For the 6th time in the past year, the Wisconsin legislature is asking voters to approve an amendment to the state Constitution. The League of Women Voters and more than 20 other voter rights organizations opposed all of the amendments on the grounds that they do nothing to strengthen our elections or help voters.
What is the proposed amendment on the April ballot?
The ballot question asks voters to enshrine a voter photo ID requirement in the Wisconsin Constitution. This is another example of the legislature attempting to bypass the authority of the executive and judicial branches through the constitutional amendment process (the Governor cannot veto). Meanwhile, the legislature has denied voters the ability to propose their own citizen-led ballot initiatives.
Why is this wrong for Wisconsin voters?
Wisconsin already has one of the strictest voter photo ID laws in the nation, a law which was enacted despite lack of evidence of the crime of voter impersonation at the polls.
Research from the Brennan Center for Justice, VoteRiders and the University of Maryland revealed that 34.5 million voting-age US citizens --14.5% of eligible voters – lack an unexpired photo ID with their current name and address on it and may face difficulties at the polls as a result. It’s worth noting that many DMV offices in the state have very limited hours, and many residents must travel long distances in rural areas with limited access to public transportation. This is especially burdensome for those without a car or those with disabilities.
While the proposed amendment would not significantly alter the current voter ID law, it would limit the court's ability to protect voters disenfranchised by the law and make it harder to remove the photo ID requirement.
The April 1 Election will impact all Wisconsinites.
The races for the state Supreme Court and the Superintendent of Public Instruction will have lasting impact. The Supreme Court is expected to hear cases involving abortion access, educational policy, voting rights and more critical issues.