Supervisor Clancy Applauds Finance Committee Approval of Abortion Advisory Referendum

MILWAUKEE – Today the County Board’s Finance Committee recommended for adoption a resolution authored by Supervisor Ryan Clancy to place an advisory referendum on the April 4, 2023, election ballot to measure public opinion on Wisconsin’s abortion law.

“The push to get this question on the ballot came not from me, but from individuals and organizations in our community such as Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee who want the ability to weigh in on this most pressing of issues,” said Supervisor Clancy. “I’m grateful that hollow fiscal arguments fell aside this time, that we seem to have listened to the overwhelming support for this measure, and that Milwaukee County residents will be able to make themselves heard in April. I am confident that it will form the basis for statewide legislation as soon as we have the fair representation in place to do so.”

The advisory referendum question would ask voters: “Should Wisconsin Statute 940.04, which bans abortion at any stage of pregnancy without exception for rape, incest, or health of the patient, be repealed to allow legal access to abortion care?”

As an advisory referendum, the result would not have an immediate effect on Wisconsin law.

The resolution allocates $16,500 to cover the costs of placing this question on the ballot. This equates to approximately 1.8 cents per Milwaukee County resident.

The resolution is co-sponsored by Supervisors Sequanna Taylor, Priscilla Coggs-Jones, Juan Miguel Martinez, Peter Burgelis, Felesia A. Martin, Willie Johnson Jr., and Sheldon A. Wasserman.

This resolution comes as a companion to similar legislation which failed by one vote to put the same question on the November general election ballot.

The full County Board will take up the resolution at its Thursday, December 15 meeting.