Wisconsin's NEW Voter ID Law - "Nice to Know Information"

SEPAC would like to urge ALL voters that are voting in the recall districts to cooperate with the the request for a photo ID in order to receive a ballot. What is of the top priority TODAY, is getting you to cast your vote. Below is the content of a press release from the Government Accountability Board regarding several issues around the NEW Voter ID law. PLEASE NOTE: The NEW Voter ID law DOES NOT take effect until February 2012, just before we vote to RECALL WALKER.

MADISON, WI – Wisconsin’s new Voter Photo ID Law will be put to another test at Tuesday’s recall election, and the Government Accountability Board reminds people who do not yet have a photo ID that they can still vote.

“Until February 2012, we are still in a ‘soft implementation’ period when a photo ID is not required,” said Kevin Kennedy, director and general counsel of the Government Accountability Board. “However, our Help Desk continues to get calls from people concerned that they can’t vote in the coming recall elections because they don’t have a photo ID.”

Under the new law during soft implementation, voters must be asked for a photo ID before they receive a ballot; however, if they do not have a photo ID they can still vote. Voters without photo IDs must be given a handout explaining they will need a photo ID to vote beginning in February 2012. The handout also explains what IDs are acceptable, and how to get a free photo ID for voting purposes.

The handout is available at http://gab.wi.gov/publications/brochures/voter-id-handout.

Elections Division Administrator Nathaniel E. Robinson said the Board is also aware of misinformation being spread about voter registration. “The new Voter Photo ID Law did not change Election Day Registration,” Robinson said. “You can still register to vote on Election Day at your polling place.”

Robinson urged anyone with questions about the new Voter Photo ID Law to visit the Board’s website for complete, accurate information: http://gab.wi.gov/elections-voting/photo-id.

The Government Accountability Board encourages all eligible voters to participate in the August 9 and August 16 recall elections. Voters can check their registration status, find the election date in their area and view their sample ballot at the Voter Public Access website: http://vpa.wi.gov/.

For more information, contact: Reid Magney, public information officer, 608-267-7887

Click "HERE" to learn more about the NEW Voter ID Law >>>