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"The federal government is suing the city of Milwaukee over its ordinance preventing law enforcement officers from wearing masks. The lawsuit, filed July 23 in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, calls the ordinance "blatant unconstitutional regulation of the Federal Government." The lawsuit argues that the city's ordinance violates the U.S. Constitution's Supremacy Clause, which says that if local and federal law are in conflict, federal law takes precedence. The mask ordinance stemmed from Milwaukee Common Council members trying to take a stand against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, who have operated in the city with masks covering their faces." (References SDRI Research).

"Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor has officially gone off script, leading to a crowded field and the fear that a weaker general election candidate will emerge with just a plurality rather than a majority of the vote. Could the use of ranked-choice voting in the parties’ nomination process do a better job elevating candidates with more widespread support?"

"University of Wisconsin Law School State Democracy Research Initiative attorney Bryna Godar discusses the state Elections Commission barring requests for new absentee ballots if a candidate drops out."

"Wisconsin election officials may reignite a legal battle over absentee voting with a July guidance stating that voters cannot void a returned absentee ballot and cast a new one, even if Election Day is weeks away or the candidate they supported has dropped out. It’s the latest development in a legal dispute that began in 2022 and was reopened by an appeals court decision earlier this year."

"According to a July 10 letter to city leadership obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the DOJ said Milwaukee’s mask ban “threatens the safety of federal officers and their lawful operations.” The letter was signed by Brett Shumate, Assistant Attorney General in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Division, and Brad Schimel, the head of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Wisconsin." (References SDRI Research).

"The Justice Department rejected Milwaukee’s attempts to prohibit immigration agents from wearing masks in a Friday letter to Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and City Attorney Evan Goyke." (References SDRI Research).

"In February - in the wake of federal agents shooting and killing two Minneapolis residents - Milwaukee council members were defiant."

This essay is part of a 50-state series about the nation’s constitutions. We’ve asked an expert from each state to dive into their constitution, narrate its history, identify its quirks, and summarize its most essential components for our readers. In 1848, voters in the Wisconsin Territory ratified the Wisconsin Constitution that is still in use today. This founding document, amended more than 150 times, reflects the work of generations of legislators, advocates, and voters on topics from democracy to finance to individual rights.

"President Donald Trump’s administration had another setback this week in its attempt to get unredacted voter registration data from Wisconsin. After losing in federal district court last month, the U.S. Department of Justice asked the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to expedite its lawsuit in order to audit Wisconsin’s voter registration list ahead of the August primary and November general election — demanding sensitive voter data like drivers license information and partial Social Security numbers."

"President Donald Trump’s administration is continuing its effort to force the Wisconsin Elections Commission to turn over unredacted Wisconsin voter data after being rebuked by a federal judge last month. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division is appealing the judge’s decision dismissing the case, suggesting “many” absentee ballots could be sent to “fraudulent” registrants in November unless it audits the voter roll."