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Gay marriage amendment could draw conservatives to polls
Possible referendum in 2006 may affect gubernatorial race
Sara Boyd
Issue date: 12/1/05 Section: Campus News
With the debate over whether to include a referendum concerning a constitutional ban on civil unions and same-sex marriages in Wisconsin on the 2006 gubernatorial ballot raging on, there could be another issue at hand.
"With certain ballot issues, (like) referendum, in certain places it changes the makeup of the electorate a little bit," said Rodd Freitag, associate professor of political science. "On a social issue like this, it could conceivably encourage more of what we call 'social conservatives' to come out and vote."
The amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution already has passed through the Legislature once in March 2004. Mike Prentiss, spokesman for state Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, a lead sponsor of the bill, said they are confident it will have no problem passing a second time and appearing on the November ballot.
"We fully expect it will pass in bipartisan fashion," Prentiss said.
"When voters have their say, we are confident it will be approved."
On Tuesday, a public hearing was held on the bill. It will be approved by the end of this week, then sent off for approval by the Senate in early December, Prentiss said.
Action Wisconsin, the leading statewide advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families, remains in the fight against the amendment.
Joshua Freker of Action Wisconsin said although the organization believes the Legislature will pass the bill, it still is trying to convince senators that it will harm many families in Wisconsin.
"We are trying to show them that this amendment is against loving, committed couples who are minding their own business and taking the responsibility of trying to start their own families," he said. "It would ban not only marriage but also civil unions and could threaten any sort of legal protection for married couples. ...
"The fact it is being used as a political tool to influence the statewide election in 2006, is really shameful."
Although Freitag said this ballot issue won't have a tremendous impact on the election, it still could sway some voters to come out to the polls who normally don't.
"There are some examples of maybe a higher turnout for President Bush in certain states that had this issue on the ballot in 2004, and partly that was because of social conservative groups being mobilized through their churches and other organizations to get them out to vote," he said. "They may not have voted, period, if that issue was not on the ballot."
Senior Jackie Dumin said she thinks having this issue on the ballot will probably become more of a concern within the debates of the election and thinks it could affect how people vote on the candidates.
"I think if people feel strongly one way or another they'll vote for a candidate who feels the same way," she said. "I just hope people won't be a single-issue voter and vote solely based on that one issue."
"With certain ballot issues, (like) referendum, in certain places it changes the makeup of the electorate a little bit," said Rodd Freitag, associate professor of political science. "On a social issue like this, it could conceivably encourage more of what we call 'social conservatives' to come out and vote."
The amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution already has passed through the Legislature once in March 2004. Mike Prentiss, spokesman for state Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, a lead sponsor of the bill, said they are confident it will have no problem passing a second time and appearing on the November ballot.
"We fully expect it will pass in bipartisan fashion," Prentiss said.
"When voters have their say, we are confident it will be approved."
On Tuesday, a public hearing was held on the bill. It will be approved by the end of this week, then sent off for approval by the Senate in early December, Prentiss said.
Action Wisconsin, the leading statewide advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families, remains in the fight against the amendment.
Joshua Freker of Action Wisconsin said although the organization believes the Legislature will pass the bill, it still is trying to convince senators that it will harm many families in Wisconsin.
"We are trying to show them that this amendment is against loving, committed couples who are minding their own business and taking the responsibility of trying to start their own families," he said. "It would ban not only marriage but also civil unions and could threaten any sort of legal protection for married couples. ...
"The fact it is being used as a political tool to influence the statewide election in 2006, is really shameful."
Although Freitag said this ballot issue won't have a tremendous impact on the election, it still could sway some voters to come out to the polls who normally don't.
"There are some examples of maybe a higher turnout for President Bush in certain states that had this issue on the ballot in 2004, and partly that was because of social conservative groups being mobilized through their churches and other organizations to get them out to vote," he said. "They may not have voted, period, if that issue was not on the ballot."
Senior Jackie Dumin said she thinks having this issue on the ballot will probably become more of a concern within the debates of the election and thinks it could affect how people vote on the candidates.
"I think if people feel strongly one way or another they'll vote for a candidate who feels the same way," she said. "I just hope people won't be a single-issue voter and vote solely based on that one issue."
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