The 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has ruled Wisconsin’s Voter ID law is constitutional and does not violate the federal Voting Rights Act.
Monday’s decision comes about a month after a three judge panel in Chicago lifted a lower court’s injunction that had been blocking the law from taking effect. State election official and local clerks have already been gearing up for the law, which requires voters to show a government-issued photo ID when requesting a ballot, to be in effect for the November 4 election.
Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen released a statement on the decision, early Monday evening:
“This decision on the merits provides greater certainty that Wisconsin citizens will have the election in November that they expected three years ago — one with Voter ID.
Clearly the Seventh Circuit’s decision supports the idea that the will of the people as enacted by the legislature and approved by the executive accounts for something in our democracy.
Our Constitution provides not only for our freedoms and liberties, and limits on the government, but the three branches and their proper roles. This decision reinforces that fundamental notion.”
The decision now leaves the status of Wisconsin’s law in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court. Following last month’s order lifting the injunction, those challenging the voter ID requirement petitioned the high court to reinstate it before the November elections. They argue that the rapid implementation could disenfranchise voters who will be unable to obtain a valid photo ID for voting in time.