It took persistence – and a second trip to her Waukesha polling place – by a 63-year-old Waukesha woman to vote Tuesday. But she said her 87-year-old mother who couldn’t make the trip back was disenfranchised by a poll worker who asked to see a photo ID. Wisconsin’s new voter ID law was in place for the February primary but not for Tuesday’s general election after a judge ruled it was unconstitutional. The photo ID requirement is on hold while the matter is appealed. The woman, who asked not to be identified because she and her mother were embarrassed, said she ended up calling the Government Accountability Board for help. Kevin Kennedy, executive director of the board, confirmed Tuesday that the incident happened. The woman said she and her mother had moved to Waukesha last May and registered to vote at Waukesha City Hall in January. They went to their Waukesha West High School poll Tuesday but were asked to show identification – which her mother hadn’t brought with her. Her own driver’s license had an out-of-date address on it, she said. “We were listed on their friggin’ poll list,” she said, “and yet we had our names highlighted.” The poll worker said maybe they didn’t register in time, though they clearly had. Kennedy added: “I can’t think of any reason ID would have been required.”
The woman said they were asked to step aside while a poll worker contacted the city clerk to double check. “By then there were people in the line behind us, we were totally embarrassed,” and there was no place for her elderly mother to sit. “So we just left,” the woman said. She called the voter help line at the Government Accountability Board and was told to go back and vote and call if they had any more trouble. The state worker also called the city clerk’s office to explain the situation, Kennedy said. The daughter returned to an apologetic poll worker and voted shortly before 8 p.m. But by then, she said, her mother was in her nightgown and getting ready for bed.
Full Article: Voter thwarted in Waukesha for lack of ID – JSOnline.