Student identification cards from state technical colleges can be used to vote in Wisconsin. The Government Accountability Board on Wednesday voted to allow tech college IDs to be used at the polls, reversing an earlier decision.
Wisconsin Technical College District Boards executive director Paul Gabriel argued the previous ruling was based on a faulty premise that their campuses are not accredited. He says there is no difference between the accreditation status of tech colleges and any UW campus or private four year university.
Following several hours of testimony from college officials and students from across the state, board members unanimously voted to reverse the decision. Judge Thomas Cane admitted the board made a mistake and was wrong when it ruled on the issue earlier this fall.
To be used to vote, student ID cards will need a photo, signature, and must expire within two years of being issued.
Also on Wednesday, the board decided against reviewing an earlier decision on allowing stickers to be applied to student ID cards so they can comply with Voter ID rules. A legislative committee had asked the GAB to reconsider or clarify the decision, voicing concerns that the stickers could be abused to commit voter fraud.
The Joint Committee for the Review of Administrative Rules will now likely have to instruct the GAB to write rules on the use of stickers. Those will help clarify their use and what fraud prevention measures campuses using them will need to put in place.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:16)
