Now that Wisconsin has a photo identification requirement for elections, it is important voters are aware of acceptable forms of identification for use election day.  It is likely the most common form of identification used election days will be the driver license.  However, if one does not have a driver license or other form of acceptable identification, it is important to obtain an identification card.

 

The United States Supreme Court upholds Indiana’s voter identification law because it does not disenfranchise a voter.  During the time the Wisconsin voter identification bill was considered before the Wisconsin State Senate Transportation and Elections Committee, I was adamant that the bill mirror the Indiana law and not disenfranchise a single voter.  As Wisconsin legislators wrote our voter identification law, avoiding disenfranchisement was a top priority.

 

Beginning with the recall elections this summer, voters will be asked to provide identification at the polling place.  This will serve as practice for election workers and voters.  Identification will not be required until the 2012 spring Presidential primary.

 

With avoiding disenfranchisement as the top priority, there are a number of acceptable forms of voter identification.  The following forms of identification are acceptable: a Wisconsin driver’s license, a Wisconsin Department of Transportation issued identification card, a military identification card, a United States passport, a certificate of naturalization issued within the last two years, an unexpired identification card receipt issued by the Department of Transportation an unexpired driving receipt issued by the Department of Transportation, a tribal identification card and certain student identification cards.  There are 10 forms of acceptable forms of identification.

 

There are several myths about Wisconsin Voter Identification Law.

 

Myth:  It will be impossible for some people in some parts of the state to obtain an acceptable form of identification because of a lack of Division of Motor Vehicles access.

 

Truth:  The budget included funding to guarantee all 72 counties in the state have a minimum 20 hours of Division of Motor Vehicles access per week.  Nine months allows ample time to obtain one of the 10 forms of identification suitable for voting purposes.

 

Myth:  The Voter Identification law disenfranchises students.

 

Truth:  Early drafts of the bill did not include student identification cards among the acceptable forms of identification.  After hearing concerns from student groups, student identification cards issued by accredited colleges and universities were added to the list of acceptable forms of identification.  The student identification must have a date of issuance, the student’s signature and expire within two years of the date of issuance.  This will ensure the student population will not be disenfranchised. 

 

Myth:  Requiring identification to vote amounts to a poll tax on the poor.

 

Truth:  The voter identification law allows a Wisconsin citizen without one of the acceptable forms of identification to obtain an identification card free of charge from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.  The free identification card is not a driver license; however, it is an acceptable form of identification for voting purposes.

 

Myth:  Voters without identification the day of an election are disenfranchised.

 

Truth:  Voters without identification will be allowed to cast a provisional ballot.  Voters casting provisional ballots will have until the close of business the Friday following an election to provide the municipal clerk one of the acceptable forms of identification.