What to expect on the Nov. 3 ballot

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – In the upcoming Nov. 3 general election, candidates will contend for two key legislative seats serving local Wisconsin districts:
U.S. House of Representatives – Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District
Incumbent Republican Derrick Van Orden, who has held the office since 2022 and is currently in his second term, is running for reelection. He faces three candidates: Democrat Rebecca Cooke alongside Independent challengers Alexander Kent and Rustin Provance. Members of the U.S. House serve two-year terms.
Wisconsin State Assembly – 72nd Assembly District
Incumbent Republican Scott Krug, who has represented the district since 2011, is opposed by Democratic challenger Christine Maltese. State Assembly members are elected to two-year terms during biennial fall elections, with no term limits on total or consecutive service.

Referendum questions
Question one:
“Partial veto. Shall section 10 (1) (c) of article V of the constitution be amended to prohibit the governor, in exercising his or her partial veto authority, from creating or increasing or authorizing the creation or increase of any tax or fee?”
Simply put, voting “yes” means you oppose permitting the governor to create or raise fees and taxes via line-item vetoes in budget bills. Conversely, voting “no” supports preserving the governor’s existing partial veto authority in these circumstances.
Supporters of the measure among Republicans highlight a “400-year veto” enacted in 2023 by Governor Tony Evers (D). Evers exercised his partial veto on a state budget provision passed by the legislature that permitted school districts to increase property taxes over two years to boost revenue. By striking a hyphen and a few numbers, Evers prolonged the provision’s expiration date by four centuries, shifting it from 2024–25 to 2425.
Question two:
“Freedom to gather in places of worship during an emergency. Shall section 18 of article I of the constitution, which deals with religious liberty, be amended to prohibit the state or a political subdivision of the state from ordering the closure of, or forbidding gatherings in, places of worship in response to a state of emergency, including a public health emergency?”
Casting a “yes” vote indicates support for prohibiting government-mandated closures of places of worship during emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas a “no” vote upholds government authority to enforce such closures to protect public health.
Question three:
“Governmental entity discrimination prohibited. Shall section 27 of article I of the constitution be created to prohibit governmental entities in the state from discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, public education, public contracting, or public administration?”
Proponents of the measure, including the Republican authors, contend that it will eliminate government diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as well as affirmative action.
To learn more about registering to vote and to find your polling place, visit https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/.