Notice of Spring Election, Special Aldermanic Election,
Special County Supervisor Primary Election, Referendums
and Sample Ballot
April 4, 2023
OFFICE OF THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION
TO THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE:
Notice is hereby given of a spring election to be held in the City of Milwaukee on April 4, 2023, at which the officers named below shall be nominated. The names of the candidates for each office, whose nominations have been certified to or filed in this office, are given under the title of the office, each in its proper column, together with the questions submitted to a vote, for a referendum, if any, in the sample ballot below.
Information to Voters
Upon entering the polling place and before being permitted to vote, a voter shall:
• state their name and address
• show an acceptable form of photo identification*
• sign the poll book**
*If a voter does not have acceptable photo identification, the voter may obtain a free photo ID for voting from the Division of Motor Vehicles.
**If the voter is unable to sign the poll book due to disability, a poll worker may write the word “exempt.”
If a voter is not registered to vote, they may register to vote at the polling place serving their residence if the voter provides proof of residence.
Where ballots are distributed to voters, the initials of two inspectors must appear on the ballot.
Upon being permitted to vote, the voter shall enter a voting booth or go to a machine and cast their ballot. The vote should not be cast in any manner other than specified here. Sample ballots or other materials to assist the voter in marking their ballot may be taken into the booth and copied. The sample ballot shall not be shown to anyone so as to reveal how the ballot is marked.
A voter who is a parent or guardian may be accompanied by the voter’s minor child or minor ward.
An election official may inform the voter of the proper manner for casting a vote but the official may not advise or indicate a particular voting choice.
Assistance for Voting
A voter may select an individual to assist in casting their vote if the voter declares to the presiding official that they are unable to read, have difficulty reading, writing, or understanding English, or that due to disability are unable to cast their ballot. The selected individual rendering assistance may not be the voter’s employer or an agent of that employer or an officer or agent of a labor organization which represents the voter.
Where Optical Scan Voting is Used
The voter shall fill in the oval next to the name of the candidate of their choice for each office for which they intend to vote. To vote for a person whose name does not appear on the ballot, the voter shall write in the name of the person of their choice in the space provided for a write-in vote and fill in the oval next to the write-in line. On referendum questions, the voter shall fill in the oval next to “yes” if in favor of the question, or the voter shall fill in the oval next to “no” if opposed to the question.
When using an electronic ballot marking device (“ExpressVote”) to mark an optical scan ballot, the voter shall touch the screen or use the tactile pad to select the name of the candidate of his or her choice for each office for which he or she intends to vote. To vote for a person whose name does not appear on the ballot, the voter shall type in the name of the person of his or her choice in the space provided for a write-in vote. On referendum questions, the voter shall touch the screen or use the tactile pad to select “yes” if in favor of the question, or the voter shall touch the screen or use the tactile pad to select “no” if opposed to the question.
After Voting the Ballot
After an official optical scan ballot is marked, it shall be inserted in the security sleeve, so the marks do not show. The voter may insert the ballot in the voting device and discard the sleeve or deliver the ballot to an inspector for deposit. The voter shall leave the polling place promptly.
Spoiling Ballots
If a voter spoils an optical scan ballot, they shall return it to an election official who shall issue another ballot in its place, but not more than three ballots shall be issued to any one voter. If the ballot has not been initialed by two inspectors or is defective in any other way, the voter shall return it to the election official who shall issue a proper ballot in its place.
A sample of the official ballot is included with this notice.
Wards 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 150, 151, 152, 154, 155, 156, 158, 162, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 230, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 305, 306, 311, 312, 325, 326, 329, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341, 343, 344, 345, 346, 349, 350, 351, 353 and 354 will have the same contests as shown on the sample ballot.
Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 24, 316 and portions of wards 8, 23 and 25 will also have the following special aldermanic and school board contests on their ballot:
Alderperson, District 9
Vote for 1
Odell Ball
Larresa Taylor
write-in
Milwaukee Public Schools
Board of School Director, District 1
Vote for 1
Marva Herndon
Shandowlyon Hendricks Reaves
write-in
Wards 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and a portion of ward 23 will also have the following special aldermanic and school board contests on their ballot:
Alderperson, District 1
Vote for 1
Andrea Pratt
David Bowen
write-In
Milwaukee Public Schools
Board of School Director, District 1
Vote for 1
Marva Herndon
Shandowlyon Hendricks Reaves
write-in
A portion of ward 45 will have the following special aldermanic and school board contests on their ballot:
Alderperson, District 1
Vote for 1
Andrea Pratt
David Bowen
write-In
Milwaukee Public Schools
Board of School Director, District 2
Vote for 1
Erika Siemsen
write-in
Wards 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60 and a portion of ward 56 will have the following special aldermanic and school board contests on their ballot:
Alderperson, District 1
Vote for 1
Andrea Pratt
David Bowen
write-In
Milwaukee Public Schools
Board of School Director, District 3
Vote for 1
Darryl L. Jackson
Gabi Hart
write-in
Wards 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 318 and portions of wards 25 and 315 will also have the following school board contest on their ballot:
Milwaukee Public Schools
Board of School Director, District 1
Vote for 1
Marva Herndon
Shandowlyon Hendricks Reaves
write-in
Wards 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 153, 159, 160, 161, 163, 164, 199, 327 and 328 will also have the following school board contest on their ballot:
Milwaukee Public Schools
Board of School Director, District 2
Vote for 1
Erika Siemsen
write-in
Wards 31, 33, 34, 35 and a portion of wards 8 and 315 will also have the following special aldermanic contest and school board contest on their ballot:
Alderperson, District 5
Vote for 1
Lamont T. Westmoreland
Annette Jackson
write-in
Milwaukee Public Schools
Board of School Director, District 1
Vote for 1
Marva Herndon
Shandowlyon Hendricks Reaves
write-in
Wards 36, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 319, 320 and 321 will also have the following special aldermanic and school board contests on their ballot:
Alderperson, District 5
Vote for 1
Lamont T. Westmoreland
Annette Jackson
write-In
Milwaukee Public Schools
Board of School Director, District 2
Vote for 1
Erika Siemsen
write-in
Wards 56, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 84, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 149, 157, 322, 323, 324 and a portion of ward 56 will also have the following school board contest on their ballot:
Milwaukee Public Schools
Board of School Director, District 3
Vote for 1
Darryl L. Jackson
Gabi Hart
write-in
Wards 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 307, 308, and 309 will also have the following special county board supervisor primary contest on their ballot:
Milwaukee County Board Supervisor
District 14
Vote for 1
Angel Sanchez
Travis Hope
Caroline Gomez-Tom
write-in
Wards 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 310, 313, 314, 342, 347, 348 and 352 will also have the following school board contest on their ballot:
Milwaukee Public Schools
Board of School Director, District 8
Vote for 1
Megan O’Halloran
write-in
Wards 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279 and 280 will also have the following special county board supervisor primary and school board contests on their ballot:
Milwaukee County Board Supervisor
District 14
Vote for 1
Angel Sanchez
Travis Hope
Caroline Gomez-Tom
write-in
Milwaukee Public Schools
Board of School Director, District 8
Vote for 1
Megan O’Halloran
write-in
MILWAUKEE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS
Tim Posnanski
Dawn Martin
Helmut Fritz
George L. Christenson
Milwaukee County Clerk
NOTICE OF ADVISORY REFERENDUM
MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WISCONSIN
April 4, 2023
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that at an election to be held in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, the following proposed Resolution of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors providing for an advisory referendum will be submitted to a vote of the people:
BE IT RESOLVED, The County Clerk is hereby directed to call an advisory referendum election for the purpose of submitting to the qualified electors of the county the proposition of whether the State of Wisconsin should repeal Wisconsin Statute § 940.04, which bans abortion at any stage of pregnancy without exception for rape, incest, or health of the patient, to allow legal access to abortion care.
The question will appear on the ballot as follows:
“Should Wisconsin Statute 940.04, which bans abortion at any stage of pregnancy without exception for rape, incest, or health of the patient, be repealed to allow legal access to abortion care?”
YES NO
EXPLANATORY LANGUAGE AND EFFECT OF VOTE
The advisory referendum question is being submitted to the electors of the County as a means of providing information regarding whether the electors favor the actions and policies proposed in the question. The referendum is advisory only. The results of the advisory referendum are not binding on the County.
A “yes” vote informs the County that you are in favor of repealing Wisconsin Statute 940.04, which bans abortion at any stage of pregnancy without exception for rape, incest, or health of the patient, and allowing legal access to abortion care.
A “no” vote informs the County that you are opposed to repealing Wisconsin Statute 940.04, which bans abortion at any stage of pregnancy without exception for rape, incest, or health of the patient, and allowing legal access to abortion care.
In the event that a majority of electors voting on the question listed above vote “yes” on that question, the County will be advised in favor of the action or policy described in the question; if a majority of electors vote “no”, the County will be advised against the action or policy described in the question. The referendum is advisory only. The results of the advisory referendum are not binding on the County.
Persons with questions about the advisory referendum should contact the office of the Milwaukee County Clerk. A copy of the entire text of the Resolution 22-1199 directing the submission of the advisory referendum question can be obtained from the office of the Milwaukee County Clerk, 901 N 9th Street, Room 105, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233.
MILWAUKEE COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION
Tim Posnanski
Dawn Martin
Helmut Fritz
Done in the County of Milwaukee
On the 3rd day of
April, 2023
George L. Christenson
Milwaukee County Clerk
Notice of Referendum Election
APRIL 4, 2023
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that at an election to be held in the several towns, villages, wards, and election districts of the State of Wisconsin, on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, the following questions will be submitted to a vote of the people pursuant to law:
2023 ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION 2
To amend section 8 (2) of article I of the constitution; relating to: conditions for release prior to conviction, including the imposition of bail (second consideration).
Whereas, the 2021 legislature in regular session considered a proposed amendment to the constitution in 2021 Assembly Joint Resolution 107, which became 2021 Enrolled Joint Resolution 6, and agreed to it by a majority of the members elected to each of the two houses, which proposed amendment reads as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 8 (2) of article I of the constitution is amended to read: [ Article I] Section 8 (2) All persons, before conviction, shall be eligible for release under reasonable conditions designed to assure their appearance in court, protect members of the community from serious bodily harm as defined by the legislature by law, or prevent the intimidation of witnesses. Monetary conditions of release may be imposed at or after the initial appearance only upon a finding that there is a reasonable basis to believe that the conditions are necessary to assure appearance in court, or if the person is accused of a violent crime as defined by the legislature by law, only upon a finding that there is a reasonable basis to believe that the conditions are necessary based on the totality of the circumstances, taking into account whether the accused has a previous conviction for a violent crime as defined by the legislature by law, the probability that the accused will fail to appear in court, the need to protect members of the community from serious harm as defined by the legislature by law, the need to prevent the intimidation of witnesses. and the potential affirmative defenses of the accused. The legislature may authorize, by law, courts to revoke a person’s release for a violation of a condition of release.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the foregoing proposed amendment to the constitution is agreed to by the 2023 legislature; and, be it further Resolved,
That the foregoing proposed amendment to the constitution be submitted to a vote of the people at the election to be held on the first Tuesday of April, 2023; and, be it further Resolved,
That the question concerning ratification of the foregoing proposed amendment to the constitution be stated on the ballot as follows:
QUESTION 1: “Conditions of release before conviction. Shall section 8 (2) of article I of the constitution be amended to allow a court to impose on an accused person being released before conviction conditions that are designed to protect the community from serious harm?”
QUESTION 2: “Cash bail before conviction. Shall section 8 (2) of article I of the constitution be amended to allow a court to impose cash bail on a person accused of a violent crime based on the totality of the circumstances, including the accused’s previous convictions for a violent crime, the probability that the accused will fail to appear, the need to protect the community from serious harm and prevent witness intimidation, and potential affinitive defenses?”
EXPLANATION
1. Explanatory statement regarding Question 1:
Under the current Wisconsin Constitution, courts may impose reasonable conditions on the release of a criminal defendant before trial for three purposes: (1) to secure the defendant’s appearance in court; (2) to protect the community from “serious bodily harm;” and (3) to prevent intimidation of witnesses. Wis. Const. art. I, § 8(2).
Question 1 would change the language of the second factor from “serious bodily harm” to “serious harm as defined by the legislature by law.” The question would thus change the type of harm to the community that a court could seek to protect against. Because the term “serious harm” would be defined by the legislature by law, what it means could evolve over time depending on legislative enactments.
A “yes” vote on Question 1 would vote to amend Wis. Const. art. I, § 8(2) to allow a circuit court to impose release conditions based on the purpose of avoiding “serious harm as defined by the legislature” rather than “serious bodily harm.”
A “no” vote on Question 1 would vote not to amend Wis. Const. art. I, § 8(2) to change the term “serious bodily harm” as a factor for determining the conditions of a defendant’s pretrial release.
2. Explanatory statement regarding Question 2:
Question 2 would also change the language of Wis. Const. art. I, § 8(2), but in a different way from Question 1. Question 2 addresses the circuit court’s ability to impose the specific condition of monetary bail.
Currently, the Wisconsin Constitution allows a court to impose a monetary bail requirement only if the court finds a reasonable basis to believe that bail is necessary in order to secure the defendant’s appearance in court. Wis. Const. art. I, § 8(2).
Question 2 would expand the factors a circuit court may consider in imposing monetary bail. In cases where a defendant is accused of a “violent crime as defined by the legislature by law,” Question 2 would allow a court to impose monetary bail based on circumstances in addition to securing the defendant’s appearance in court, including accounting for a previous conviction for a violent crime, the need to protect the community from serious harm, preventing witness intimidation, and potential affirmative defenses the defendant might assert.
A “yes” vote on Question 2 would vote to amend Wis. Const. art. I, § 8(2) in cases where the defendant is accused of a violent crime to allow a court to utilize monetary bail for additional reasons in addition to securing the defendant’s appearance in court, including accounting for a previous conviction for a violent crime, the need to protect the community from serious harm, preventing witness intimidation, and accounting for the defendant’s affirmative defenses. Because the term “violent crime” would be defined by the legislature by law, what it means could evolve over time depending on legislative enactments.
A “no” vote on Question 2 would vote not to amend Wis. Const. art. I, § 8(2) to expand the factors a court considers in imposing monetary bail.
2023 ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: providing for an advisory referendum on the question of requiring able-bodied, childless adults to look for work in order to receive taxpayer-funded welfare benefits.
Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the following question be submitted, for advisory purposes only, to the voters of this state at the spring election to be held in April 2023:
“Shall able-bodied, childless adults be required to look for work in order to receive taxpayer-funded welfare benefits?”
EXPLANATION
Explanatory statement regarding Question 3, the advisory question:
This is an advisory referendum and would not change Wisconsin law. Wisconsin and federal law currently define various programs available to those with financial need based on criteria such as age, familial status, and disability, among other criteria. Most of those programs are limited to children, families with children, pregnant women, disabled persons, or those 65 or older, who Wisconsin law does not consider “able-bodied” for public assistance purposes. See, e.g., Wis. Stat. § 49.79(1)(am) (defining age limits for “able-bodied” under food stamp program).
Two programs currently available to “able-bodied, childless adults” are Wisconsin’s BadgerCare Plus medical assistance program and the FoodShare program, also known as SNAP or food stamps. However, those programs are subject to certain federal requirements and restrictions that either would be inconsistent with the requirement about which the referendum asks or, in some cases, already include such a requirement.
BadgerCare Plus’s medical assistance program is subject to federal Medicaid restrictions, and federal law does not allow for work-based requirements for such programs absent a federal waiver. See 42 U.S.C. § 1396a(a)(10)(A). Currently, there is no federal waiver in force that would allow Wisconsin to impose work requirements on this program. Wisconsin’s FoodShare statute contains requirements that able-bodied, childless adults be employed or participate in an employment and training program, see Wis. Stat. § 49.79(9), but that requirement has been suspended by the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A “yes” vote on Question 3, the advisory referendum, would make no change to Wisconsin law.
A “no” vote on Question 3, the advisory referendum, also would make no change to Wisconsin law.
DONE in the County of Milwaukee,
this 3rd day of April, 2023.
George L. Christenson
Milwaukee County Clerk