Voter Photo ID Law Status
Two separate judges, on March 6 and March 12, 2012, have issued injunctions preventing the Government Accountability Board from enforcing photo ID requirements in 2011 Act 23. The Wisconsin Department of Justice has appealed those injunctions, and the appeals have been certified to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which on April 16 sent them back to the respective Courts of Appeals.
Read the G.A.B.'s statement regarding the March 6 order.
Information for Local Elections Officials about Voter Photo ID.
2011 Wisconsin Act 23 Information
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is still providing free state ID cards. To learn about getting a free Wisconsin ID card, please visit the Wisconsin Department of Transportation website: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/drivers/apply/idcard.htm.
On March 6, 2012, Dane County Circuit Court Judge David Flanagan ordered the Government Accountability Board and Governor Walker to “cease immediately any effort to enforce or implement the photo identification requirements of 2011 Wisconsin Act 23, pending trial of this case and further order of the court.”
On March 12, 2012, Dane County Circuit Judge Judge Richard Niess declared "2011 Wisconsin Act 23’s photo ID requirements unconstitutional to the extent they serve as a condition for voting at the polls." The judge also permanently enjoined the defendants "from any further implementation or enforcement of those provisions."
Act 23 contains several other non-photo-ID provisions affecting elections, including residency and absentee voting. These provisions, including the requirement to sign the poll list, are still in effect. Please see the links below.
This page contains information for voters and local election officials about the law and its requirements. It will be updated as the Board develops new educational materials.
Learn about the History of the Voter Photo ID Law.
Wisconsin Legislative Council Act Memo for Voter Photo ID Law
Information for Local Election Officials
| Title | Post date |
|---|---|
| Photo ID Injunction Q & A | March 9, 2012 - 5:59pm |
| Injunction Regarding Wisconsin Act 23 - Voter Photo Identification Legislation Impact | March 7, 2012 - 6:43pm |
| Photo ID Election Day Notice and Acceptable ID Handout | February 14, 2012 - 5:27pm |
| New Training Resources Available | February 10, 2012 - 6:44pm |
| Updated Key Changes to SVRS for Photo ID | February 10, 2012 - 6:00pm |
| Sample Voter Photo ID News Release Template for Clerks | December 8, 2011 - 11:48am |
| NEW Public Information Brochure on the New Photo ID Law Focusing on Indefinitely Confined and Voters in Care Facilities | November 30, 2011 - 5:51pm |
| New Public Information Brochures on Obtaining a Free State ID | November 7, 2011 - 1:37pm |
| Public Information Brochures on the New Voter Photo ID Law | October 19, 2011 - 2:09pm |
| Impact of Voter ID Legislation With Respect to Absentee Voters | October 7, 2011 - 2:58pm |