Voters across the state involved with the recent recall elections experienced first-hand some of the changes to the election process that were “effective immediately” this summer pursuant to passage of the new voter photo ID bill. The special procedures of this new legislation brought about some confusion and frustration, so I’m hoping the following information will help to clear it up.
For all elections before 2012, electors who are voting must be asked to show a photo ID but are not required to provide one in order to vote before the 2012 February primary.
The state required each municipality to:
1) Electors must be given an informational document about photo ID if they are unable to show an ID at elections held before the 2012 February primary.
2) Clerks must print enough copies to give to electors at the polls.
3) Election inspectors must not allow the supply of the “Wisconsin’s New Photo ID Law” document to run out.
We had a 25 percent voter turnout at our July 12 primary election and a 44 percent voter turnout at our Aug. 9 general election. These were good turnouts, but we have seen much higher turnouts at our presidential preference primary, gubernatorial and presidential elections. The turnout we just saw indicates almost half of our eligible registered voters received the informational document on Wisconsin’s new voter photo ID law, showing what has changed and what is an acceptable ID in preparation for it becoming mandatory in 2012.
Full Article: Clearing up election confusion amid transition | Green Bay Press Gazette | greenbaypressgazette.com.