Letter to the editor:

There are two referendums on the April 2 ballots that would result in drastic changes to the Wisconsin Constitution.  These changes could result in  longer lines to vote, fewer voting locations, and delays in counting ballots.  All these things are determined by how much money the state allocates for elections.  During Covid, the legislature failed to provide enough funding to run elections on the local level.  Nonpartisan grants provided a lifeline for local communities operating on shoestring budgets to run elections.  Referendum 1 would ban these non-partisan grants and necessitate raising taxes to fully fund elections.

Vote ‘no’ for Referendum Question 1.

Referendum 2 would require that only election officials conduct elections.  But local election clerks rely on volunteers, community members and experts to make sure our elections run smoothly and the results are accurate. Voter education organizations like the League of Women Voters play an important role in informing the public are their right to vote and how to register for voting. The referendum question, moreover, does not define who election officials are. The wording is vague and uncertain, which could result in unwarranted challenges to accurate election results.

Vote ‘no’ on Referendum Question 2.

Please support fully-funded and well-run elections and vote no to both of these constitutional amendments.

Mariette Nowak

East Troy