Wisconsin Voters To Act On Election Integrity
Wisconsin voters are gearing up to decide on significant state constitutional amendments come April 2, aimed at bolstering the integrity of state elections. Two Republican-endorsed ballot measures will be on the ballot. One seeks to outlaw private grant funding for election administration, a topic that has sparked considerable controversy since the 2020 elections. The other would require that only legally designated officials should oversee elections.
The amendments’ proposal follows a nationwide trend in which Republicans have initiated measures to restrict private funding in elections after the dubious results in the 2020 and 2022 elections. This pushback stems from concerns highlighted in Wisconsin, where cities predominantly supporting Joe Biden received substantial funds from the Center for Tech and Civic Life — a group that conservatives claim has an undue influence on local elections.
State Sen. Eric Wimberger (R), a prominent figure in proposing the amendments, has emphasized the necessity of these changes. “Wisconsin’s status as a swing state makes election integrity measures important locally, nationally and internationally,” he wrote on social media.
Wisconsin voters are set to decide next month whether to make it unconstitutional to accept private grant money to help administer state elections. https://t.co/NnH07xsRSS https://t.co/RUpp7D2AGk
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) March 17, 2024
Predictably, Democrats argue the amendments could complicate election administration and potentially hinder voter access. Sam Liebert of All Voting is Local Action Wisconsin has dismissed the amendments as “thinly veiled attempts to restrict voting rights.”
Nevertheless, supporters argue these measures are essential for fair and impartial election conduct. They particularly point to the influx of funds, pejoratively referred to as “Zuckerbucks,” arguing it could sway electoral outcomes unfairly. This concern underscores a broader call from conservatives and legal experts, like Kyle Koenen from the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, for a nonpartisan approach to elections free from external financial pressures.
As early in-person absentee voting begins, the stakes are high. These amendments could redefine Wisconsin’s electoral landscape, impacting not just state elections but resonating nationally, especially as more amendments loom. For example, upcoming votes will address whether the Legislature should have a say in federal fund allocation. This move could shift significant powers from the governor’s office.
As Wisconsin voters head to the polls, their decisions will extend beyond the state’s borders. They are not just deciding on the specifics of election administration. Still, they are also contributing to a more extensive dialogue on what modern American democracy should look like — a straightforward, honest, and secure system for electoral integrity that maintains every opportunity for robust participation by eligible voters.