Milwaukee – Wisconsin voters who don't have IDs will be able to cast ballots by signing affidavits swearing they are who they say they are, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.
The decision by U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman in Milwaukee created a safety valve for voters who have difficulties getting IDs and thus have been unable to cast ballots under the state's 2011 voter ID law.
"Although most voters in Wisconsin either possess qualifying ID or can easily obtain one, a safety net is needed for those voters who cannot obtain qualifying ID," Adelman wrote in his decision.
The ruling allows voters to use affidavits instead of IDs in the Nov. 8 presidential election. The new system won't be in place for the Aug. 9 primary.
Adelman, a former Democratic state senator, was appointed to the federal bench by President Bill Clinton.
Sean Young, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, praised the decision. "Wisconsin's voter ID law has been a mistake from day one. This ruling is a strong rebuke of the state's efforts to limit access to the ballot box. It means that a fail-safe will be in place in November for voters who have had difficulty obtaining ID," said Young.
State Attorney General Brad Schimel, a Republican, said that he was disappointed with the decision.
Journal Sentinel
