Wisconsin state referendum questions on spring ballot as confusing as IRS form | Opinion
Another Wisconsin election. Another confusing statewide referendum question. Actually, two of them.
No matter what corner of Wisconsin you’re voting in for the spring nonpartisan election on or before April 2, there are a few things everyone in the state will have the chance to vote on:
The presidential primary for your party.
And two constitutional referenda worded as clearly as an IRS tax form.
There's a case to be made that Wisconsin should provide voters with a straightforward nonpartisan explanation of statewide ballot items, instead of voters relying on media outlets, advocacy organizations, and op-eds to explain them. But here we are and here we go.
Constitutional questions on Wisconsin spring election ballot
The first question reads: "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?"
Translation: If you want to ban the use of private grants and donations in election administration, vote "Yes." If you think election officials should be allowed to apply for grants in order to have the resources they need to run an election, vote "No."
Crack down on reckless driving. Her daughter was nearly killed crossing the street.
The second question reads: "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?"
Translation: If you want to add verbiage to the Wisconsin constitution that only election officials can perform tasks in an election, vote "Yes. A "No" vote would not add that. It should be noted that state law already says that only appointed election officials can conduct elections. It doesn't say what activities count as conducting an election, but neither does the referendum.
Referendums grew out of the debate over 'Zuckerbucks'
Both of these referendums are based on concerns of Republicans in the Wisconsin State Legislature about about what happened during the 2020 election, namely "Zuckerbucks" and help from a consultant named Michael Spitzer-Rubenstein. As a reminder, more than 200 communities in Wisconsin got shares of the $10.6 million from the Center for Tech and Civic Life, a group funded by Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan.
The lion's share, $8.8 million, went to Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Racine and Kenosha — the state's five largest cities who also typically vote for Democrats. As for Spitzer-Rubenstein, there is an argument over whether or not his work amounted to administering an election.
What's concerning about both of these questions is that they are extremely consequential to how we run our elections but the execution of what happens if they pass has not been thought through.
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If voters approve the referendums, the changes would be in effect for the August primary and November general election. And yet, the Legislature failed to secure anymore funding for election officials so that they would not feel the need to apply for outside grants. They've also not specified who is and is not considered an "election official" and what constitute "tasks". If this passes, could it mean that voluntary poll workers can't volunteer? No one knows apparently.
Plainly stated, in the four years since election administrators were put through hell trying to pull off a safe and secure election during a global pandemic, the best our Legislature could do to set them up for success in 2024 was two pass two ballot measures through the Assembly and Senate in two consecutive legislative sessions.
Now, if those referenda pass, we are changing our constitution ahead of very big election and telling clerks, "You get no more help from public money. And you now can't get help from private money. And be careful which people you ask to do any undefined tasks having to do with administering an election. But good luck! Hope you don't screw it up.”
You can find a preview of your ballot at myvote.wi.gov. Kristin Brey is the "My Take" columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin election this spring includes two confusing questions
