Wisconsin Voters Approve Amendment Requiring Photo ID to Vote

[Jose Garcia]

Source: New York Times

Wisconsin voters on Tuesday approved an amendment to the State Constitution to strengthen a current law requiring photo identification at the polls, The Associated Press said, a victory for Republicans who sponsored the effort.

For close to a decade, state law has required the use of photo ID when voting at the polls in Wisconsin.

But a constitutional amendment was seen as making it far more difficult to roll back the voter ID law, even under a state Supreme Court with a liberal majority or if the State Legislature fell under Democratic control. The measure was brought by Republicans, who control a majority of seats in the State Legislature and had pressed for the amendment for years.

Conservatives have steadily and successfully pushed for stricter voter ID laws across the country, suggesting that they are needed to combat widespread voter fraud. Election experts say that voter fraud in American elections is exceedingly rare.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/us/wisconsin-voters-approve-amendment-requiring-photo-id-to-vote.html

[BarbD]

1. Those without a driver's license will not have a photo ID.

Absolutely discriminates against the elderly.

[OnlinePoker]

4. No. They have a non-drivers ID card as well.

https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/license-drvs/how-to-apply/id-card.aspx

In fact, they have a non-expiring version for people over 65 so they don't have to go back to the DMV every 5 years.

[GusBob]

7. Many Natives dont drive and have no DL

But they have Tribal IDs. And actually, since the ICE crackdowns, more and more of them do now as the Tribal offices opened up availability and waived any fees. The health clinics are requiring them now as well

For the record, in Wisconsin, Natives carried Menomenee county and help carry Bayfield and Ashland counties

[Polybius]

11. I don't know how it is in Wisconsin, but in NY you get a photo with state ID

As a late teen to early 20's, I didn't have a driver's license, and my state ID had a pic. And that was over 30 years ago. My dad also didn't drive in his elder years and had a picture on his ID.

[Luciferous]

14. You can get a free ID for voting in WI

[._.]

2. This is such a "nothing burger"

Every single time I've ever voted "in person" I've had to show photo ID. Every. Single. Time.

[ScratchCat]

6. Yeh, don't get it.

Have never understood this issue. The excuses ring hollow.

[Justice]

9. I've never had to show a photo ID to vote.

[Polybius]

12. What state?

I've been voting in NY since the 90's and never had to show it.

[Firestorm49]

3. First of all, you can't believe a word that comes out of their mouths.

This is not simply about voting requirements, it’s about vote restriction - specifically opening the door for Republicans to discriminate in accordance with the little fuhrer’s plans. You’ve read it. A married woman who’s last name has changed, and who’s married name differs from her birth certificate may be denied the right to vote. Ridiculous? No.

Beware of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The GOP always has an ulterior motive.

[Gum Logger]

15. Social Darwinizm and democracy go together like oil and water.

[HoldenTheDemocrat]

5. Wisconsin's Voter Suppression Victory: A Dark Day for Democracy

This news from Wisconsin is a devastating blow to voting rights and a stark reminder of the Republican Party's relentless assault on our democracy. This constitutional amendment, enshrining the discriminatory photo ID law, is a calculated move to suppress the votes of marginalized communities, particularly people of color, the elderly, and those with disabilities.

Let's be clear: This isn't about "election integrity." It's about voter suppression, plain and simple. The GOP's claims of widespread voter fraud are a blatant lie. Election experts and numerous studies have repeatedly shown that voter fraud is exceedingly rare. This amendment is a solution in search of a problem, and the real problem is that Republicans are afraid of a genuinely representative electorate.  

The fact that Republicans pushed this amendment to circumvent potential future Democratic control of the legislature or a liberal-leaning state Supreme Court speaks volumes. They know their policies are unpopular, so they're rigging the system to maintain power.

The impact of these voter ID laws is undeniable. Studies have shown that they disproportionately disenfranchise minority voters. For example:  

A 2017 study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that strict voter ID laws in the state reduced voter turnout, particularly among Black and Latino voters.

The Brennan Center for Justice has documented numerous instances of eligible voters being turned away from the polls due to restrictive ID requirements.

This amendment is a direct attack on the fundamental right to vote, a right that generations of Americans have fought and died for. We cannot allow Republicans to erode our democracy with these underhanded tactics.

We must fight back. We must challenge these discriminatory laws in court, we must organize and mobilize voters and demand that our elected officials protect the right to vote for all Americans. This is not just about Wisconsin; it's about the soul of our democracy. We cannot allow these voter suppression tactics to spread.

[everyonematters]

8. Maybe the best thing we can do on this issue, is make sure that acquiring the ids is not hard to do and

assure that people are aware that they are needed to vote. Gerrymandering is a much bigger problem. If there could be a compromise where we have a national Id requirement for voting and outlaw gerrymandering, I would be in favor of it.

[LiberalLovinLug]

10. Why don't Democrats, no Trump R's, along with voting rights groups start a campaign to get photo ID to everyone

Use raised money to fund anyone that needs one, with the ability to get one. Even arrange transportation if needed. Give it a fancy name like No Voter left Behind.

[Gum Logger]

13. Just more of the Republican kabuki dance we must endure.

[elocs]

16. My first 40 years of voting here in WI, I didn't need to show an ID.

When I did in 2012 under Scott Walker in his recall election it was no big deal and even to this day the poll workers barely even glance at it other than to get my address or the spelling of my name. Any kind of voting fraud was largely unknown. But in the recall election for Walker there was a case discovered of a man who voted for him 5 times using the names of relatives to vote.
When this originally came before the courts here in WI, the judge asked the AG for cases he knew about of someone using a false name to cast a vote and he couldn't give the judge even one. In millions of ballots cast here over several years there were just a handful of voter fraud and most were people who thought they could legally vote when they could not.

When it comes to turnout, WI managed to increase the turnout for this weeks state Supreme Court election over the one just 2 years ago by half a million when everyone had to show an ID to vote. So it would seem that turnout numbers depends more on the will of the voters than anything else.