On August 8th Gov. Tony Evers vetoed hyper partisan legislation — Senate Bill 95 / Assembly Bill 87— rammed through the Wisconsin Legislature earlier this year that would have prevented people with felony convictions from regaining their constitutional right to vote until they have paid all “fines, costs, fees, surcharges and restitution” imposed as part of their sentence.
This amounted to a modern-day poll tax on many voters in Wisconsin – which American courts and lawmakers of both political parties have long opposed and fought against.
Gov. Evers wisely and perceptively blocked this misguided legislation from being enacted into law. This measure had as its goal to make it more difficult for long marginalized communities in Wisconsin who are disproportionately Black, Indigenous and other people of color, as well as people living in poverty and those with disabilities to be able to exercise their right to vote.
According to the ACLU of Wisconsin, our state does not have a centralized database tracking the exact amount of an individual’s financial obligation that must be met for re-enfranchisement. This would make it nearly impossible for some individuals to determine what they owe, if anything, and whether they would be eligible to vote. This legislation didn’t make whole people who have survived crime; it just would have weakened democracy and put the right to vote out of reach through a poll tax – an outrageous and deeply unfair price tag on the freedom to vote.
Common Cause Wisconsin was proud to have played an active role in educating and mobilizing Wisconsin citizens about the deeply divisive and negative effects of this legislation. Our public calls to action (and your participation!) to oppose SB 95/AB 87 resulted in nearly 700 letters and other communications to Gov. Evers urging his veto of the measure. The Governor listened and responded to his constituents. He deserves the thanks of all Wisconsinites who value the freedom and right to have their views and votes expressed and counted at the ballot box.
On Wisconsin. Forward!
Jay Heck, Executive Director on behalf of everyone at Common Cause Wisconsin
