Referendums can be initiated by the public or members of government. At times, the process of citizens petitioning results in a referendum taking place for direct public voting to determine if a petition should cause changes within the local municipality.
Direct voting by the public can influence local city ordinances, contest election results or initiate judicial reliefs, signifying that public power includes an ability to modify or persuade government while excluding local officials. Referendums act as a tool of direct democracy allowing citizens to approve or reject local legislative events or vote on other measures citizens have petitioned for and brought to public vote by referendum.
Referenda take place in municipalities within Wisconsin counties but State-wide referenda are no longer executed within the State even though attempts have been made to restore the function. Yet statewide and local referenda are required in numerous circumstances, and the state legislature or local governing bodies may, at their discretion, submit questions to the voters in the form of binding or advisory referenda. (“Let the People Decide” —Initiative and Referendum in Wisconsin PDF)
Referendums in Chapters of Legislation
Wisconsin referendums are governed primarily by Chapters 5 through 12 of the Wisconsin Statutes, which outline general election administration, ballot placement, notices, and deadlines. Depending on the specific type of referendum, provisions are additionally dispersed throughout several other key chapters:
Chapter 8 Nominations, Primaries, Elections: Covers the official filing of referendum petitions, procedures for placing questions on the ballot, and requirements for special elections/referendums.
Chapter 10 Election Notices: Dictates the publication, types, and timelines of legal notices required to inform voters about upcoming referendums.
Chapter 12 Prohibited Election Practices: Details prohibited practices, election bribery, and the regulations regarding political communications and campaign periods specific to referendums.
Chapter 59 Counties: Contains regulations specifically for county-level government referendums, such as changing a county seat or ratifying county ordinances.
Chapter 66 General Municipality Law: Governs local municipal (city, village, or town) ballot measures, including charter ordinances, annexations, and municipal consolidations.
Chapter 67 Municipal Borrowing & Municipal Bonds: Establishes the procedures for holding bond and municipal borrowing referendums.
Protest Referendum – Using petitions, citizens can force a previously passed law onto the ballot where they may accept or reject it. In effect, the referendum allows voters to repeal a law by giving them a veto over legislative action.
Petition Referendum
Civil Rights Referendum
Financial Referendum
Mining Referendum
Independence Referendum
Operational Referendum