Regardless of where you live, you have plenty of items to make your voices heard for the spring election. In addition to local referendum questions, municipal races, and the Wisconsin State Supreme Court, the voters will be able to make their voices heard on three advisory referendum questions. Those questions are:

• “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
• “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?”
• “Shall able-bodied, childless adults be required to look for work in order to receive taxpayer-funded welfare benefits?”

While the local referendum questions like what is on the ballot in Gibraltar and Washington Island will go into effect if they are approved, advisory referendum questions are used to help guide the decision-making process of the Wisconsin Legislature. Jay Heck from Common Cause Wisconsin says that even if they are approved or rejected, it is up to Legislature to decide how far they will go.

Early voting begins on March 21st.