Democrats slammed Republican lawmakers for spreading incorrect information about the 2020 election and for letting voters choose the questions.
Wisconsin Democratic Party spokesperson Joe Oslund said, "Thanks to Robin Vos and Republican politicians in Wisconsin's legislature, our Constitution will now reflect the lies Donald Trump has told about his 2020 loss, lies he repeated even today on stage in Green Bay."
Tuesday's Wisconsin rally saw Trump again erroneously claim he won the state in 2020. Vos, the Republican state Assembly Speaker, spearheaded a highly publicized 2020 election inquiry backed by Trump loyalists that found no misconduct.
Unlike other springtime battles in the purple state in recent years, outside groups did not focus on or fund the ballot proposals.
Opponents expected they would pass, arguing that a boring, low-turnout primary contest after both major parties have chosen their nominees would only draw only devoted supporters.
Heck suggested their influence may be significant. With funding cut and poll worker eligibility limited, conspiracy theories and chaos during and after another close race this fall—the state's past two presidential elections were both decided by fewer than 23,000 votes—may increase.
Republicans in the Legislature put the initiatives to voters after Democrat Gov. Tony Evers vetoed their attempts to adopt similar laws. Wisconsin is one of a few states that puts constitutional amendments on the ballot. Voters in other states can directly place such items on ballots by accumulating signatures.
Since 2020, at least 27 states have “prohibited, limit or regulate the use of private or philanthropic funding to run elections,” according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
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