By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

There seems to have been very little mention in the media about the fact that there are three referendums appearing on the April 4 ballot. In the Walworth County portion of the city the referendums will appear on the second side of the ballot. The questions are shown below. Questions one and two are binding referendums, which is to say that the Wisconsin Constitution will be amended if they are passed by the voters. The Legislature has already passed them for the required two times, and if approved in this election they will go into effect, as they cannot be vetoed by the governor.

Question three, however, is an advisory, non-binding referendum which has no legal effect.

Sample ballots for the city may be found here.

This article by the Associated Press on the PBS Wisconsin website provides a variety of views on the referendums.

State of Wisconsin Conditions of Release Before Conviction Referendum – Question 1
Vote for one
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?”
Yes
No

State of Wisconsin Cash Bail Before Conviction Referendum – Question 2
Vote for one
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 affirmative defenses?”
Yes
No

State of Wisconsin Welfare Benefits Referendum – Question 3
Vote for one
QUESTION 3: “Shall able-bodied, childless adults be required to look for work in order to receive taxpayer-funded welfare benefits?”
Yes
No