What is an acceptable voter ID?
- A Wisconsin DOT-issued driver license, even if driving privileges are revoked or suspended.
- A Wisconsin DOT-issued identification card. *see more below*
- A Military ID card issued by a U.S. uniformed service.
- A U.S. passport.
Identifications above must have an expiration date after the November 2, 2010 election.
- A certificate of naturalization, issued not earlier than two years before the date of an election at which it is presented.
- An unexpired driving receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT.
- An unexpired identification card receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT.
- An identification card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Wisconsin.
- An unexpired identification card issued by a Wisconsin-accredited university or college that contains the following: Date of issuance, signature of student and expiration date not later than two years after date of issuance. Student must also provide proof of enrollment with ID.
How to get a Wis. DOT-issued id card
Because of the new Voter ID requirements, Wisconsin law requires the Department of Transportation to provide free ID cards to anyone who will be at least 18 years of age on the date of the next election and who requests a free ID for the purpose of voting.
The Government Accountability Board advises individuals should start the process of obtaining a photo ID card well in advance of an election in which they wish to vote.
Requests to receive a DOT-issued ID must be accompanied by proof of name and date of birth, identity, citizenship or legal status, and Wisconsin residency.
There's a long list of documents you can use, but most people will find that a certified birth certificate, a Social Security card and a utility bill or cell phone bill will be enough. Be sure to bring originals - photocopies don't work - and check the box that says "ID for Free" on your application form. Once it's complete, you'll get a receipt (valid for 45 days) that you can use at the polls until your state ID arrives by mail.
A state-issued ID card can be obtained at:
- DOT Monroe service center, 815 1st Ave., Monroe. The office is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday.
- DOT Darlington service center, 197 Christensen Drive, Darlington. The office is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.
For detailed information about the Voter Photo ID law, please visit the Government Accountability Board website, gab.wi.gov, or call 1-866-VOTE-WIS or contact the G.A.B. Help Desk at (608) 261-2028 or TTY 1-800-947-3529. The Wisconsin Identification Card (ID) Application, MV3004, is available online.
The process of receiving a ballot will be slightly different than in the past - voters will need to show a current photo ID and sign the poll book.
Green County Clerk Mike Doyle said his county has no problem with voter fraud. The state voter ID requirement just makes it "harder for older people, college students and minorities" to vote at the polls, he said.
"As far as fraud, there's only been about four or five cases state-wide, and those were felons who were not supposed to be voting, not people voting twice," he added.
According to Doyle, each voter's name is given a bar code in the poll books. His office takes an electronic reading of the bar codes at all the voting places after each election to verify the names. Any name that comes up twice among the readings would signal a cause for investigation.
It is the duty of local village and township clerks to get the right ballot to a voter, based on the voter's address.
Election officials working at the polls will still ask each voter to state his or her full name and address to check against the information in the poll book of registered voters, as they have in years past.
Starting this year, by state law, they must also ask to see a photo ID to confirm identities.
Candee Christian, clerk of the Town of Exeter, will be distributing seven different ballots in April. The township contains three county supervisory districts and three school districts, whose boundaries do not coincide, plus two wards within the township borders.
Out of 1,400 eligible voters in the township, about 1,200 are registered to vote.
"Most of our voters work in Madison, and they are very knowledgeable about registering to vote," Christian said.
Voter photo ID is not an issue in the township, she said.
"There's not the problem here that's been reported in the media in other areas of the state," she added.
Christian said poll books are prepared by the county; all she has to do is verify a voter's place of residence in the poll book and make sure each one gets the correct ballot on Election Day.
"There are worse things than photo ID rules," she added.
According to the Government Accountability Board, the address on the ID doesn't have to be current, and the name on ID doesn't need to be an exact match for the name in the poll book. Nicknames, such as Bob for Robert and Sue for Susan, or a hyphenated last name for a recently married voter will suffice.
But the photo must reasonably resemble the voter, even if the hair has been colored, a beard shaved, or weight is different.
The photo ID must be one of the acceptable documents specified by law. *see sidebar*
Driver licenses and state ID cards, military IDs, and passports can be expired, if they expired since the last November general election - no more than two years ago.
Also, starting this year, voters will need to sign the poll book. The signature or mark should go right next to the name and address in the book. Any voter unable to sign because of a physical disability is exempt from the requirement and should inform a poll worker.
Without a proper photo ID, a voter may still vote by provisional ballot. The voter must then bring the ID to the polling place later that day, or present it or a copy of it in person to the municipal clerk by 4 p.m. Friday, the third day after the election.
The ballot will be counted only if the ID is presented by the deadline.
New voters can still register at the polls and will need to show proof of residence when filling out a registration form. A photo ID is not necessary when registering, but will still be required before a ballot is issued.
For detailed information about the Voter Photo ID law, please visit the Government Accountability Board website, gab.wi.gov, or call 1-866-VOTE-WIS or contact the G.A.B. Help Desk at (608) 261-2028 or TTY 1-800-947-3529.