← Election Series · Down-ballot coverage · Wisconsin
Our call — vote YES
The measure
Question 2 is a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on Wisconsin's November 3, 2026 ballot. It would amend the religious-liberty section of the Wisconsin Constitution to provide that neither the state nor any political subdivision may order the closure of, or forbid gatherings in, places of worship in response to a state of emergency at the national, state, or local level — including an emergency related to public health. The measure answers Wisconsin's 2020 experience, when the governor's stay-at-home order treated religious gatherings as essential only in groups under ten, while liquor stores, bars, and casinos operated under essential labels — an inconsistency supporters, including Rep. Ron Tusler (R), call the amendment's reason for existing. Opponents, including Sen. Chris Larson (D), argue it would prevent public-health officers from acting in a future pandemic.
What YES does
A yes vote removes worship gatherings from the reach of emergency closure orders, permanently.
What NO does
A no vote leaves health and emergency statutes able to close or restrict worship gatherings in a declared emergency.
The math
No fiscal note for this measure was published on its Ballotpedia page.
OUR CALL
Our call: YES.
2020 taught Americans which institutions their governments considered essential, and churches were not on the list — liquor stores were. A free people does not suspend the free exercise of religion whenever an official declares an emergency; emergencies are precisely when constitutional rights are supposed to hold. Worship is not a favor the state grants in calm weather. Protect it in the constitution. Vote yes.
For the complete Election 2026 breakdown — every race, claim by claim — see the full coverage on our website.
Vote early. Research your candidates. Choose the best moderates, whatever their party — no extremism from either side. And encourage your friends and family to do the same.
Sources
- Ballotpedia — Wisconsin Question 2, Prohibit Government Closure of Places of Worship During Emergencies Amendment (2026) — https://ballotpedia.org/Wisconsin_Question_2,_Prohibit_Government_Closure_of_Places_of_Worship_During_Emergencies_Amendment_(2026) (accessed October 25, 2026)
- Ballotpedia — 2026 ballot measures — https://ballotpedia.org/2026_ballot_measures
Result pending. No verified call (Associated Press or official) as of November 4, 2026. This page will be updated when the race is called or certified. The original article above is unchanged.
AI-assisted article — but the sources are human, and the facts are very real.