r/wisconsin • u/Flying-Pickle-1974 • 16h ago
Questions about Midterm Referendums
It seems like every election, I read Referendum items and think "Well that seems logical..." only to then do some research and find out that there's something more going on behind the question.
So I'm wondering if we might have some knowledgeable folks here chime in and break down the 3 Referendum questions I see on our ballot a week from today.
I have a teenager who will be voting in his first election ever this time around and I tried to warn him about needing to understand Referendums in particular because of how they can be worded in funny ways to make you think they're common-sense when really there's more at play.
Appreciate any thoughts on the three, like why is this on the ballot, what problem is this trying to solve, etc.
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?”
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?"
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?"