The Wisconsin Elections Commission has approved a plan to use $250,000 in funding to raise awareness about the state’s voter ID requirement.
The panel signed-off on a plan Thursday, during its first meeting, that will spend about $202,000 on digital and physical advertising. Commission spokesman Reid Magney says the effort will focus on social media ads, including Facebook and YouTube, along with out of the home options, such as bus ads.
The remaining $48,000 will be used for radio and television public service announcement that will air during July and August. Magney says they are hoping to get the word out quickly to those who need a valid ID for voting. “For some people, the process of getting an ID to vote may take a little time – so we want them to get started early.”
Wisconsin’s Voter ID law was passed by Republicans in 2011, but spent several years on hold because of multiple court challenges. It was reinstated last year, but only saw its first statewide use in April during the presidential primary and state Supreme Court election. Critics say there’s still confusion about what type of government-issued photo IDs are needed to vote and what options are available for someone to obtain an ID that’s acceptable at the polls.
The state’s next elections will be legislative and Congressional primaries on August 9th.