Madison, WI—Representative Jerry O’Connor (R-Fond du Lac) released the following statement after the Assembly passed AB 207, a bill to require the creation of a “State Referendum Disclosure Notice”:
“Ensuring that voters understand what they are voting for or against should never be a partisan issue.
Today, I am proud to report that the Assembly unanimously passed AB 207, my bill creating a non-partisan State Referendum Disclosure Notice to help voters clearly understand state referenda. With very few exceptions, every voter, like me, has asked this question while standing in line to vote: ‘Why don’t they write the constitutional referendum questions in plain English?
AB 207 requires that every constitutional referendum be accompanied by a State Referendum Disclosure Notice that includes the legal language, a plain-language “Explanation of Proposal,” and a clear definition of “What Your Vote Means,” drafted by the amendment’s authors in conjunction with the LRB. These notices only relate to state referendum questions.
Notices will be posted at polling places on Election Day, provided during early voting, mailed with absentee ballots, and posted online by counties, MyVote Wisconsin, and the WEC weeks before Election Day.
I am proud that AB 207 garnered bipartisan support in committee and on the floor, as well as the backing of groups including the League of Women Voters, ACLU, Disability Rights Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. Senator Tomczyk and I designed this bill for voters, not partisan interests, to ensure every eligible voter can easily understand state referendums.”
