If there was not enough on your ballot already this fall, voters are being reminded about three constitutional amendments that will also be among the decisions they make. The three measures made the ballot after the Wisconsin Legislature approved the proposed language by a majority in two consecutive legislative sessions.

One referendum measure would prohibit the government from closing places of worship during emergencies. The proposal dates back to the COVID-19 pandemic, when Gov. Tony Evers’ Safer at Home order limited mass gatherings. The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the statewide restrictions two months later after the stay-at-home order was extended, allowing churches to decide for themselves whether to reopen.

A second referendum question will focus on the governor’s partial veto powers by barring the governor from using them to create or increase any tax or fee. Governors representing both political parties have used Wisconsin’s broad partial veto powers, but this measure grew out of a recent budget in which Evers used his partial veto authority to extend a school funding provision from two years to 400 years.

The third referendum question would prohibit state and local governments from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment to certain groups. If approved, the amendment would prohibit certain affirmative action practices in government hiring and contracting and public education.

All three measures will be on the Nov. 3 ballot. Municipal clerks must send absentee ballots to voters with active requests on file by Sept. 17, with in-person absentee voting beginning Oct. 20.