to provide that only election officials designated by law may administer elections. |
Election results
Wisconsin Question 2 |
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Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
685,806 | 58.63% | |||
No | 483,900 | 41.37% |
Overview
What did Question 2 do?
- See also: Text of measure
Question 2 added a new section to Article III of the state constitution that states that no one other than an election official authorized by law may help conduct any election in the state. The ballot question was placed on the ballot with another amendment to the same section that prohibited any level of government in the state from applying or accepting non-governmental funds or equipment for election administration. It was also approved.[2]
Who supported and opposed Question 2?
- See also: Support and Opposition
Question 2 received endorsements from Election Integrity for Wisconsin, Opportunity Solutions Project, Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, and Wisconsin Voter Alliance. Madeline Malisa, visiting fellow at the Opportunity Solutions Project, said, "The funding of election operations, and where and how funds are being spent, are decisions that you—Wisconsin lawmakers—should make and not unaccountable special interest groups. Private funding of elections effectively allows private actors to influence who the winners and losers will be. These bills will safeguard Wisconsin elections from outside influence by prohibiting local governments from applying for, accepting, or spending any funding from private individuals or third parties for election administration. It will also allow only election officials to administer elections."[3]
Question 2 was opposed by All Voting is Local Action Wisconsin, Wisconsin Conservation Voters, 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."[4]
How did Question 2 get on the ballot?
- See also: Path to the ballot
In Wisconsin, the state legislature is required to approve an amendment by a simple majority vote in two successive sessions for the amendment to appear on the ballot. The joint resolution was approved during the 2021-2022 legislative session by a 21-11 vote in the Senate and a 58-32 vote in the Assembly. It was approved a second time during the 2023-2024 legislative session by a 21-10 vote in the Senate and 60-35 vote in the Assembly. The resolution placed two separate questions on the April ballot related to election administration. Question 1 prohibited any level of government in the state from applying or accepting non-governmental funds or equipment for election administration.
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question for the amendment was as follows:[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?[5] | ” |
Constitutional changes
- See also: Article III, Wisconsin Constitution
The measure added section 7 of Article III of the state constitution. The following underlined text was added:[2]
Section 7 (2) No individual other than an election official designated by law may perform any task in the conduct of any primary, election, or referendum.[5] |
Full text
The full text can be read here.
Support
Supporters
Officials
- State Sen. Eric Wimberger (R)
- State Rep. Tyler August (R)
Organizations
- Election Integrity for Wisconsin
- Opportunity Solutions Project
- Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty
- Wisconsin Voter Alliance
Arguments
Opposition
Opponents
Organizations
- ACLU of Wisconsin
- All Voting is Local Action Wisconsin
- League of Women Voters of Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Conservation Voters
- Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Arguments
Campaign finance
If you are aware of a committee registered to support or oppose this amendment, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.
Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions | Cash Expenditures | Total Expenditures | |
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Support | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Oppose | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Background
Wisconsin law governing election officials
Chapter 7 of Wisconsin Statutes governs election officials also known as poll workers. Election officials serve as chief election inspectors, election inspectors, greeters, tabulators, election registration officials, and special voting deputies. State law requires a municipality's governing board to appoint election inspectors from lists of nominees presented by the two dominant political parties. If municipalities do not receive party-nominating lists, the mayor, president, or chairperson may nominate eligible individuals regardless of party affiliation.[6]
State law requires all election officials to be qualified voters in the county in which the polling place where they will serve is. Election officials cannot be candidates on the ballot, and election inspectors cannot be immediately related to any candidate on the ballot.[6]
Article III, Wisconsin Constitution
- See also: Article III, Wisconsin Constitution
Article III of the Wisconsin Constitution is entitled Suffrage and consists of six sections, three of which were repealed in April 1986 with the approval of Question 1.
Wisconsin constitutional amendments
Between 1995 and 2023, Wisconsin voters decided on 17 constitutional amendments—approving 13 (76.47%) and defeating 4 (23.53%).
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Wisconsin Constitution
In Wisconsin, the state legislature is required to approve an amendment by majority vote in two successive sessions for the amendment to appear on the ballot.
2021-2022 legislative session
The amendment was introduced as Senate Joint Resolution 101 (SJR 101). The Wisconsin State Senate approved the amendment by a vote of 21-11 with one not voting on February 22, 2022. The Wisconsin State Assembly approved SJR 101 by a vote of 58-32 with five not voting on February 24, 2022.[1]
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2023-2024 legislative session
The amendment was introduced as Senate Joint Resolution 78 (SJR 78). The Wisconsin State Senate approved the amendment by a vote of 21-10 with two not voting on November 7, 2023. The Wisconsin State Assembly approved SJR 78 by a vote of 60-35 with four not voting on November 9, 2023. The resolution placed two separate questions on the April ballot related to election administration.[1]
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How to cast a vote
- See also: Voting in Wisconsin
Click "Show" to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Wisconsin.
How to cast a vote in Wisconsin | |||||
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Poll timesIn Wisconsin, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[7] Registration
To register to vote in Wisconsin, one must be a citizen of the United States and a resident of Wisconsin for at least 28 days prior to the election. A voter must be at least 18 years of age by Election Day.[8] Prospective voters can register online or by mailing a form to their municipal clerk. If registering by mail, the application must be postmarked no later than 20 days before the election. In-person registration must be completed by 5 p.m. on the Friday before Election Day. Prospective voters can also register in person at their municipal clerk's office up until the Friday before the election or at their polling place on Election Day. (Same-day voter registration requires proof of residency.)[8] Automatic registrationWisconsin does not practice automatic voter registration. Online registration
Wisconsin has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. Same-day registrationWisconsin allows same-day voter registration. Residency requirementsWisconsin law requires 28 days of residency in a precinct before a person may vote. Verification of citizenshipWisconsin does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. Verifying your registrationThe site My Vote, run by the Wisconsin Election Commission, allows residents to check their voter registration status online. Voter ID requirementsWisconsin requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[9] The following list of accepted ID was current as of May 2023. Click here for the Wisconsin Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
The following voters do not need to provide photo ID:[9]
Voters can obtain a free Wisconsin State ID Card at a Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles office. Voters need the following to apply for an ID:[10]
Voters who do not have all or any of the materials listed above can still obtain an ID. Call the voter ID hotline for assistance at (844) 588-1069.[10] |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Wisconsin State Legislature, "SJR 101," accessed January 5, 2023
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Wisconsin State Legislature, "Text of SJR 101," accessed January 5, 2023
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Testimony," accessed December 11, 2023
- ↑ All Voting is Local, "SET OF UNNECESSARY ELECTION AMENDMENTS PASSED BY WISCONSIN SENATE WILL CAUSE MORE BARRIERS TO THE BALLOT," November 7, 2023
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 6.0 6.1 Wisconsin Statutes, "Chapter 7," accessed November 30, 2023
- ↑ Wisconsin Election Commission, “Election Day Voting,” accessed May 4, 2023
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Voter Registration and Proof of Residence," accessed May 4, 2023
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Photo ID," accessed May 4, 2023 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; name "wvid" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 10.0 10.1 Wisconsin Department of Transportation, "Wisconsin ID card for voting purposes - petition process," accessed May 4, 2023
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