All of us deserve to have a voice in shaping our future and solving our biggest problems. On April 2nd, many of our county, town, and school board positions will be on the ballot. Local offices hold sway in decisions that change our daily lives: the food we grow, the housing our families depend on, and the main streets we love. That’s why Patsy W of River Falls has been focused on the April 2nd election for months.
“I want to be a part of getting things done on the local level. My personal dream is for a library-friendly candidate on my local city council,” said Patsy. “In January, I started working with half a dozen GROWW members to elect local officials we can really work with.”
There are a wide range of local elections this spring. Some, in Polk, Dunn, St. Croix, and Pierce Counties, include 10 endorsed candidates who support GROWW’s Platform (from Patsy and her team’s efforts). For most of us, the April 2nd hasn’t been top of mind, so what do you need to know?
What’s On Your Ballot?
Local races impact how dollars are used and decisions are made in our own communities. Even so, they get less publicity than races like the Presidential Primaries (including the option some are taking to vote uninstructed delegation). So what’s on your ballot here at home?
Depending on where you live, you’ll have different choices on your ballot – from the people overseeing local school districts to the folks making decisions about affordable housing investments. But fear not – that information is easy to find!
Check out My Vote Wisconsin for a full rundown of what you can expect. They’ve got all your local races, sample ballots, help finding your polling place, and more.
Voting on (Confusing) Constitutional Amendments
Regardless of where you live in Wisconsin, there are two referendum questions that will appear on all our ballots. Here’s what you can expect to see:
State of Wisconsin Use of Private Funds in Election Administration Referendum – Question 1
“Use of private funds in election administration. Shall section 7 (1) of article III of the constitution be created to provide that private donations and grants may not be applied for, accepted, expended, or used in connection with the conduct of any primary, election, or referendum?”
State of Wisconsin Election Officials Referendum – Question 2
“Election officials. Shall section 7 (2) of article III of the constitution be created to provide that only election officials designated by law may perform tasks in the conduct of primaries, elections, and referendums?”
We had some questions when we read these, so you might too. Here’s what we’ve learned: Both of these referendum questions would reduce the options that local election officials depend on to run things smoothly on election day. We’re recommending a “No” vote on both issues.
Question 1: Aims to end local municipalities’ ability to accept grant funds that can allow our elections to run smoothly.
Running our elections costs money. This change would shift the burden further onto state and local tax payers. The amendment would prevent municipal governments from accepting grants that help make our elections smooth and secure.
For voters, this change could lead to long lines and wait times at polling places, fewer polling places, longer waits for election night results, and more due to lack of funding.
A “No” vote will help ensure our clerks have the support and money they need to keep our elections running.
Question 2: Aims to prevent local municipalities from bringing in community members, volunteers, or outside experts that allow our elections to run smoothly.
Elections are a lot of work. Our Municipal and County Clerks rely on outside experts, volunteers, and community members to make sure our elections are run smoothly and the results are accurate.
Voter education organizations play a critical role in informing the public about their right to vote. This proposed change to our constitution ties the hands of our communities from bringing in the people we need to run our elections and make our voices heard.
A “No” vote will help ensure our clerks have the knowledge and people power they need to run our elections.
This is What Local Power Looks Like
All of us deserve our power and voices to be taken seriously. We know and love our homes and our communities, and together, we’re both closest to our problems and their solutions.
Don’t recognize some of the names or offices on your ballot? In unfamiliar races, you can talk to neighbors and community members you trust about who they’re voting for and why. Frequently, candidates will have Facebook or web pages that can be useful to find where they stand on the issues that matter to you. Finally, you can double check to see if any of your local candidates have made our All in Favor team’s endorsements.
Want to learn more about GROWW and our work? Sign up to stay in touch with our newsletter and other updates, or contact an organizer to start working with us toward a future where everyone in our communities can make ends meet, live with dignity, and have a voice in shaping the decisions that impact us.
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