11 Wisconsin Communities Pass Anti-Citizens United Referendums

Eleven Wisconsin communities voted this week to show support for reforming the country’s campaign spending laws.

Residents in Janesville, Beloit and Platteville were among those who approved ballot referendums officially calling for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to overturn the Supreme Court’s 2010 ruling in Citizens United v. FEC. The court’s decision gave free rein to political spending by big business and other groups.

Wisconsin United To Amend, a grassroots organization, has been working to get anti-Citizens United referendums on ballots across Wisconsin.

According to George Penn, a volunteer with the organization, 72 communities have passed them so far.

“It says that Wisconsin voters are starting to understand that our political system is broken and it needs to be reformed,” Penn said.

According to a poll conducted by Bloomberg last fall, 78 percent of Americans favor overturning Citizens United.

Sentiment aside, however, the ballot referendums are symbolic and have no direct effect on any potential constitutional changes.

The organization hopes to have at least 12 more referendums on ballots in November.