The U.S. Supreme Court ruled a law requiring photo identification to vote constitutional Monday, stirring calls for such a law in Wisconsin.
Advocates for such a bill in the Republican-controlled Assembly have stated it is needed to stop voter fraud.
Michael Pyritz, spokesperson for state Rep. Jeff Stone, R-Greendale, said Stone first heard questions and concerns about voting issues in 2000. Stone authored a voter identification bill in the previous legislative session.
According to Pyritz, voters would feel more confident in the legitimacy of elections with such a law, along with a faster voting process.
However, Carrie Lynch, spokesperson for state Sen. Russ Decker, D-Weston, said mandatory voter photo identification would decrease the number of voters using same-day registration.
I think it would definitely have the effect of having less people show up for same-day voting because if they get to the polls and find out 'I need an ID,' they can't get it that day,"" Lynch said.
In addition, she said mandatory photo identification would cause voter disenfranchisement problems in the state. Opponents of such measures have stated the bill would disproportionably affect minorities, the elderly and students.
While opinions differ on the need of photo identification, Kevin Kennedy, director and general counsel of the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, said voter fraud is not a prevalent issue in Wisconsin elections.
""The actual instances of fraud in Wisconsin are very limited,"" Kennedy said. ""Most of them are going to be the kind that you are going to detect post-election. They're not going to be identified through picture ID.""
Kennedy stated a voter photo identification law would increase confidence in legitimacy of the elections, but it would be difficult for some residents to gain an ID to satisfy the law.
A change in state law before the 2008 presidential election is unlikely, as the Legislature is not in regular session until January 2009. A voter ID bill passed the Assembly, but failed in the Senate in the previous session.
