To the editor,

Don’t miss the referendum questions on your November ballot, and certainly don’t miss their misleading elements. Ill-intentioned legislators have approved misleading referendum questions about ill-advised proposed amendments to our state constitution, and while these amendments appear equitable, they are not. I urge you to read these referendum questions closely and do your research BEFORE you walk into the ballot booth or complete your absentee ballot.

One item in particular is especially deceiving. State Referendum Question #3 reads:

“Shall section 27 of article 1 of the constitution be created to prohibit governmental entities in the state from discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, public education public contracting, or public administration?”

On the surface, this seems reasonable, and even equitable, but it’s actually the opposite.

In truth, the amendment would negate established equity-based programs that encourage fair treatment under the law for many Wisconsin residents and reverse the equity gains Wisconsin has made over the past 50 years for women, people of color, and ethnic minorities. This is an anti-equity amendment, not an anti-discrimination amendment.

What’s more, the amendment is not needed to prevent discrimination. Our federal and state constitutions, along with our federal and state laws, already prohibit governmental discrimination on many important levels.

In reality, the proposed amendment would reduce Wisconsin’s ability to address long-standing disparities. It would do this by removing necessary tools from public systems that actually promote equal opportunity and equitable access for all of us. 

The Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice’s Voter Engagement Campaign states: “This isn’t about fairness. It takes away the tools Wisconsin uses to fix long-standing problems in healthcare, education, and jobs.”

Read the referendum question and then read it again. Make sure you understand EXACTLY what it does and does not say.

Then, spread the word! Encourage people to vote “NO” on this and the other two proposed Wisconsin Constitutional Amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Laurie Harmon

Hudson