Wisconsin voter ID law still causing confusion, stifles turnout in Milwaukee, voting advocates say

[RandySF]

Nearly a decade ago, Wisconsin traded its designation as one of the easiest places to cast ballots for stricter voting rules that set off a still-ongoing debate over voter access.

The implementation of a state law that requires voters to show photo identification increased ballot security, Republican authors argue, but the side effects have disproportionately hit Black voters in Milwaukee who are more likely not to have a photo ID and less inclined to seek one than their white peers, experts and advocates say.

"You don't realize the effect it has on you until it happens to you," Anita Johnson, who has spent the last eight years helping Milwaukee voters navigate the state's voter ID law, said in an interview. "And then you're like, 'Do I want to go through this? I mean, is this really worth it?' It really stops people from voting."

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2024 is examining the experience of Black voters in the state’s largest city, exploring issues that affect turnout. The reporting is supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center.




https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/09/04/wisconsin-voter-id-law-stifles-turnout-of-black-voters-in-milwaukee-madison-advocates-say/74168605007/

[Silent Type]

1. I know it doesn't address ID issue, but Wisconsin does have election day registration. That's a plus.

[AllyCat]

2. True. Walker did make it harder to do by the ID

Requirement. It affects a lot of students and those who struggle to get the documents they need to get an ID in the first place. One used to be able to show a utility bill with your name on it to show you actually lived in that precinct.