MADISON, WI - During Thursday’s Assembly floor session, Representative James Edming (R-Glen Flora) voted to advance three constitutional amendments that will help protect the integrity of Wisconsin’s elections. The first Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 71 would amend the constitution to clarify that only U.S. citizens over the age of 18 are considered qualified electors in Wisconsin.
“This simple amendment will help ensure that only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote in Wisconsin elections,” said Rep. Edming. “In some municipalities around the country, local officials have attempted to expand voting rights to non-citizens. While this has not happened yet in Wisconsin, this proposed amendment would ensure that this does not become an issue here.”
The second proposed constitutional amendment approved by the Assembly was SJR 78, which would amend the constitution to prohibit state and local governments from using private funding for election administration as well as prohibiting individuals who are not election officials designated by law from performing any election-related task.
“Outside organizations should not influence the administration of Wisconsin’s elections,” said Rep. Edming. “Back in 2020 certain organizations used their funds to attempt to influence the election administration in certain municipalities around our state and I believe that is wrong. This proposed amendment will eliminate this practice and ensure that this does not happen again.”
Any amendment to the state constitution must be approved by two consecutive legislatures. Both SJR 71 and SJR 78 are the second consideration of these amendments. The amendment proposed by SJR 78 will now go to the voters for final approval in an April 2024 referendum and the amendment proposed by SJR 71 will go before the voters in November 2024.
In addition, the Assembly also approved SJR 73 which would enshrine the voter ID law in the state constitution. This proposed amendment needs to be approved again by the next Legislature before going to the people for approval in a referendum.
The 87th Assembly District includes all or portions of Marathon, Rusk, Sawyer and Taylor Counties.
Last Update: Nov 10, 2023 7:23 am CST
