Wisconsin voters approved a ballot measure that will amend the state constitution to enshrine its voter ID requirement.
The measure passed with 62.74% of the vote, according to Ballotpedia.
The amendment “authorizes the legislature to pass laws establishing exceptions to the photographic identification requirement,” an analysis from the Legislative Reference Bureau says. “Additionally, if an elector is unable to present valid photographic identification before voting on election day, the elector must be given the opportunity to cast a provisional ballot and present valid photographic identification at a later time and place, as provided by law.”
President Donald Trump celebrated the amendment on Truth Social, writing, “VOTER I.D. JUST APPROVED IN WISCONSIN ELECTION. Democrats fought hard against this, presumably so they can CHEAT.”
“This is a BIG WIN FOR REPUBLICANS, MAYBE THE BIGGEST WIN OF THE NIGHT. IT SHOULD ALLOW US TO WIN WISCONSIN, LIKE I JUST DID IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, FOR MANY YEARS TO COME!” he wrote.
Opponents of the amendment claimed it would disenfranchise Wisconsinites.
“Enshrining a voter ID mandate into the Wisconsin Constitution will guarantee the continued exclusion of many voters from the ballot box in future elections,” All Voting is Local Wisconsin State Director Sam Liebert said in a statement. “Seniors, people of color, people with disabilities, and people from low-income households are among the Wisconsinites who have difficulties obtaining an active form of ID and will be effectively disenfranchised by this mandate.”
“After Wisconsin’s strict voter ID law took effect in 2016, it directly affected turnout among these groups of people,” he said. “We should not be purposefully leaving eligible voters behind by setting up additional barriers to the ballot, but unfortunately, those in the Badger State have one more step to take before voting.”
