Wisconsin lawmakers approved a bill last Thursday changing state voting rules. Gov. Scott Walker says he’ll sign the bill into law this week.
The major new mandate is that voters will have to show a photo ID. People must also live at an address for 28 days before they vote in that precinct. And the bill moves up the deadline for casting absentee ballots.
As WUWM’s Ann-Elise Henzl reports, groups that had fought the changes now say they’ll now focus on helping residents navigate the new rules, especially in obtaining acceptable ids.
Polling places will accept several forms of identification, including military IDs and passports. But most people are expected to present their driver’s license.
Critics remain concerned that not everyone drives.
“Many of our underrepresented communities — African American males, Latinos — don’t often have a Wisconsin state driver’s license,” says Rep. Jocasta Zamarippa. She represents Milwaukee’s near south side.
“And that’s not even taking into account the number of senior citizens who, you can imagine, many are not driving any more, so they don’t necessarily have that driver’s license,” Zamarippa says.
Full Article: WUWM: News – Getting Ready for the New Voter ID Law.