MacIver News Service | August 21, 2012
[Madison, Wisc…] Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen wants Voter ID reinstated in Wisconsin before the November general election and is again trying to get the State Supreme Court to step in.On Tuesday, Van Hollen (R) announced the Department of Justice is filing a Petition to Bypass Court of Appeals and a Motion for Consideration with the State Supreme Court.
“People in this state are very frustrated that a common sense law enacted by the legislature and signed by the Governor has been blocked,” Van Hollen said. “While I respect the judicial process and the right to challenge a law in court, it is time for our Supreme Court to take control of these cases.”
The Wisconsin Voter ID law was passed and signed into law in May 2011. However, two Dane County judges, acting on seperate cases, later issued injunctions against the law.
The Department of Justice turned to the Court of Appeals, which almost immediately attempted to turn over the case to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court refused to take it up at the time.
Because of Wisconsin’s early voting and same day registration laws, the law’s proponents argue Voter ID is necessary to ensure election integrity. Opponenets claim almost one out of every ten eligible voters in Wisconsin do not have a state issued identification card and it would be a “substantial burden” to go to the Department of Motor Vehicles to get one, even though they are free for those who need it solely to vote, because of the cost and time to procure it and the documents needed to get the Identification card.