The questions could be problematic for elections officials, clerk says.
MADISON (WKOW) -- The Associated Press projected that two referendum questions addressing how Wisconsin's elections are administered will pass following the April 2 presidential primary.
Republican lawmakers introduced the two referendum questions following the 2020 election when the state received private grants to help administer its elections during the COVID-19 pandemic. The referendums passed through the state legislature twice before they were included on the ballot.
Republicans and conservative groups, in support of the constitutional amendments, have continued to argue that private grants, often referred to as "zuckerbucks", were disproportionately allocated to the state's largest liberal-leaning cities during the 2020 presidential election.
Democrats and liberal groups asking voters not to pass the measures said any municipality could apply for and receive this funding based on the operational needs of that community.
27 News spoke with Dane County Clerk Scott McDonnell, who said clerks are concerned that Question 1 will hurt Wisconsin's smaller districts the most. McDonnell also argued Question 2 would make it difficult to determine how election officials are categorized without those guidelines being explained in the constitutional amendment.
"These questions are kind of problematic for election officials because of how vague they are. They say only election officials can do election things," said McDonell. "We have a vendor print our ballot. Who do we buy our election equipment from? The vendor, are they election officials?"
27 News also spoke with Republican Senator Eric Wimberger (R-Green Bay), lead author of the proposal that added these referendum questions to the April primary ballot, just as polls were closing. Wimberger said these referendums will help to ensure Wisconsin's future elections are more secure.
"What we've been lacking in the last few years is confidence in what happens at the ballot box, because you wonder if the local government had been tinkering with one thing or another," Wimberger said. "So to bring that confidence back to the voting process, will afford a lot of people an ability to move on."
Since unofficial results show that these referendums will likely pass, they will be enacted into law as amendments to Wisconsin's constitution without Gov. Tony Evers' signature.
