In a move that’s got everyone talking, Wisconsin voters have just made a big decision in shaping the future of their election laws and education system. On Tuesday, residents of the state made history by enshrining Wisconsin's controversial voter ID law into the state constitution, a decision that’s sure to have lasting impacts on how people vote in the Badger State. At the same time, voters were casting ballots in another heated race, one that could have a major impact on the state’s education system for years to come.
Let’s break down these two critical elections:
Wisconsin's Voter ID Law Goes Constitutional
In a sweeping move, Wisconsin voters voted to elevate the state’s photo ID requirement for voting from state law to a constitutional amendment. This is no small shift. This change means that the voter ID law can no longer be easily altered or challenged by future state lawmakers, giving it an air of permanence. The measure was placed on the ballot by the Republican-controlled Legislature, who pitched it as a way to strengthen election security and protect the law from being struck down in court.
A Key Step Toward Election Security
Republican lawmakers were quick to celebrate the outcome, with State Senator Van Wanggaard, one of the amendment’s co-authors, claiming that this constitutional change would “help maintain integrity in the electoral process.” This, according to Wanggaard, will ensure that the integrity of elections remains intact, no matter which political party controls the Legislature in the future.
Elon Musk, the billionaire tech mogul and vocal Trump supporter, also chimed in on the result, sharing his excitement on social media. He tweeted a simple, “Yeah!” giving his virtual approval to the amendment’s passage.
But while Republicans view this as a major victory for election security, Democratic opponents argue that photo ID requirements often work against marginalized groups. Critics point out that the law disproportionately impacts voters of color, disabled individuals, and those from lower-income backgrounds, making it harder for them to cast their ballots. All Voting is Local, a nonpartisan voting rights organization, has voiced strong opposition to the amendment, calling it a barrier to voting. They warned that enshrining this requirement in the constitution will only make it harder for eligible voters to participate in future elections.
Sam Liebert, the state director of All Voting is Local, expressed concern, saying, "We should not be purposefully leaving eligible voters behind by setting up additional barriers to the ballot.” For voters in Wisconsin, however, nothing will change for now. They’ll still need to show a valid photo ID at the polls, as they have been required to do since the state law passed in 2011 and took effect permanently in 2016 after a series of unsuccessful legal challenges.
A Long Road Ahead: Why This Matters
By locking the photo ID requirement into the state constitution, Wisconsin voters are making it much harder for future state legislatures to change or repeal the law. Amending the state constitution is no simple task—it requires approval from two consecutive legislative sessions and must be ratified by a statewide popular vote. In practice, this means that any future changes to the law will be an uphill battle, potentially lasting for years or even decades.
Currently, Wisconsin is one of nine states that require voters to present photo identification at the polls. In fact, it has the nation’s strictest voter ID law, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Overall, 36 states have some sort of voter ID law on the books, ranging from photo ID requirements to less stringent rules.
Education in the Spotlight: The Race for State Superintendent
While the voter ID law made waves, the election for the state’s top education official also took center stage. Wisconsin voters were tasked with choosing their next superintendent of public instruction, the official responsible for overseeing the state's K-12 education system. This race carries significant weight, as the winner will influence policies affecting everything from teacher licensing to the distribution of school funding. With President Donald Trump entering his second term, the policies put in place by the state’s top education official could have a profound impact on the future of Wisconsin’s schools.
In this high-stakes race, incumbent Jill Underly, a Democrat with strong backing from teachers' unions, faced off against Republican-supported Brittany Kinser, a consultant and advocate for private school vouchers. The election highlighted deep partisan divides on education, and it was clear that both sides had a lot to lose.
The Battle Over School Vouchers and Public Education
Underly, who was first elected state superintendent in 2021, is a strong proponent of public education and has deep ties to Wisconsin’s teachers' unions. Her career in education spans over two decades, beginning as a social studies teacher in Indiana before moving to Wisconsin in 2005. Underly has also served in a variety of leadership roles, including principal and district administrator. She’s been endorsed by the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC), the state’s largest teachers' union, and numerous Democratic officials.
On the other hand, Brittany Kinser, who has the backing of the Wisconsin Republican Party and prominent figures like former Governors Tommy Thompson and Scott Walker, is a strong advocate for school choice, including private school vouchers and charter schools. Kinser has worked in various educational roles, including as a special education teacher and instructional coach in Chicago Public Schools. She later became the executive director for Rocketship Schools, a national network of charter schools, and founded her own consulting firm.
The race has been a battle of contrasts: Underly has focused on expanding and strengthening public schools, while Kinser has pushed for alternatives like charter schools and private school vouchers. The two candidates have sparred over the future of education funding, with Kinser accusing Underly of mismanaging the Department of Public Instruction. Underly, in turn, has criticized Kinser’s support for privatization efforts, arguing that school vouchers and charter schools drain vital resources from public education.
One of the major points of contention in the race was Underly’s overhaul of state achievement standards. The change, which she argued was necessary to better reflect current educational realities, was met with criticism from Kinser, who claimed it lowered the bar for students and made it harder to assess the performance of schools.
Despite the passionate disagreements, one thing is clear: the stakes in this race are incredibly high. The next state superintendent will have the authority to shape the future of Wisconsin’s education system, addressing issues like test scores that are still recovering from the pandemic, the achievement gap between Black and white students, and the ongoing challenge of funding for schools.
A Divisive Election with National Implications
Though the race for state superintendent has received less national attention compared to the contest for control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, it has still sparked intense debate. The outcome of this race will have lasting consequences for the state’s education policies and could influence the direction of Wisconsin’s schools for years to come. With test scores still recovering and a persistent achievement gap, the winner will need to confront some of the toughest challenges facing the state’s education system.
In conclusion, whether it’s the photo ID law now locked in the constitution or the race to lead Wisconsin’s education system, this election has been one for the history books. Both of these contests have deep partisan divides and far-reaching implications, and the final outcomes will undoubtedly shape the future of the state. With polling closed and results now coming in, it’s clear that Wisconsin voters are making their voices heard on some of the most pressing issues of the day.
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