The Assembly late Wednesday approved requiring people to show photo ID at the polls, putting the measure on a fast track to becoming law. The Senate is expected to sign off on the plan Tuesday. The move comes when drivers are about to have to present more documentation to get their licenses and wait longer to get them.
The Assembly passed the bill 60-35 amid shouts from a small group of protesters in the viewing gallery. “Welcome to Wisconsin, Jim Crow!” one of them shouted. The Republican-run Assembly quickly adjourned as the protesters chanted “Shame!” and were led out of the gallery by police officers.
In a change that’s separate from the photo ID legislation, drivers will soon have to present more documents proving their identity to get licenses under a federal anti-terrorism law. And instead of receiving their licenses when they visit a Division of Motor Vehicles office, they will get them a week to 10 days later in the mail.
Gov. Scott Walker is a longtime supporter of requiring photo ID to vote. His fellow Republicans have pushed the idea for a decade but have been blocked by Democrats. Democrats Peggy Krusick of Milwaukee and Tony Staskunas of West Allis joined all Republicans in approving the bill.
Rep. Louis Molepske Jr. (D-Stevens Point) said he was frustrated by the combination of requiring people to show ID to vote and longer lines at the DMV. “The big picture is that no one likes waiting in line at the DMV,” he said. “I think people will not be happy with the hassles.” He and other Democrats said they were concerned tighter federal regulations on licenses would force the state to close DMV offices, thus making it harder to get IDs for voting.
Full Article: Assembly approves voter ID, sends bill to Senate – JSOnline.