Voter Photo ID Law Status: No ID Currently Required for Voting
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 cases are currently in the Court of Appeals.
On September 27, 2012, the Wisconsin Supreme Court declined for a second time to hear the cases prior to action by the Court 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 |
| New Training Resources Available | February 10, 2012 - 6:44pm |
| Updated Key Changes to SVRS for Photo ID | February 10, 2012 - 6:00pm |
| New Public Information Brochures on Obtaining a Free State ID | November 7, 2011 - 1:37pm |
| Impact of Voter ID Legislation With Respect to Absentee Voters | October 7, 2011 - 2:58pm |
| Voter Photo ID Law Clerk Advisory Committee Survey | August 26, 2011 - 10:35am |
| Photo ID Law Update #6 | August 4, 2011 - 12:04pm |
| Photo ID Law Update #5 -- What We Learned from the Primaries | July 14, 2011 - 3:11pm |
| Guidance Regarding Poll Book Printing for the Summer Elections and Future Elections | July 8, 2011 - 3:38pm |
Wisconsin Government Accountability Board | 212 East Washington Avenue, Third Floor P.O. Box 7984 | Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7984