Gov. Scott Walker is putting the entire weight of the governorship behind Voter ID. Walker told reporters Tuesday that he was willing to call a special session of the Legislature this summer in order to pass a new bill requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls. Although Walker signed such a bill into law in 2011, it was quickly ruled unconstitutional by two Dane County judges and is now being considered by the state Supreme Court, which is expected to deliver a ruling in the coming months. If the high court upholds the lower court rulings, finding that the bill cannot be implemented as written, Walker suggested that the Legislature could pass a new bill that would address any objections from the judiciary while still preserving an ID requirement.
Whether or not Walker believes the policy is constitutional, he clearly believes it is good, politically, if he is willing to draw so much attention to the issue by declaring a special session.
Past polling suggests Walker is right to believe Voter ID is a winning issue for him. A Marquette University Law School poll in April 2012 showed that 61 percent of voters supported requiring photo ID to vote, while 37 percent opposed it.
However, at the time that poll was conducted, the numbers were similar in Minnesota, where only six months later a ballot initiative to impose Voter ID in that state was soundly defeated. The result suggested that while voters are strongly inclined to support Voter ID initially, they can be persuaded to ditch the policy if opponents mount a vigorous campaign against it.
Full Article: The politics of Voter ID in Wisconsin : Ct.