Guest Column: Constitutional Amendment Coming To April Ballot

On April 2, voters will decide if the state constitution should be amended to prohibit the use of private funds and involvement in the administration of our elections.

Here are the exact questions as they will appear on the April ballot:

1. Shall section 7 (1) of article III of the constitution be created to provide that private donations and grants may not be applied for, accepted, expended, or used in connection with the conduct of any primary, election, or referendum?
2. Shall section 7 (2) of article III of the constitution be created to provide that only election officials designated by law may perform tasks in the conduct of primaries, elections, and referendums?

A “Yes” vote will add these provisions to the Wisconsin Constitution. A “No” vote will not amend the Wisconsin Constitution.

In order to amend the state constitution, a proposal must pass both houses of the legislature in two subsequent sessions and then be approved in a statewide election. Last year, as a member of the State Senate, I voted to ask you and all voters around the state the questions that will be on the April ballot.

Why should you care about these questions? In recent elections, millions of dollars of out-of-state private funds flowed into our state – with the vast majority of money going to just five cities in Wisconsin. The first question addresses concerns over the distribution of such funds and the potential for undue influence within our election system.

What’s more is that in at least one case, unaccountable private employees used the funds to act as decision-makers in the administration of an election. Approving the second question would allow only those officially designated as election officials to carry out essential election tasks.

The intent of these measures is to ensure that all communities, large or small, and regardless of their political affiliation, have a level playing field in administering elections without interference. If passed, Wisconsin would join 27 other states in banning the use of private grants for election administration.

I want every voter in our state to be confident that our elections are secure, fair, and transparent. It’s now up to you – the voters – to choose whether to add these amendments to our state constitution and make clear how you want Wisconsin’s election systems to be run.

For more information about this year’s elections, please visit http://myvote.wi.gov to check your voter registration status, find your polling place, see what’s on your ballot, or request an absentee ballot.

Romaine Robert Quinn (R-Cameron) represents the 25th Senate District, which includes all of Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, Iron, Burnett, Washburn, Barron, and Price Counties, and significant portions of Sawyer County.