Misleading Ballot Amendments
DON’T TAKE THE BAIT
This election, there is a question on our ballots that seeks to change the state constitution. We are encouraging voters to Vote No. Some politicians in the state house are trying to erode our voting rights through underhanded tactics, all while using racially coded language to point the finger and feign ignorance about their true intentions.
This month’s guide is designed to be two-fold: 1) to help you counter the anti-immigrant rhetoric that our airwaves are being bombarded with right now as the right tries to lay their fear-based efforts to undermine voter confidence and drive a wedge between communities leading up to election day, and 2) to arm you with strategies to communicate on the amendment and why Wisconsinites should vote no.
Key Guidelines
Emphasize Our Shared Values and the Importance of Voting Freedom
Our freedom to vote is the heart of our democracy. Every eligible voter, no matter their background, race, or origin, should have the right to cast their ballot and have it counted. By standing together, we can protect our rights and prevent efforts that aim to divide us and weaken our democracy.
Build on the collective strength of the community: By uniting together—across race, language, and background—makes our democracy stronger. We won’t let scare tactics divide us.
Call Out the Intentional Use of Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric
Anti-immigrant rhetoric leading up to election day is a deliberate tactic to distract and divide us. Election deniers and certain lawmakers use lies about immigrants to foster distrust and fear about the security of our elections.
This rhetoric is not just misleading—it’s dangerous. It’s the same playbook used to incite political violence and undermine trust in our democratic processes, as seen with the events surrounding January 6th.
Remind voters that these tactics have real consequences. They fuel hatred and harm immigrant communities while serving as a distraction from the pressing issues that truly matter, such as healthcare, jobs, and education.
Avoid Repeating Disinformation and Focus on What’s True
Do not amplify false claims like “non-citizen voting” or “voter fraud.” As you’ve heard in every “Don’t Take the Bait,” repeating lies—even to refute them—makes them more familiar and, therefore, more believable.
You can pivot by reminding people that only eligible citizens can already vote, and there are existing, robust systems in place to ensure this. We must protect the integrity of our elections by safeguarding the right to vote for every eligible citizen.
Position the amendment as part of a larger agenda aimed at sowing distrust in our elections. It's not about improving election security—it's about setting the stage for future restrictions on voting rights.
Tie Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric to a Broader Power Grab
Lawmakers pushing this amendment want to use fear and division to justify further restricting our rights. The same politicians who spread falsehoods about immigrants are trying to rig the system to maintain power.
This amendment is a stepping stone toward more extreme measures to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of eligible voters—including seniors, students, and overseas military voters.
These efforts are not about protecting voters—they are about manipulating the system to make it harder for people to vote and to undermine democracy itself.
NARRATIVE
Americans value our freedoms, including our freedom to cast votes and have them counted. But the same election deniers who lied about the 2020 elections and incited the January 6th attack are now continuing to spread lies about voting even though there are already countless laws to ensure that only eligible Americans vote.
They aim to distract us from the real pressing issues that we are facing and sow doubts about our elections so they can erect deliberate barriers to voting and attempt to overturn the will of the people if they lose. In America, we, the people, decide elections with our votes. We are joining together to vote NO on November 5 to protect our freedom to cast our ballots, have them counted, and ensure the people's will prevails.
TAKE ACTION
Our friends at the League of Women Voters have a great toolkit in English and Spanish for you to use with op-ed templates, social media graphics, flyers, and suggestions for getting the word
EVERGREEN GUIDANCE
LEAD with shared values — such as community, safety, prosperity, equity, justice, or fairness — in a way that names race and class while bringing people together.
FOCUS on the creation of good — delivering jobs and healthcare, funding schools and communities, creating a process where every Wisconsinite can safely and freely cast our ballot, etc. — tangible positive outcomes, rather than the amelioration of harm (e.g., “provide for every child so they can achieve their dreams” instead of “fix our broken system”)
CAST ‘we the people,’ everyday Wisconsinites, as protagonists: Only by acting together can we move Wisconsin forward — in contrast to how our opposition is trying to hold us back. We turned out in record numbers to elect leaders to care for us and act in our interests. We pulled together throughout this pandemic to deliver meals, support neighborhood businesses, support our kids and care for loved ones. That’s why it’s so important that we bring our neighbors and communities into the story as its main actors and as active agents who can and will change the outcome.
CHARACTERIZE the opposition: Who is violating our values? How are they doing it? What is their motivation? What role does race play? These are all questions we need to answer clearly (without jargon!) in our messaging.
DEFINE + DELIVER: define this moment as a pivotal crossroads and deliver a positive, inspirational vision for the future we will create together for a Wisconsin where we all can thrive. We believe that we will win.
AVOID the opposition frame (e.g. CRT, parental control) and PIVOT to our frames of freedom, safety, community, etc.
DO NOT REPEAT accusations, even to refute them. (e.g. do not say “critical race theory is not....”)
AVOID THE ‘RECIPE’: as always, say the brownie, not the recipe. The freedom to vote, rather than the abstraction of democracy. The ability to see a doctor when we need it, rather than simply saying expand healthcare.
