Wisconsin
Related: About this forumWhat is the procedure for getting an advisory referendum on the ballot in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin law doesn't permit initiatives, i.e. citizen-originated legislation, as some states do, but we do have "advisory referenda" which are sort of like resolutions in that they express voter sentiment without actually becoming law.
I was just thinking that a marijuana referendum might really draw out the less-likely voters, who are predominantly Democratic or at least liberal (e.g. students), thereby increasing the odds of a Democratic win, as well as opening up the debate on legalization here, given that even our "liberal" politicians are too chickenshit to take it on.
Half-Century Man
(5,279 posts)I'll see what I can find out.
Referendum PDF
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/ib/95ib5.pdf
Advisory Referendum PDF
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/wb/06wb12.pdf
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)have to originate with a governing body--the Legislature, even a town board (although in the latter case, the referendum would only apply to something within the purview of the town board).
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/gw/gw_13.pdf
Half-Century Man
(5,279 posts)Half-Century Man
(5,279 posts)A referendum can be
initiated by the filing of petitions
signed by electors, or it can be
called at the discretion of a legisla-
tive body.
It seems we have a path to referendum; however there is no mechinism for a state wide referendum
The
initiative is a procedure that enables
citizens to propose and enact a law,
ordinance, or resolution through a
referendum. Unlike many states,
Wisconsin does not provide for a
statewide initiative process.
We follow Dane Co. example and do it county by county.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)Probably too late to do it this time around, but it could be interesting in 2016. The first step would be to find likely counties. Presence of a university campus in a swing county might be the best combination. You would time the petition drive in accordance with the school year, recruit students to do the drive, etc. & coordinate somewhat with individual political campaigns. This might be a good avenue to take over local political bodies--county boards, town boards, school boards, city councils, etc.