This week the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments over Wisconsin’s voter ID law. Multiple lawsuits have been filed since the state legislature passed the measure in 2012. In July the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled the law constitutional. But now a panel of three federal judges will question Friday whether the requirement to show a photo ID at the polls violates the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution, as Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen ask the law be reinstated for the November elections.
What somewhat complicates the case is the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling. While the court upheld the law, it requires the Department of Transportation to provide free IDs to Wisconsinites, even if they can’t produce documents to get one. That task is taking a lot of work, which the DOT describes to Action 2 News as an ongoing process.
“We think that will carry some weight in terms of the Court of Appeals at the federal level,” Walker said. “Knowing that the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld it, and that we can show by November we’ll be able to take one more step.”
Full Article: Wisconsin Voter ID Law Before 7th Circuit This Week – WBAY.