On this day, March 13, 1848, Wisconsin voters ratified the state constitution with a vote of 72.5%-27.5%. This constitution is still in effect today.
This was not the first ratification that was presented to voters. In 1846, Wisconsin voters approved a measure to form a state government, and the state’s first constitutional convention convened later in 1846. The 1846 convention had 124 delegates, including 103 Democrats, 18 Whigs, and three Independents. The first constitution drafted contained provisions debated at the time, including prohibiting commercial banking, granting married women the right to own property, and providing suffrage for African American men. On April 5, 1847, this first constitution was rejected by voters, with 41.1% voting ‘yes’ and 58.9% voting ‘no’.
The second constitutional convention met between December 1847 and February 1848. The second convention had 69 delegates–46 Democrats and 23 Whigs. The new draft of the constitution included the declaration of rights, the establishment of the structure of state government, rules for elections and suffrage, a prohibition of slavery, and the establishment and organization of school districts and a state university.
The second draft was presented to voters again, and on March 13, 1848, the new constitution was ratified, with 72.5% of voters approving it. Months after ratification, on May 29, 1848, Wisconsin became the 30th U.S. state.
The Wisconsin Constitution, approved in 1848, is still in effect today. It is the oldest state constitution still in effect outside of New England (only Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont have older constitutions). The Wisconsin Constitution has been amended 152 times. The constitution can be amended by a legislative or convention-referred constitutional amendment, both of which require voter approval. Wisconsin is one of 24 states that do not provide for statewide citizen-initiated ballot measures. The latest amendment to be approved by voters was Question 1, which required photo ID to vote, on April 1, 2025.
Voters in Wisconsin will next decide to amend the constitution on November 3, 2026, with three amendments on the ballot. They are:
- An amendment that would prohibit the government from closing gatherings at places of worship during declared emergencies, including public health emergencies.
- An amendment that would prohibit the government from discriminating or granting preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin.
- An amendment that would prohibit the governor from using the partial veto to create or increase any tax or fee.
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