Constitutional Amendments Fall 2026
There are 3 Constitutional Amendments on the November 3, 2026 ballot in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Council of Churches’ membership approaches these ballot measures in a diverse way. Below, we share opinions from a variety of sources on each ballot measure to help you prayerfully discern how you vote.
Ballot Question: “Partial veto. Shall section 10 (1) (c) of article V of the constitution be amended to prohibit the governor, in exercising his or her partial veto authority, from creating or increasing or authorizing the creation or increase of any tax or fee?
Prohibiting the State Government from closing religious sites during emergencies.
Ballot Question: “Shall section 18 of article I of the constitution, which deals with religious liberty, be amended to prohibit the state or a political subdivision of the state from ordering the closure of, or forbidding gatherings in, places of worship in response to a state of emergency, including a public health emergency?”
Prohibiting Government from discrimination or “Granting Preferential Treatment” based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin.
Prohibit the Governor from using the partial veto to create or increase any tax or fee.
Ballot Question: “Governmental entity discrimination prohibited. Shall section 27 of article I 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?”
How do amendments end up on the ballot?
Proposal by the Legislature:
A constitutional amendment can only be proposed by the Wisconsin State Legislature. This requires a majority vote in both the State Assembly and the State Senate.Approval in Two Sessions:
For the proposed amendment to move forward, it must be approved by a majority vote in both the Assembly and Senate during two consecutive legislative sessions. The governor does not have the power to veto proposed amendments.Referendum:
After passing in two consecutive sessions, the proposed amendment is then placed on the ballot for a statewide referendum. The people of Wisconsin have the final say—voters will decide whether to adopt the amendment.Voter Approval:
For the amendment to be adopted, it must receive a majority of the votes cast in the referendum. If it passes, the amendment becomes part of the Wisconsin Constitution.
The Binding Nature of Constitutional Amendments
Once a constitutional amendment is approved by Wisconsin voters, it becomes a permanent part of the state constitution. This change is binding and cannot be easily altered or repealed. Any further modifications to that amendment would require going through the entire amendment process again.
-League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Ballot Bulletin: Amending the Constitution
