Wisconsin Voters Approve Constitutional Amendment for Photo ID Requirement
On Tuesday, Wisconsin voters made a significant decision by approving an amendment to the State Constitution that aims to reinforce the existing law mandating photo identification at polling places. According to The Associated Press, this development is seen as a substantial victory for the Republican lawmakers who have advocated for this change.
For nearly a decade, Wisconsin has enforced a law requiring voters to present photo identification when casting their ballots. However, the passage of this constitutional amendment is viewed as a measure that will make it far more challenging to repeal the voter ID requirement, even in a scenario where a state Supreme Court with a liberal majority might challenge it or if the State Legislature shifts to Democratic control. This initiative was championed by Republicans, who currently hold a majority in the State Legislature and have been pushing for this amendment for several years.
Conservative leaders across the nation have consistently advocated for stricter voter ID laws, arguing that such regulations are essential to combat what they assert is widespread voter fraud. However, numerous election experts underline that incidents of voter fraud in American elections are exceedingly rare.
In contrast, Democratic leaders in Wisconsin opposed the amendment, asserting that it could disenfranchise various groups of voters, including students, the elderly, and particularly Black voters. Studies indicate that Black voters are less likely to possess photo identification compared to their white counterparts. Although Black voters represent only about 5 percent of Wisconsin’s electorate, they typically show overwhelming support for Democratic candidates.
Democrats have also raised questions about the necessity of prioritizing this amendment, contending that Republicans are overlooking more pressing issues that the state faces, such as affordable child care, public education, and gun control.
In a related political context, last week, former President Trump entered the debate surrounding voter ID requirements by issuing an executive order that seeks to mandate documentary proof of citizenship for voting. In response, Democrats filed a lawsuit on Monday, arguing that the president’s order is unconstitutional and that he lacks explicit authority to regulate electoral processes.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a nonpartisan organization, thirty-six states require voters to present some form of identification at polling places. Polling data indicates that voter ID laws enjoy widespread bipartisan support; a Pew Research survey conducted in January found that 81 percent of voters support the notion that all voters should present government-issued identification in order to cast their ballots. In Wisconsin specifically, public opinion also strongly favors voter ID laws, as evidenced by a 2021 survey from Marquette University Law School, which revealed that 92 percent of Republicans and 55 percent of Democrats support the requirement to present photo ID when voting.
