Fmr. Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI), left, and WI Supreme Court Candidate Susan Crawford | NGA.org / Facebook
Fmr. Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI), left, and WI Supreme Court Candidate Susan Crawford | NGA.org / Facebook
Wisconsin is one of 36 states that require voters to present identification at the polls.
That’s according to an analysis of state laws by The Sconi.
Wisconsin’s voter ID law was passed in 2011 by the state legislature and signed into law by Gov. Scott Walker (R). The law requires voters to provide a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot.
Legal challenges delayed implementation, but the law took effect in 2016 and has remained in place.
Among the legal challenges to the law was that of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Education Network, Inc. (LWV) Current Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford represented (LWV) in that challenge.
That case, which Crawford lost, specifically challenged the photo identification requirement for voters.The WIsconsin Supreme Court upheld the law in a 2014 ruling.
“I fought against Act 10. The draconian voter ID law,” she wrote in a 2018 Capital Times column.
Crawford is running against former Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel in the April 1 election for the state Supreme Court.
Voter ID laws differ among states in terms of strictness and the types of identification accepted.
Fourteen states and the District of Columbia do not require voters to present identification at the polls. These states include California, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Washington. These states use other verification methods, such as signature matching or providing personal details.
Among states that require voter ID, some have stricter requirements than others. In Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, voters must present a government-issued photo ID. Those without ID may cast a provisional ballot but must follow additional procedures after Election Day for their votes to be counted.
Other states require identification but do not mandate a photo. Arizona, North Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming require voters to present an acceptable form of ID, but it does not have to include a photograph. If a voter does not have the required ID, they must complete additional steps to verify their identity.
In Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Texas, voters are asked to show a photo ID. If they do not have one, they may verify their identity through other means, such as signing an affidavit or presenting a non-photo ID.
Some states request identification that does not have to include a photograph. In Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, Oklahoma, Virginia, and West Virginia, voters may present a variety of forms of identification. If they do not have one, alternative verification procedures are available.
Voter ID requirements continue to change as states pass new laws or update existing ones. Voters must ensure they understand the requirements in their state before Election Day.
Which states require voter ID?
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