Whereas Wisconsinites have been casting their votes for governor and different key places of work through the Nov. 8, 2022 election, some additionally bought an opportunity to share their opinion on two massive points: abortion coverage and marijuana legalization.

A number of Wisconsin communities put the matters to an advisory referendum — a proposal placed on the poll to gauge voters’ opinions, however with no required authorities motion consequently.   

Gov. Tony Evers, who defeated Republican challenger Tim Michels to win one other 4 years because the state’s prime government, advocated for abortion rights and marijuana legalization throughout his first time period, although each pushes have been stymied by the Republican-controlled Legislature.

He took discover of the referendum outcomes, tweeting this about them on Nov. 14, 2022: “An awesome majority of Wisconsinites assist restoring #Roe and legalizing marijuana.” 

Roe, after all, refers back to the landmark U.S. Supreme Court docket case guaranteeing a federal proper to abortion, which the court docket overturned June 24, 2022. 

Is Evers proper? What number of Wisconsinites wish to restore Roe v. Wade and legalize weed? 

Let’s have a look.

Current Marquette ballot outcomes present Evers is on track

To evaluate the declare, we’ll flip to the latest outcomes from the Marquette Regulation Ballot, which often queries tons of of Wisconsin voters on elections and key points. Evers’ workplace pointed to each the ballot outcomes and referenda outcomes as proof of his declare. 

In outcomes launched Nov. 2, 2022, the final ballot earlier than the midterm election, interviewers requested a variety of questions on Roe, together with simply what Evers was getting at: whether or not respondents favored or opposed its reversal. 

A majority, 55%, opposed its reversal, whereas 37% favored it. Damaged down by get together, greater than 92% of Democrats opposed the reversal, in comparison with 22% of Republicans. The margin of error on the survey, which tells us how a lot the ballot outcomes might differ from the true opinion of the whole inhabitants, was 4.6 share factors. 

The ballot additionally asks about marijuana legalization. About two-thirds, or 64%, of respondents to the latest ballot that requested about it stated it must be legalized, whereas 30% stated the drug ought to keep unlawful. 

Earlier ballot outcomes present barely larger opposition to Roe’s reversal – 60% in August and October, and 63% in September – and barely larger assist for marijuana legalization, which 69% of respondents to the August ballot favored.  

So there they’re: the majorities that Evers spoke of. However there’s something to notice – he characterised the assist as “overwhelming.” That’s a subjective assertion, however in our view Evers overstated it – notably on the share who opposed the reversal of Roe. That’s extra indicative of a large cut up amongst those that responded. 

Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette ballot, stated he doesn’t characterize how politicians describe the outcomes, and that “the numbers are the numbers, no matter adjectives.” 

In the meantime, the advisory referenda — although they clearly surveyed particular parts of Wisconsin voters, not the whole state — confirmed wider majorities in favor of restoring abortion rights and legalizing marijuana. 

The cities of Appleton, Racine, Kenosha, Stevens Level and Superior, together with Dane, Milwaukee and Eau Claire counties, put the non-binding marijuana query on the poll. All have been in favor of legalization, together with some hefty majorities like Racine, the place 76% of voters stated they wished the drug legalized. 

In the meantime, 86% of Dane County voters and 71% of voters within the metropolis of Racine stated they wished to see Wisconsin’s abortion ban repealed.

Once more, although, the selections are these of only a fraction of Wisconsinites. The statewide ballot outcomes provide proof of Evers’ declare. 

Our ruling 

Evers stated “an awesome majority of Wisconsinites assist restoring #Roe and legalizing marijuana.” 

The most recent Marquette Regulation ballot exhibits clear majorities on each fronts, although assist for restoring Roe v. Wade was not as overwhelming as Evers painted it to be. 

A score of Principally True signifies that the assertion is correct however wants clarification or further info. 

That matches right here.