Wisconsin Voters Approve Two New Constitutional Amendments and Reject Another

Friday, November 6th, 2026 -- 9:00 AM

(WPR Staff, Wisconsin Public Radio) Wisconsin voters approved two new constitutional amendments and rejected another.

According to Wisconsin Public Radio Staff, the measures were put on the ballot by the Republican-controlled Legislature, which passed them in two consecutive legislative sessions.

Voters narrowly approved a proposal to limit the governor’s veto power, the count close enough that the result was not called until 8:46 a.m. Wednesday. The measure passed with 50.7 percent supporting the amendment, 49.3 percent opposed.

A proposed amendment to limit government officials’ ability to close places of worship during a health emergency was rejected by voters. And an amendment aimed at limiting diversity, equity and inclusion programs, framed as prohibiting discrimination, was approved by voters.

Republicans proposed the measure after Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in 2023 amended the budget to allow school districts to raise revenue by increasing property taxes until 2425, not the “2024-25” school year as passed by legislators.

The GOP blasted the so-called “400-year veto” as an abuse of power. The amendment passing will not undo the 400-year veto. But it will limit future vetoes like it, and curtail the expansive partial-veto power that Wisconsin governors from both parties have used in the past.

The second question asked whether the government can order the closure of a place of worship in a state of emergency. This amendment arose after emergency orders at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic limited indoor, in-person religious gatherings to fewer than 10 people.

Voters rejected the proposed amendment, maintaining the existing emergency powers for state public health officials. The third question asked whether a “governmental entity” should be barred from discriminating against or giving preferential treatment to certain groups in contexts including contracting, employment and education.

Voters approved the amendment, which will bar governments, local school boards, the Universities of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Technical College System from disparate treatment on the basis of race, sex, national origin or ethnicity.

The amendment does not mention discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Other states, including Michigan, have similar provisions in their state constitutions.

Wisconsin’s proposal comes as Republican lawmakers have joined President Donald Trump’s administration in seeking to curtail diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, known as DEI, in education and public hiring.

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