A panel of three federal judges opened up the possibility Tuesday that Wisconsin voters who have great difficulty getting photo IDs could cast ballots without them. The unanimous decision by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals panel keeps the voter ID law in place, but provides a potential way for those who can’t get IDs to vote. For now, such people can’t vote, and the case now returns to U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman in Milwaukee for further proceedings. The opponents of the voter ID law hope to move quickly. Primaries for Congress and the Legislature are Aug. 9 and the fall election is Nov. 8. Tuesday’s ruling is targeted at those who have severe challenges getting photo IDs, such as people whose birth certificates contain errors or are no longer available. “The right to vote is personal and is not defeated by the fact that 99% of other people can secure the necessary credentials easily,” Appeals Judge Frank Easterbrook wrote for the panel.
GOP Gov. Scott Walker and Republicans in the Legislature approved the voter ID law in 2011, but it was blocked for years by state and federal court decisions. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals and Wisconsin Supreme Court in separate litigation upheld the law in 2014, and it was in effect for elections this February and last week.
Those challenging the law in federal court tried to continue their case, shifting their focus to those who have difficulties in getting IDs. Adelman threw out that challenge in October, finding it couldn’t continue under the federal appeals court’s finding that the voter ID law is constitutional.
But the panel of appeals judges on Tuesday ruled that the case could continue for those voters who have challenges getting IDs. They noted instances where government agencies have lost birth certificates in fires or where people have been told they can’t get an ID without a Social Security card and they can’t get a Social Security card without an ID.
Full Article: Court ruling opens way for those without ID to vote.