When you go to vote this fall, three constitutional questions will appear on your ballot. Each one has been passed by the Legislature in two consecutive sessions and will now go before the voters to decide whether or not they will be added to the Wisconsin Constitution.

Prohibiting a Governor from Using the Partial Veto to Increase a Tax or Fee

QUESTION 1: “Partial veto. Shall section 10 (1) (c) of article V of the constitution be amended to prohibit the governor, in exercising his or her partial veto authority, from creating or increasing or authorizing the creation or increase of any tax or fee?”

The Wisconsin Governor has one of the strongest veto pens in the entire country. Governor Evers used this veto power in 2023 to raise property taxes for the next 400 years. This constitutional amendment seeks to prevent future governors from increasing taxes and fees on their own.

YES vote - Prohibit the governor from using the partial veto to increase a fee or a tax without a vote by the full legislature.

NO vote - Maintain the status quo, allowing future governors to act independently of the legislature to increase your taxes.

Prohibiting the Government from Closing Places of Worship During States of Emergency

QUESTION 2: "Freedom to gather in places of worship during an emergency. Shall section 18 of article I of the constitution, which deals with religious liberty, be amended to prohibit the state or a political subdivision of the state from ordering the closure of, or forbidding gatherings in, places of worship in response to a state of emergency, including a public health emergency?"

During the COVID-19 pandemic, churches and other places of worship were forced to shut down due to strict orders from state and local governments. Businesses deemed "essential" were allowed to stay open, but places of worship were shuttered. This constitutional amendment seeks to prohibit the government from shutting down places of worship during a state of emergency, including a public health emergency.

YES vote - Prohibit governments from closing or forbidding gatherings in places of worship in response to a state of emergency.

NO vote - Allow governments to prohibit gatherings in places of worship during a state of emergency.

Prohibit Government Discrimination or Preferential Treatment Based on Race, Sex, Color, Ethnicity, or National Origin

QUESTION 3: "Governmental entity discrimination prohibited. Shall section 27 of article I of the constitution be created to prohibit governmental entities in the state from discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, public education, public contracting, or public administration?"

Wisconsin currently has a number of state laws, agency programs, and areas of the state procurement system that are, at least partially, based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. This constitutional amendment seeks to restore merit, fairness, and equality to all governmental entities in Wisconsin by prohibiting discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, public education, public contracting, or public administration.

YES vote - Prohibit the government from discriminating or granting preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin.

NO vote - Allow race-based programs, processes, and laws to continue in Wisconsin.

These three constitutional questions will be on your ballot for the November 3 election. Make sure you take the time to fully understand these questions before heading to vote!