Push to limit noncitizen voting on Wisconsin ballots

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- At the bottom of your ballot, voters will see a statewide referendum asking whether to amend Wisconsin's constitution to prohibit noncitizens from voting in any election.

If approved, language would be added to the state constitution to say "only" a U.S. citizen age 18 or older can vote in an election for "national, state, or local office or at a statewide or local referendum.”

The Republican Party of Wisconsin said they've invested thousands encouraging voters to back the measure.

"Will have several hundred thousand invested into it, but we think it's an important issue," said Brian Schimming, chair of the state GOP party.

Under federal law, it's already a crime for noncitizens to vote in federal elections. Wisconsin also requires voters to be U.S. citizens to cast a ballot and they must check a box on a voter registration form acknowledging they have legal status.

It's why many Democrats oppose the amendment and call it unnecessary.

"I think there's a cynical game being played to put things in our constitution that are already laws," said Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

Still, the issue has become a rallying cry for Republicans as many raised concerns that an influx of undocumented immigrants could lead to more noncitizens voting. Former President Donald Trump has also tied the issue to his pledge of "mass deportations" if elected.

While it's top of mind for some voters, data from several states show noncitizen voting is extremely rare.

A 2016 election review by the Brennan Center for Justice found 30 incidents of suspected noncitizen voting across 12 states that were referred to further investigation. That's fewer than three dozen reports out of 23.5 million votes.

In Wisconsin, there's only been four instances since 2015 where the state elections commission has been made aware of election fraud tied to citizenship.

There is no evidence to support the idea that noncitizens are voting in Wisconsin in significant numbers, a spokesman for WEC said.

Lisa Tollefson, the clerk of Rock County, doubts undocumented immigrants would risk facing a felony to cast a vote.

"There's so many checks and balances we have in place, and if someone is here illegally, do you really think they are going to the polls?" Tollefson said.

All voters are required to show an ID to register to vote or cast a ballot.

State law requires every eligible voter to be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years old, who has lived in Wisconsin for 28 consecutive days before an election.

Rep. Bryan Steil, a Republican from Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District, has called on WEC to issue guidance for clerks during early in-person voting due to concerns about temporary IDs.

Members of the bipartisan elections commission will meet on Friday after receiving questions from clerks asking how to proceed with certain IDs at the polls. Those include "limited term" and "non-domiciled IDs" that are issued to temporary visitors.

The meeting comes after Steil sent a letter to WEC following "reports from clerks that the commission failed to give clear guidance" on the issue.

Steil is a strong supporter of the November ballot referendum and has pushed for federal legislation seeking to address some states that do allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, such as California and Maryland. Republicans proposed the SAVE Act - Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act - that would require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship at the time of registration.

The bill passed the House but never received a vote in the Senate.