Last Friday, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled to reinstate Act 23, a law that requires Wisconsin voters to present photo identification on Election Day. The law, which passed in 2011 and was previously ruled unconstitutional, places an undue burden on the right to vote. This burden disproportionately affects minorities and people of lower income, who may not have access to the required identification.
Governor Walker and Republicans in the state legislature continue to support a law that clearly violates the equal-protection clause of the United States Constitution and section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, and it is all of the citizens of Wisconsin who will suffer as a result. Republicans support the law under the pretense of eliminating voter fraud, yet their version of reality does not line up with the facts.
U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman, who struck down Act 23 in April, presented evidence of less than 10 possible cases of voter fraud in recent elections, most of which were found to be accidental. Photo ID requirements will only prevent voter impersonation at the polls, of which there have been zero cases in Wisconsin.
The law falsely claims to eliminate a problem that does not exist, while simultaneously keeping students, minorities, and low-income Wisconsinites from voting. So what does this mean for Wisconsin voters? On November 4th an approved form of photo ID, such as a driver’s license, passport, or state ID, to the polls. Yet, there are over 300,000 Wisconsinites who do not have this identification. Is it any coincidence that those who may not have ID also tend to vote Democratic?
Republicans have used their power as elected officials to ensure that they can continue to control the state come November. It is troubling that in a free and democratic society, one group is able to manipulate the powers of government for their own benefit. It is apparent that voter ID laws like this exist because the Republican Party is afraid of the power of Wisconsin voters. The right to vote is one of the most basic, fundamental principles of the United States, and Act 23 unfairly restricts that right.
The Republican Party seems to have embraced a new motto, one wherein if you can’t win the game, simply change the rules. So what can we do now? We will play by the rules, we will vote, and on November 4th, we will take back our state.
Lizzy is the press secretary for the College Democrats of UW-Madison. What is your opinion on the recent voter ID ruling? Do you think it’s warranted? We want to hear what you think. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com
