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Judge Rips Wisconsin Officials Over Voter ID Law Confusion
Source: Associated Press
Judge Rips Wisconsin Officials Over Voter ID Law Confusion
By TODD RICHMOND, ASSOCIATED PRESS MADISON, Wis. — Oct 12, 2016, 6:55 PM ET
A federal judge considering a challenge to Wisconsin's voter ID law ripped state officials Wednesday over inadequate training for Division of Motor Vehicles workers after some employees recently gave prospective voters erroneous information about obtaining alternative credentials to cast a ballot.
Liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Institute asked U.S. District Judge James Peterson to block the entire law, citing a flurry of reported problems at DMV field offices. Despite his criticisms of the credential program, Peterson said at the conclusion of a hearing that he was reluctant to block the mandate.
A federal appellate court has already found the law constitutional, leaving him uncertain whether he even has authority over the law, the judge said. He added that he wants to respect legislators' decision to adopt the requirement to protect election integrity.
Still, he said he was disappointed state attorneys didn't abide by an order he issued in July following a nine-day trial on Republican-authored election laws to make the credential program more accessible and user-friendly. He ordered state attorneys and OWI lawyers to return to the courthouse on Thursday to develop new handouts for the public describing the process.
"I'm very disappointed to see that the state really did nothing in response to my order," Peterson said. "... You're at the mercy of the DMV and its staff wasn't trained well enough to guide people through it."
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By TODD RICHMOND, ASSOCIATED PRESS MADISON, Wis. — Oct 12, 2016, 6:55 PM ET
A federal judge considering a challenge to Wisconsin's voter ID law ripped state officials Wednesday over inadequate training for Division of Motor Vehicles workers after some employees recently gave prospective voters erroneous information about obtaining alternative credentials to cast a ballot.
Liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Institute asked U.S. District Judge James Peterson to block the entire law, citing a flurry of reported problems at DMV field offices. Despite his criticisms of the credential program, Peterson said at the conclusion of a hearing that he was reluctant to block the mandate.
A federal appellate court has already found the law constitutional, leaving him uncertain whether he even has authority over the law, the judge said. He added that he wants to respect legislators' decision to adopt the requirement to protect election integrity.
Still, he said he was disappointed state attorneys didn't abide by an order he issued in July following a nine-day trial on Republican-authored election laws to make the credential program more accessible and user-friendly. He ordered state attorneys and OWI lawyers to return to the courthouse on Thursday to develop new handouts for the public describing the process.
"I'm very disappointed to see that the state really did nothing in response to my order," Peterson said. "... You're at the mercy of the DMV and its staff wasn't trained well enough to guide people through it."
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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/judge-rips-wisconsin-officials-voter-id-law-confusion-42756009
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