With the presidential election only three months away, a federal appeals panel Wednesday blocked a lower court ruling that would have allowed Wisconsin voters without photo IDs to sign an affidavit and cast a ballot. But part of the voter ID law remains blocked because of a separate ruling in another federal trial court in recent weeks. Voters should keep following the news — the rules could change again between now and the Nov. 8 presidential election. Last month, U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman in Milwaukee ruled that Wisconsin voters without photo identification can cast ballots by swearing at the polling place that they could not easily acquire an ID. The decision created a pathway for voters with difficulties getting IDs who have been unable to cast ballots under the state’s 2011 voter ID law.
On Wednesday, a three-judge panel from the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago found that Adelman had gone too far in allowing a large group of voters to cast ballots without an ID.
The appeals panel in April indicated there needed to be a way for people to vote if they face significant challenges in getting IDs. That led Adelman last month to issue his ruling allowing people to easily vote without IDs.
But the panel on Wednesday blocked Adelman’s ruling while it considers the appeal, saying it believed he had gone too far.
Full Article: Appeals court blocks voter ID changes.