Wisconsin voter ID law hurts rural voters and Democrats, liberal group contends

A Wisconsin law that went into effect on Sept. 12 requiring residents to obtain an ID card before voting is stirring controversy in the Badger State. One Wisconsin Institute, a liberal group that on Monday filed a brief with a federal appeals court, said rural residents will have a difficult time getting cards in time because many rural DMV offices are only open part-time, Leah Linscheid reports for Channel 3000 in Madison. The group also said the law favors Republicans, because more voters who are expected to lean Democrat will have a harder time getting cards.

The law was signed in 2011 by Republican Gov. Scott Walker—who is in the middle of a tightly contested race—"and opponents brought four lawsuits challenging it," Patrick Marley reports for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "It was in effect for one low-turnout primary in February 2012 but then blocked by a series of rulings by state and federal judges." The law was reinstated earlier this month by a three-member panel of judges—all of whom were appointed by Republican presidents—on the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. (University of Wisconsin-Madison graphic)

Scot Ross, executive director for One Wisconsin Institute, told Linscheid, "There are a couple places where people may only be able to have one or two chances before the election to be able to get the IDs they need to be able to participate in our democracy." DMV directors countered that offices are required to be open at least 20 hours per week, giving residents plenty of time to get cards.

One Wisconsin Institute estimates that 300,000 Wisconsin voters lack the type of photo ID that will be required to vote, reports The Associated Press. Some also fear that minorities and college students will have trouble getting get IDs, Autumn Linsmeier reports for The Badger Herald at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Appeals court Judge Frank Easterbook, who voted in favor of voter ID cards, wrote that an estimated 4.5 percent of African Americans—many of whom are expected to vote Democrat—will be unable to get IDs. Many college students also might not have the proper identification on hand to obtain a voter ID.

A Wisconsin driver's license or ID card is required to receive a voter ID card, says the state Department of Transportation. For those without a driver's license, "ID card applicants must be U.S. Citizens, at least 17 years of age and indicate that the ID card is required free of charge for the purposes of voting; and ID card applicants must claim that documents required to prove U.S. Citizenship, name and date of birth and/or legal name change are unavailable and require a fee to a government agency to obtain."