Walker's Amended Voter ID bill would take effect before recall elections

Voters taking part in the upcoming recall elections would need photo identification, if the latest version of the controversial voter ID bill becomes law. The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee passed an amended version of the photo ID bill Monday, removing a provision that required student IDs to carry correct addresses and moving up the date of implementation to immediately after the bill passes.

"We were all wondering why there's such a rush on this bill — now we know," said state Rep. Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse. "It's about the recall elections. You feel the rules need to be changed right in the middle of the game."

Six Republicans and three Democrats face Senate recalls this summer. Republicans hold a 19-14 majority, so a net victory of three seats would give the Democrats control. The first elections are scheduled for July 12.

Photo ID has long been a divisive issue in Wisconsin, with Republicans championing the measure and Democrats saying it would suppress turnout among seniors, minorities, the disabled and college students — voter populations that lean heavily in their favor

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/article_ccba4612-7a96-11e0-ab6e-001cc4c002e0.html
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The amendment AND the timing is just over the top, with the recount still going on, people frustrated with everything already...
Expect a "contentious fight" on the floor of the Legislature. The state Assembly is scheduled to take up the bill Wednesday.

Put on your Rally Shoes... :grr:

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Update from Milw JS - http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/121521464.html
Democrats, hoping to gain in recalls, protest fast track; measure wouldn't be law till '12
People would be asked to show their IDs at elections later this year but would still be allowed to vote if they didn't have IDs with them. They would be told that the law is changing and that photo IDs would be required to vote in 2012.

This still may have an impact on turnout if people decide not to vote thinking they have to have an ID

The more they move to protect the interests of the top 2%, the more they need to restrict the bottom 98% from voting them out. Too bad the morons who vote against their best interests can't figure this out.

:sarcasm:
"I want everyone to be able to vote, but I also want to make sure we have a secure vote, with reasonable safeguards," said state Sen. Joe Leibham, R-Sheboygan, the bill's sponsor.

But the funny business with the ballot bags in Waukesha doesn't bother him a bit.

when the REAL problem is Election fraud, not voter fraud...

Tie it up in court and get an injunction blocking enforcement until it can be heard.

as bad as this is it should not be a huge problem. People choosing not to bother to show up and vote, voter id or not, is our very biggest problem.

This whole thing is designed to minimize the number of voters.

Why is that? Not important enough? Because we would not likely be doing this now if people had bothered to vote last fall and stop Walker.

stories on this, people will be asked for the photo IDs during the recall elections but will be allowed to vote even if they don't have them, and will be told they'll need them to vote in elections next year:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/121521464.html




Of course this is a distinction many people won't be aware of -- they might hear about a new requirement for photo IDs and not have one currently and not bother to vote in the recall elections for that reason.

Democrats have to get the word out that the photo IDs AREN'T required for the recall elections.

One change that WILL be in effect by the time of the recall elections is the change requiring voters to have lived in their new ward for 28 days before the election, and not just 10 days as is now the law. That change will disqualify all people who've moved at the end of June from voting in the July 12 recall elections. So that will tend to disqualify renters, including lots of students, who are more likely to vote Democratic.

Thank you for this update. That is somewhat of a relief, but we'll see what happens on Wednesday.

I'll do my part to GOTV, Though none of these recall elections will take place in my district.

:kick:

..The measure would cost an estimated $5.7 million to implement and would require voters to show a driver's license, state ID, military ID, passport, naturalization papers or tribal ID to vote at the polls. Supporters have said such a law is needed to protect against voter fraud.

"I want everyone to be able to vote, but I also want to make sure we have a secure vote, with reasonable safeguards," said state Sen. Joe Leibham, R-Sheboygan, the bill's sponsor.

The original bill required student IDs to carry a current address, birth date, signature and expiration date. Currently, no college or university ID used in the state, including from UW-Madison, meets those criteria.

Four other states have photo ID laws on the books: Florida, Georgia, Indiana and Kansas. Implementation of the bill would give Wisconsin arguably one of the most restrictive voter laws in the country.

"This is an unfunded mandate, at a time when we can't afford it," said state Sen. Spencer Coggs, D-Milwaukee. "This bill does a major disservice to the voters. It will lead to chaos."

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/article_5aa8adfa-7845-11e0-82be-001cc4c03286.html

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/article_5aa8adfa-7845-11e0-82be-001cc4c03286.html


Solution without a problem?
As voter ID bill heads toward passage, the only certainty is a high price tag

MARY SPICUZZA and CLAY BARBOUR | Wisconsin State Journal | (248) Comments | Posted: Sunday, May 8, 2011 12:00 pm


An election official holds on to an "I Voted" sticker. ANDREW LINK — Winona Daily News



.............Fraud concerns 'overblown'

Despite the fears raised by some, widespread voter fraud remains more myth than reality. Wendy Weiser, of the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University Scool of Law, said most studies have shown that voter fraud is typically isolated and almost never affects the outcome of elections. Weiser said that in problem cases, the issue is almost never someone voting under an assumed name, but rather issues with procedures followed by election officials or improper handling of ballots or election machinery.

"This issue is way overblown," Weiser said. "And to the extent that there is any problem at all, photo IDs would help nothing."

Still, the fear of voter fraud has energized the Republican Party across the country, and several photo ID drives are under way. A 2004 study in Ohio showed that the voter fraud rate for that state was .00004 percent. Yet, this year Ohio lawmakers are debating two voter ID bills.
.................

On a recent weekday afternoon near the UW-Madison Memorial Union, several students said the new law would not affect them because they have driver's licenses. But others said they would no longer be able to vote here because either their driver's licenses are from other states or their student IDs don't list their current address.

Michael Lasecki, 24, said he thinks the law would discourage a lot of student voters.

"They want to do this because of voter fraud, but I haven't seen any evidence that this is a serious problem," he said. "To make a big change like that, they should at least take more time to seriously look at the problem."

Are there plans for when the rigged recalls fail?

I'm sorry, but I still think the rallies and petitions are silly.

somewhat extra-legal. More details would probably violate the site rules. At this point we're fighting tanks and bazookas with mopeds and pea shooters. You can continue to sign petitions if you want, but it isn't going to even slow the fascism.

I THOUGHT that might be what you have been alluding to.

Our shrinking violet Holder should get off his dead ass and shut this shit down.

he should shut this shit down, but I have no faith he even cares about our democracy. His innactions tell me this.

elite smug losers who can't win elections without taking away americans rights to vote.