February 3, 2012

THE WISCONSIN VOTER PHOTO ID CHALLENGE



Guests: Melanie Ramey, State President
Andrea Kaminski, Executive Director
League of Women Voters of Wisconsin

Wisconsin's Voter Photo ID was signed into law on May 25 2011 by Governor Walker, and beginning with the Spring Primary in February 2012, a Photo ID will now be required at the polls. As the 2012 elections loom in front of us, the issue of needing Photo Identification in order to vote in Wisconsin continues to be a point of contention. The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin has launched a legal challenge to the constitutionality of Wisconsin's new Voter ID law, which they say erects barriers to citizen participation in government. The Department of Justice contends that the League does not have the standing to bring the lawsuit. Dane County Judge Richard Niess ordered both sides of the case to proceed and scheduled a hearing date for March 9th.

On this program, Melanie Ramey, State President of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, and Andrea Kaminski, Executive Director, take us inside the legal battle and give us guidelines on what we need to do to make sure we are (1) Registered: prove who we are and where we live, and (2) Able to Vote: prove who we are including a photo.

For information on obtaining a free Wisconsin ID card for voting and answers to Frequently Asked Questions, go to www.gab.wi.gov or call 608-261-2028. Another source of information on voter eligibility and registration is www.vpa.wi.gov. For specific directions on voting in your community, call your Municipal Clerk. For general information on the Wisconsin Voter Photo ID law and other election issues, go to www.lwvwi.org.

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