Wis. Governor Approves Revision To Voter ID Process
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — People working to obtain Wisconsin photo identification without the proper underlying documents will be able to vote with a receipt they'll receive within days of submitting their ID request under an emergency rule Gov. Scott Walker signed Wednesday.
Walker's move comes before a federal trial begins Monday in a lawsuit alleging that obtaining free state IDs for voting is so difficult people are giving up. The judge in the case is currently considering whether to decide the matter without a trial and could issue a decision yet this week.
A news release Walker's office issued announcing the signing doesn't mention the lawsuit and the governor's spokesman had no immediate comment on whether the timing has anything to do with the trial.
Republicans passed a law in 2011 requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls. The law allows people to obtain free IDs for voting from the state Department of Transportation upon request.
People seeking IDs without the underlying documents to verify their identity, address and citizenship can petition the agency to make an exception for them. If that process is unsuccessful, the agency might still issue an ID card if it receives documentation a Division of Motor Vehicle administrator believes proves the person's, name, birthdate and citizenship.
Under the new rule, if the agency can't resolve an applicant's petition within five days he or she will get a free receipt in the mail within six days of submitting the petition. The person will be able to use the receipt to vote.
A fiscal estimate attached to the rule notes that the DMV anticipates issuing about 442 receipts and 55 receipt renewals annually at a cost of about $240.
The new rule also lays out detailed steps for processing petitions, including three requests to petitioners to provide additional information that can help the agency confirm their identities. ID card applicants also won't have to provide a social security number; the DOT must provide a translator for applicants who can't read or understand notices related to their petition and the DMV must approve name changes if applicants provide affidavits.
Walker's news release said the changes will begin on Friday. They'll apply to petitions currently under consideration or petitions that were denied due to missing information.
Liberal group One Wisconsin Institute Inc., social justice group Citizen Action of Wisconsin and a number of voters filed a federal lawsuit in June challenging multiple changes Republicans have made to state election law since 2011, chief among them the voter ID requirement.
U.S. District Judge James Peterson tossed out their broad challenge to voter ID in December, noting a federal appellate court upheld the mandate in 2014. But he has allowed them to continue to pursue allegations that other parts of the voter ID law unconstitutionally burden minorities and other traditionally-Democratic constituencies.
The plaintiffs added new allegations in March that the process for obtaining free state IDs is too onerous and time-consuming, prompting applicants to give up. They also contend the current petition process lacks any standards or guidelines and the state has been administering the process arbitrarily.
One Wisconsin Institute Executive Director Scot Ross issued a statement saying the group's attorneys were reviewing the emergency rule. It accused the Walker administration of repeatedly manipulating voting rules to gain a partisan advantage.
Both the plaintiffs and the state Justice Department, which is defending the election laws, have asked Peterson to decide the case without a trial. Jenni Dye, research director for One Wisconsin Institute, said she expects Peterson to rule on the requests this week.
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