Wisconsin’s presidential primary will be the first to require voter ID, and the city of Milwaukee will be closely tracking the impact of the new law on its residents. The tracking is the idea of alderwoman Milele Coggs – who opposed the state voter ID law. “It would allow for us to keep track of anybody who is turned away from the polls and not allowed to voted based on the ID issue, and/or not allowed to register,” says Coggs.
AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (1:05)
The Milwaukee Common Council recently approved Coggs’ resolution to track the impacts of voter ID, although not all are opposed to the new state law. “There are members of the council who support the voter ID bill and do not believe it will cause any disenfranchisement,” Coggs says. “The measurement of people being turned away is critical to prove their point, or ours.”
Voter ID supporters have claimed it’s needed to combat fraud, opponents allege it will suppress minority turnout. The city’s Election Commission will report back to the Common Council within thirty days of the February 21st primary election. “I really hope that there is no one turned away. I would hope that everybody exercises their right to vote with ease, and that there’s been enough education done ahead of time so that people aren’t disenfranchised,” says Coggs.
