The Wisconsin state legislature passed a proposal that could enshrine voter ID requirements in the state constitution if Wisconsin voters support it at the ballot box in April.
The proposal passed 54 to 45 along party lines in the state Assembly, with Republicans voting in favor and Democrats against. It was first introduced in the state Senate last week and quickly received public hearings before being passed.
Its passage means Wisconsin voters will vote in April on whether the state constitution should enshrine a voter ID law. A simple majority is needed to pass.
State Rep. Patrick Snyder, a Republican who authored the proposal, argued its passage would “ensure that the people of Wisconsin have full confidence in the security and integrity of Wisconsin elections.”
According to the proposal, the question will be asked to voters as follows: “Shall section 1m of article III of the constitution be created to require that voters present valid photographic identification verifying their identity in order to vote in any election, subject to exceptions which may be established by law?”
It will appear on the same ballot as the state’s Supreme Court race, which could tip the ideological leaning of the court. In 2023, the Wisconsin Supreme Court race was the most expensive judicial race in history, with both parties spending a combined $42 million.
Assembly Minority Greta Neubauer, a Democrat, said the placement on the April ballot is “a transparent effort to preserve power for one party and to give an advantage at the ballot box in April.”
“I’m disappointed that the majority has decided to make this the very first piece of policy that the Assembly takes up this session,” Neubauer said.
Republican state Rep. Scott Krug argued there were “plenty of reasons” to pass the proposal, one being that Wisconsin does not have fall elections this year, meaning the next statewide election would not happen until the 2026 midterm elections.
Wisconsin is one of nine states in the United States that already has a strict voter ID requirement. Voters must show valid proof of photo ID with their birth date printed on it, such as a driver’s license or passport. Student IDs from the University of Wisconsin system do not include birthdates, meaning they are largely not considered valid IDs in the state.
Following the Assembly’s session, Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI) again made a pitch to state lawmakers to allow voters to place constitutional amendments on the ballot, not state legislators.
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“Poll after poll has shown Wisconsinites support commonsense policies like protecting reproductive freedom, expanding BadgerCare, legalizing marijuana, and gun safety reforms, among other critical efforts. Republicans have repeatedly rejected those policies, often with no deliberation, debate, or vote. That’s wrong,” Evers said.
“If Republican lawmakers are going to continue ignoring the will of the people and legislating by constitutional amendment,” he continued. “Then they should give the people of Wisconsin the power to pass the policies they want to see at the ballot box.”