Remember last month when you voted in the relatively quiet and straightforward 2024 Spring Primary? Well, get ready for the slightly more exciting general election: the 2024 Spring and Presidential Preference Election! The election is on Tuesday, April 2, but early voting begins today. Find out where and when to vote early HERE.
In Milwaukee, the election features races for mayor (incumbent Cavalier Johnson vs. David King), a handful of city positions (treasurer, comptroller, various alderpersons), and some county positions (various county supervisors). Find out what is on your specific ballot HERE.
As for the Presidential Preference thing, well, as TMJ 4 says, “the Presidential primary is essentially irrelevant—both Donald Trump and Joe Biden have already secured enough delegates for the Republican and Democratic nominations, respectively.”
Finally, all Wisconsin ballots include two election-related referendum questions. Here they are, along with quick explanations:
State of Wisconsin Use of Private Funds in Election Administration Referendum – Question 1
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?”
[Explanation: Proposed by Republicans in the state legislature. Inspired by grants, funded by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, that went to more than 200 Wisconsin communities during the 2020 election. Officials used to money to buy things like postage, hand sanitizer, drop boxes, and, in one case, a mobile voting van. Vote YES if you think grants like these and bad and communities should not be able to apply for them. Vote NO if you think they’re fine.]
State of Wisconsin Election Officials Referendum – Question 2
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?”
[Explanation: Proposed by Republicans in the state legislature. Inspired by an outside consultant who helped various cities run their elections in 2020. While the consultant did not perform tasks of an election official, “he wore a name tag that identified him as a city employee rather than a consultant” at Green Bay’s KI Convention Center. Vote YES if you think this is bad and should not allowed to happen in the future. Vote NO if you think it’s fine.]
And finally, Milwaukee ballots will include a third referendum question:
Milwaukee Public School District Exceed Revenue Limit Referendum
“Shall the Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee and Washington Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $140 million for the 2024-2025 school year; by an additional $51 million for the 2025-2026 school year; by an additional $47 million for the 2026-2027 school year; and by an additional $14 million (for a total of $252 million) for the 2027-2028 school year and thereafter, for the recurring purposes of sustaining educational programming, including offering career and technical education programs, attracting and retaining certified educators, and further improving art, music, physical education and language programs?”
[Explanation: Vote YES if you want MPS to have more money. Vote NO if you do not. According to FOX 6, “for the owner of a $100,000 home, approval of the referendum would mean a property tax increase of $216 next year. In 2020, 78% of Milwaukee voters approved an $87 million four-year referendum. The MPS board said per-pupil state funding has not kept up with inflation; instead, it has led to a $33,000 gap per student over the last 15 years.”]
So there you go. Vote!
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