The state Department of Justice is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to keep Wisconsin’s voter ID requirement in place for the November 4 elections.
A federal appeal court in Chicago ruled on Monday that the requirement that voters show a government-issued photo ID at the polls is constitutional, and it meets the terms of the federal Voting Rights Act. The ACLU and others challenging the law have asked the nations’ high court to put the law back on hold before November, arguing there’s not enough time to prepare voters for the requirement.
State justice officials filed their response Tuesday, saying there’s been widespread media coverage about the law going back into effect — and state and local officials have been working diligently to get the voter ID law back into proper use. The state argues putting a hold in place this close to the election would create chaos.
Wisconsin’s voter ID law was passed by the Legislature in 2011. It was used in a single election in early 2012, before the first of several court decisions put the requirement on hold. A federal appeals court lifted the final injunction blocking the law in early September.
