As part of the November 5th election, Wisconsin voters will decide whether to amend the state constitution, limiting voting rights explicitly to U.S. citizens. The referendum proposes replacing the word “every” with “only” in Article III of the constitution, clarifying that only U.S. citizens can vote in state and local elections—a shift supporters argue is necessary, though critics see it as politically motivated.
Senator Tammy Baldwin, facing a tough reelection, has declined to share how she plans to vote on the referendum. Despite inquiries from WISN-AM’s Mark Belling, Baldwin has not responded to questions from either her Senate office or campaign staff for nearly a week.
Eric Hovde, Baldwin’s opponent, has been consistent in his support for the constitutional amendment in public urging voters at events to support it- or vote YES.
Pro and Con Position on the Amendment
Republican State Senator Julian Bradley emphasizes the amendment’s importance, arguing that its passage will prevent future efforts to extend voting rights to non-citizens. “If we want to protect the right to vote for American citizens, we must act now,” Bradley asserted during a conservative poll observer training.
Currently, non-citizens cannot vote in Wisconsin under state law, but there is no formal proof-of-citizenship requirement during voter registration. Proponents of the amendment fear that, without a constitutional safeguard, future legislative changes could open the door for non-citizen voting—especially in light of other U.S. jurisdictions, such as Washington D.C. and some cities in California, Maryland, and Vermont, that permit non-citizens to vote in local elections.
Critics, including constitutional law expert Howard Schweber from UW-Madison, dismiss the amendment as unnecessary. “This is a response to a problem that doesn’t currently exist,” Schweber argues, pointing out that federal law already bars non-citizens from voting in national elections and that no Wisconsin municipality allows non-citizen voting locally.
Opponents also suggest the timing is a calculated political move, designed to stir up fear and anger during an election year. “It’s performative, making it seem as though non-citizen voting is a crisis when it’s not,” Schweber said.
Some Democrats in Wisconsin support allowing local governments to permit noncitizen voting. Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera Action, advocates for expanding voting rights in certain local elections, arguing that broader participation strengthens democracy.
On the ballot, voters will see the following question:
“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?”
A “yes” vote will amend the constitution, officially barring non-citizens from voting in any election in Wisconsin.
A “no” vote will leave the current wording intact, maintaining the status quo where non-citizens cannot vote, though future state or local legislative changes would remain possible.