MADISON, Wis. – Today, Sen. Jodi Habush Sinykin (D – Whitefish Bay), Rep. Deb Andraca (D – Whitefish Bay), and Rep. Lee Snodgrass (D – Appleton) announced legislation that requires statewide ballot referenda to be written using straightforward language and must indicate whether any part of the proposed amendment is already existing law.
The authors of this legislation released the following statements:
Sen. Habush Sinykin:
“Wisconsin Republicans, like those at the national level, are doing all they can to weaken the checks and balances essential to our democracy through ongoing ballot referendums seeking to amend our Wisconsin Constitution. Wisconsinites saw five statewide referendum questions proposed by Legislative Republicans in 2024 alone. This common-sense bill would eliminate confusing language on our ballots and provide voters with the legal context needed to understand the questions before them. If Republicans continue these efforts to bypass the legislative process, they must at the very least be required to provide clarity for the people of Wisconsin.”
Rep. Andraca:
“When Wisconsinites head to the polls, they deserve clear, understandable language on their ballots. We can empower all voters—regardless of age, background, or education level— by requiring that referenda be written in plain, accessible language. This isn’t a partisan issue; It’s about promoting civic engagement and ensuring all voters can readily understand what is on the ballot and what the implications are for the future of our state.”
Rep. Snodgrass:
“Plain and simple, people should have a clear understanding of what they are voting for. If my colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to continue to legislate by constitutional amendment, then we need to ensure that voters are not tricked or confused based on intentionally vague and obtuse language. This bill is meant to clarify ballot measures and help voters make fully informed decisions when voting on permanent constitutional changes at the ballot box.”
