Wisconsin voters set to weigh in on voting constitutional amendments after Assembly approves measures
MADISON — The Republican-controlled Assembly passed three elections and voting resolutions Thursday that will make changes to the state Constitution and soon require voters to weigh in.
The Senate also passed the resolutions Tuesday, in addition to a constitutional amendment that would prohibit Wisconsin officials and local governments from closing or restricting attendance at places of worship during a state of emergency.
Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, said the constitutional amendments "fly in the face" of other election bills taken up Thursday that have bipartisan support.
Two of the constitutional amendments are set to appear on next year's ballots, including a proposal that would bar state agencies and local governments from using private grant money to help administer elections. Voters will be posed with the issue on the April 2024 ballot.
The resolution stems from Republicans' long-standing scrutiny of $8.8 million in private grants, bankrolled by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg and his wife, that primarily went to the state's five largest cities that lean Democratic to help them administer elections safely during the pandemic.
More: Republicans focus on private funds in joint hearing on election proposals
Another measure would clarify that only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in Wisconsin. Currently, the state Constitution is written to allow "every U.S. citizen" 18 and older to vote. That question will be posed to voters in November 2024.
"It should be U.S. citizens determining the future of their local municipality, their state, their school boards," Majority Leader Tyler August, R-Lake Geneva said. "This is to clarify, or close a loophole, that could potentially lead to non-U.S. citizens voting in our state and local elections."
While some states and cities have moved to allow non-citizens to vote in local elections, Wisconsin's municipalities are prevented from doing so because state statutes limit voting in local elections to citizens.
The last constitutional amendment, which would enshrine voter ID laws in the state constitution, would have to pass the next Legislature before it goes to voters for ratification.
Republicans advancing the measure believe the identification laws could be undone by the state Supreme Court's new liberal majority or if Democrats gain control of the state Legislature.
"I feel that the legislation before us today is born out of fear and distrust," said Rep. Lee Snodgrass, D-Appleton. "You know that the governor has the power to veto, so you take the dramatic step of meddling with the state Constitution."
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Assembly passes voting constitutional amendments that now go to voters
