Gov. Scott Walker (Photo: WRN)
If the courts were to strike down Wisconsin’s voter ID law or order changes, state lawmakers could be called in to a special session.
The state Supreme Court heard arguments last month on challenges to the law and two cases are still pending in federal court. If any decisions are made after lawmakers go home this spring that overturn the requirement, Governor Scott Walker says he could call the Legislature back for a special session to address those problems. Walker says “if the courts…were to say we think you could have it, if not for this provision or that provision, we’d want to modify that so that a law like that were in effect before the next election.”
AUDIO: Gov. Scott Walker (:17)
Wisconsin’s law requiring voters to show a government-issued photo ID at the polls has been on hold for more than two years, after judges in Dane County blocked it from being enforced. The state Supreme Court could issue a decision later this year, but it will likely come after the legislative session ends.
The state Assembly passed a bill last fall that would have addressed some of the concerns raised in the court cases against the voter ID law, but that measure has stalled in the Senate. Walker maintains the law has overwhelming public support and it’s the “most pressing” election-related issue he sees at the Capitol.
The state Senate on Tuesday was scheduled to take up other election bills, including a measure that would restrict early voting hours across the state. Walker says he will look at those bills if they make it to his desk, but declined to say whether he supports them at this time.