For the second time in recent days, a judge in Dane County has ruled against Wisconsin’s controversial voter ID law. On Monday, Judge Richard Neiss issued a permanent injunction against the law, in a challenge brought forward by the Wisconsin League of Women Voters. “This is based on very clear language in our state constitution,” said the League’s Andrea Kaminsky. “What he said is “voter fraud is no more poisonous to our democracy than voter suppression, indeed they are two heads on the same monster,”” said Kaminski.
AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (1:05)
Kaminiski predicted the decision will be appealed, and in fact Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen quickly issued a statement to that effect. “Wisconsin’s voter ID law is consistent with the constitution, and I will appeal this decision,” it said. Kaminsky said the Wisconsin constitution states clearly that only convicted felons and people declared incompetent may be prohibited from voting. “What this law did was create a third class of otherwise eligible citizens who couldn’t vote because they didn’t have ID,” said Kaminsky. “Right now this injunction is in place, and we will defend it with everything we’ve got.”
A week ago, Dane County Judge Michael Flanagan issued a temporary injunction in a lawsuit brought by the Milwaukee chapter of the NAACP and the immigrant rights group Voces de la Frontera. Flanagan came under immediate criticism when it was discovered that he had signed the recall petition against Governor Scott Walker, something Judge Neiss said he did not do.
READ: Judge Neiss decision (PDF)