Wisconsinites from all corners of the state value our freedom to vote. We turn out to vote in record numbers, and that scares some politicians in Madison who know their unpopular political agendas won’t carry the day if we all have a say. So instead of doing the work we need them to do, like ensuring our schools are adequately funded and our healthcare is made affordable, they sometimes spend their time attacking our freedom to vote.
This time, they have rammed a hyper partisan measure – Senate Bill 95 / Assembly Bill 87 – through the Wisconsin Legislature that would prevent 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 amounts to nothing more than 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.
TELL GOV EVERS TO VETO THE POLL TAX BILL
But the goal of this misguided and partisan legislation is to make it more difficult for long marginalized and over-policed 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 cast a vote.
The people pushing this bill want us to believe it’s about protecting crime victims. But using people who have been subject to crime as political cover for voter suppression is dishonest and deeply disrespectful.
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 bill doesn’t make whole people who have survived crime; it just weakens democracy and puts the right to vote out of reach through a poll tax – an outrageous and deeply unfair price tag on the freedom to vote.
Along strict party lines, Republicans in the Wisconsin Assembly passed SB 95/AB 87 in a 53 to 44 vote on March 13, 2025. And last week, on June 18th also with only Republican votes, the State Senate also narrowly passed this hyper partisan anti voter measure by an 18 to 14 margin.
It is now awaiting consideration and action by Gov. Tony Evers. We see through politicians who pass legislation to sabotage voters to attempt to gain partisan political advantage. We deserve leaders who protect our freedoms, not restrict them and call on Governor Evers to veto this deceptive and misguided measure — SB 95/AB 87.
TELL GOV EVERS TO VETO THE POLL TAX BILL
You can utilize this letter writing form provided here to let Governor Evers know you oppose this measure and encourage him to use his veto power to prevent this bill from becoming law.
Thank you for taking action.
On Wisconsin,
Jay Heck, Executive Director, Common Cause Wisconsin
