Did 70% of Wisconsin voters just delete their own constitutional guarantee to be eligible to vote?

andyortlieb@lemmy.sdf.org to No Stupid Questions@lemmy.world – 310 points –
Wisconsin voters pass constitutional amendment explicitly barring noncitizens from voting
cbsnews.com

Article III Section 1 of the Wisconsin Constitution currently reads, "Every United States citizen age 18 or older who is a resident of an election district in this state is a qualified elector of that district."

After Tuesday's vote, the article will now read, "Only a United States citizen age 18 or older who is a resident of an election district in this state is a qualified elector of that district."

Doesn't this change the meaning of the statement so much that it's no longer true that every citizen of age who is a resident is eligible to vote? Can this new language be interpreted by courts and lawmakers such that anyone can be disenfranchised if such malicious laws can be passed in the state?

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The way I read it, yes they did choose to restrict the vote to themselves, but at the same time they removed the guarantee of the vote to themselves.

The guarantee they enjoyed is no longer expressed in the constitution. Or am I missing something?

no. you didn't miss anything.

wisconsin gonna wisconsin. voted in a diaper, twice, too. i wish i could afford to leave this state.

The guarantee they enjoyed is no longer expressed in the constitution. Or am I missing something?

Yeah. I'm not saying it was wise, by any means!