Wisconsin residents who have been unable to get a photo ID for voting will be able to cast a ballot this November.
A preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman on Tuesday will allow anyone without a valid photo ID for voting under Wisconsin law to sign an affidavit affirming their identity, which can then be used to obtain a ballot. The provision will be in effect for the presidential election this fall, but not for the state’s legislative and Congressional primaries next month.
The decision is the latest move in a long line of legal challenges to the Voter ID law enacted by Republicans in 2011. It was on hold because of legal battles for several years, before its first use in a statewide election last April during the state’s presidential primary and Supreme Court election. While the state has taken steps to make free ID cards available for voting, there are some residents who still face extreme difficulties in obtaining the documents they need to apply.
The ACLU, which helped bring the lawsuit, praised the decision. Attorney Sean Young said it “is a strong rebuke of the state’s efforts to limit access to the ballot box. It means that a failsafe will be in place in November for voters who have had difficulty obtaining ID.”
In a statement, Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel called the decision disappointing. Schimel said the Department of Justice will decide how to proceed with the case, after it review’s the judge’s order.
