Just Vote No (and Yes)

🎼 No-No-No-YES

In addition to candidates, referendums are on the November ballot. Faced with Tony Evers' veto pen, the hyper-gerrymandered Republican-captured state Legislature has been using the referendum process to bake their policies, as amendments, into our state  Constitution for several years. 

While election day is not until November 3, some people are already voting with absentee ballots and absentee in person voting will begin on October 20. NOW is the time to make sure voters understand these referendums.

Wisconsinites, unlike the citizens of about half the other states, have never had the power to enact policies through state-wide referendums, though we can make changes at the local level through the direct legislation process (more on this below).

But, the state Legislature can bring referendums that amend our Constitution to the ballot by passing the exact same language in two consecutive legislative sessions. Often, the wording is deliberately opaque or confusing, and often there's little voter education about the consequences of a yes vote. In recent years, uninformed Wisconsin voters have helped Republicans make voting harder and enact stricter bail policies through similar referendums.

Here's how you know whether to vote for them or not - Republicans want you to vote for them.

This fall, there are three Republican-backed state-wide referendums on our ballot.

This Wisconsin Watch article explains their intent. "The proposals would limit the governor’s veto power, allow religious gatherings during health emergencies and ban government DEI programs."

The Wisconsin League of Women Voters has an excellent explainer on the "anti-equity" and other two referendums. The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign has a VOTE NO TOOLKIT you can use to help spread the word.

Now, about that YES vote. A group of citizen action and grassroots healthcare organizations, using the direct legislation process noted above, have brought a local referendum to La Crosse (and Eau Claire) voters to create Local Healthcare Action Plans in each community.

Per Community Action Wisconsin, "A Local Healthcare Action Plan is a community-based process — driven by residents, healthcare experts, and local leaders — for assessing healthcare affordability and access in La Crosse or Eau Claire, evaluating the policy decisions that affect it, and developing a published set of recommendations for action."

La Crosse Ballot Question

"Shall the City establish a Citizens' Advisory Healthcare Action Committee to develop a biennial Healthcare Action Plan and provide a public process for community input on healthcare?"

YES — The City of La Crosse would establish a Citizens' Advisory Healthcare Action Committee, charged with developing a biennial Healthcare Action Plan and creating a public process for community input on healthcare.

NO — The measure would not pass and the Committee would not be established.

Now YOU know. Tell everyone else. Get more information about your voter registration, your voting options, and what's on your ballot at https://myvote.wi.gov.