Evers Calls For Referendum To Gauge Opinion On Abortion In Wisconsin

WISCONSIN — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday called upon the state's Republican-held legislature to approve a statewide referendum that would ask Wisconsinites about their opinion on abortion law in the spring.

If approved, voters would be able to share their opinion on if the state should repeal an 1849 criminal abortion ban and restore constitutional rights guaranteed under Roe v. Wade. The referendum is not binding, meaning it won't have any immediate effect on law without further legislative action.

The measure from Evers' office came just days before the 50th anniversary of the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade and around six months after the contemporary court repealed the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.

“On the eve of the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we are here again today to reaffirm that we will never stop fighting for Wisconsin women and reproductive freedom," said Evers in a news release, "and that includes working to ensure the people of Wisconsin have the opportunity to weigh in as to whether Wisconsin should overturn our 1800s-era criminal abortion ban and restore protections under Roe."

See also: What The FDA Rule Change On Abortion Pills Means In Wisconsin

In the wake of the June, 2022, U.S. Supreme Court decision on Dobbs, Evers and Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul filed a lawsuit that seeks to clarify Wisconsin's laws on abortion. The governor argued that laws over the years were conflicting.

Evers also called a special session in October with the goal of paving the way for a process where Wisconsin residents could change laws — including laws on abortion — through referendums. The state's legislative Republicans rejected Evers' bid, however. The changes would have required amending Wisconsin's constitution.