Wisconsin voters are currently deciding on two Republican-backed constitutional amendments that aim to address the use of private money in elections. One of the proposals would ban the use of private funds, specifically targeting grants received in 2020 from Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg. The other proposal seeks to ensure that only designated election officials can administer elections, a measure already in place but one that would be harder to repeal if added to the state constitution. Democrats have opposed both measures, arguing that they would make it more challenging to conduct elections in the critical battleground state.
The amendments are in response to grant money that came to Wisconsin in 2020 from the Center for Tech and Civic Life, a liberal group advocating for voter access. The organization received a $300 million donation from Zuckerberg and his wife to assist election officials during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds were intended to help with the purchase of supplies and the management of elections before vaccines were widely available. Critics of the funding, including Republicans who referred to it as “Zuckerbucks,” claimed that the majority of the money went to Democratic strongholds, alleging that it was an attempt to influence the election in favor of Democrats.
The debate over private election grants has been ongoing since 2020, with Republicans in various states moving to restrict or prohibit such funding. In Wisconsin, the proposed amendments have garnered support from Republicans and conservative groups, including the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty and Election Integrity for Wisconsin. On the other hand, they are being opposed by government watchdog and liberal organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union, Common Cause Wisconsin, and the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin. The measures have caused concerns among opponents, who fear that they could lead to efforts to limit current practices that promote voter participation.
Despite the opposition from Democrats, the constitutional amendments were split into two questions on the ballot for Wisconsin voters to decide. Not a single Democratic legislator voted in favor of the amendments, which were introduced by the Republican-controlled Legislature to bypass a likely veto by Democratic Governor Tony Evers. Amendments in Wisconsin do not require the governor’s approval, making them an effective means for legislators to enact changes to the state constitution. The state has a history of approving constitutional amendments, with 148 out of 200 proposed amendments being approved since the adoption of the state constitution in 1848.
The ongoing debate over the use of private funding in elections has become a contentious issue in Wisconsin, with both sides presenting strong arguments for and against the proposed constitutional amendments. Republicans argue that the measures are necessary to ensure the integrity and impartiality of elections, while Democrats and advocacy groups express concerns that the amendments could restrict voter access and participation. With polls open for voters to make their voices heard on the matter, the outcome of the referendum will have significant implications for election practices in Wisconsin and potentially influence future voting rights debates nationwide. The controversy surrounding the funding from Mark Zuckerberg and the subsequent push for constitutional amendments underscores the broader discussion around campaign finance and the role of private money in shaping the democratic process.
