Senator Quinn: Constitutional Amendment Coming To November Ballot

In November, a statewide referendum will give voters the opportunity to ensure that only American citizens vote in our elections. As a State Senator, it is my priority to do everything I can to safeguard the elections process and give voters confidence in our system. That’s why I supported adding this referendum to the ballot so that you and all Wisconsin voters can choose to amend the state constitution.

Here is the exact question that will appear on your ballot:

“Eligibility to vote. Shall section 1 of article III of the constitution, which deals with suffrage, be amended to provide that only a United States citizen age 18 or older who resides in an election district may vote in an election for national, state, or local office or at a statewide or local referendum?”

You might ask, “But aren’t non-citizens already prohibited from voting in an election?” In fact our state constitution says, “Every United States citizen age 18 or older who is a resident of an election district in this state is a qualified elector of that district.” That sounds pretty clear to you and me, yet several places in other states with similar language have allowed illegal immigrants to vote in local elections, by saying non-citizens can vote in addition to every citizen.

A “Yes” vote will replace the word “every” with “only” to ensure that only citizens in Wisconsin are able to vote in federal, state, and local elections. It does not change voter eligibility in any other way. A “No” vote will not amend the state constitution, leaving the current language in place with the potential for municipalities to allow non-citizen voting.

I want every voter in our state to be confident that our elections are secure, fair, and transparent. It’s now up to you – the voters – to choose whether to make this change to our state constitution to clarify who is eligible to vote in Wisconsin.

Election Day is November 5. For more information about this year’s elections, please visit http://myvote.wi.gov to check your voter registration status, find your polling place, see what’s on your ballot, or request an absentee ballot.