XPost: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh, wi.general, talk.politics.guns
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https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/wisconsin-ballot-question- noncitizens-voting-results/

MINNEAPOLIS — Wisconsin voters have passed a constitutional amendment
that explicitly bars noncitizens from voting, as projected by CBS News.

The statewide referendum authored by Republican legislators asks for
permission to amend the state constitution to clearly prohibit non-U.S. citizens from voting in any election held in the state.

MINNEAPOLIS — Wisconsin voters have passed a constitutional amendment
that explicitly bars noncitizens from voting, as projected by CBS News.

The statewide referendum authored by Republican legislators asks for
permission to amend the state constitution to clearly prohibit non-U.S. citizens from voting in any election held in the state.


Here's the exact wording of the yes/no 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?"

Article III Section 1 of the Wisconsin Constitution currently reads,
"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."

After Tuesday's vote, the article will now read, "Only a 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."

To take effect, Wisconsin constitutional amendments must pass two
consecutive legislative sessions and a statewide referendum. Republican lawmakers passed the measure in 2022 and again last year without a
single Democratic vote. Gov. Tony Evers has no role in approving
constitutional amendments.

Background
The proposed amendment is part of a push from the GOP across the country
in response to some municipalities in a handful of states letting
noncitizens vote in some local elections such as school board and city
council races. Currently, only 17 municipalities in the U.S. permit
noncitizens to vote in local elections — none of them are located in
Wisconsin.

No state constitutions explicitly allow noncitizens to vote and many
states have laws prohibiting them from voting in statewide races.
Additionally, a 1996 federal law already makes it illegal for
noncitizens to vote in federal elections. Still, Republicans argue they
are trying to protect election integrity.

"We're just trying to make it crystal clear in Wisconsin that voting is reserved for U.S. citizens only," said Rep. Tyler August, the Republican majority leader of the state assembly.

August says the point of the proposed amendment is to preempt potential
future efforts to allow noncitizen voting in local elections.

"We've seen some liberal states and municipalities across the country
start to allow non-U.S. citizens to vote in their municipal elections,"
he said. "We believe that's wrong."

Democrats and other opponents say the amendment has no practical effect
and is instead designed to draw conservatives to the polls and stoke
anger against foreigners in the United States.

Jeff Mandell with Law Forward, a nonprofit that works to protect voter
rights, says the amendment is "a solution in search of a problem."

He also says it opens the door to requiring proof of citizenship at the
polls.

"Making it easy to require evidence [of citizenship] would make it
harder for people [to vote] and might dissuade some people from turning
up to vote at all," Mandell said. "Most of us do not carry on us
everyday proof of our citizenship."

Debra Cronmiller, the executive director of the League of Women Voters
of Wisconsin, calls the amendment "offensive" and "anti-American" for
changing what she claims is the constitution's inclusive language of
"every" citizen voting to exclusive language of "only" citizens.

"This is feeding a narrative that is trying to create a new enemy, an
enemy that is the immigrant population," Cronmiller said.

Wisconsin Ethics Commission records show the only organization to
register in favor of the amendment this session is Wisconsin Family
Action, a conservative group that says it works to defend marriage, the
family and religious liberty.

Multiple organizations have registered in opposition, including the
American Civil Liberties Union and the League of Women Voters. Groups
opposing the amendment called it a power grab that fosters
discrimination and could lead to more anti-immigrant measures.

State data indicates voting by noncitizens is rare, although Republicans
have highlighted voter registration reviews that turned up potential noncitizens. The Heritage Foundation reported 23 instances of
noncitizens voting nationwide between 2003 and 2022. One of those cases happened in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin was not the only state with lawmakers proposing a change to
the language regarding who can vote. Seven states recently adopted
similar changes and voters in seven other states will decide whether to
adopt that provision too.


--
November 5, 2024 - Congratulations President Donald Trump. We look
forward to America being great again.

The disease known as Kamala Harris has been effectively treated and
eradicated.

We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.

Durham Report: The FBI has an integrity problem. It has none.

Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.

Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.

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