MADISON (AP) - Wisconsin officials said Wednesday they've set up a free process to verify birth information for people looking for state identification cards to vote but who lack birth certificates.
The announcement comes after the state Supreme last month upheld a Republican-authored law that requires voters to show photo identification at the polls. The high court's decision said the state can't require someone seeking an ID to vote to pay fees for supporting documents, however.
The voter ID law is not in effect; it remains blocked in federal court. But Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration has been laying the groundwork to re-implement it if it's upheld there as well.
The Department of Transportation issues ID cards for free if they're used for voting. But applicants must supply birth certificates to help the agency verify their identity. Anyone who lacks a copy of their birth certificate would have to buy a new one.
Transportation officials said beginning on Monday the agency will offer free verification of birth claims from people who want state IDs specifically for voting.
Under the process, ID card applicants who lack birth certificates must present some sort of proof of identity, such as a social security card, a W-2 form or a student ID, as well as proof of residency, such as a utility bill, just like any other driver's license or ID card applicant.
They then can fill out a petition with their name, sex, date-of-birth and place of birth as well as a statement testifying to their identity. The agency will then forward the information to the records office, which will search state records nationwide for their birth certificates for free. If the applicant was born in another country, the office will contact the U.S. State Department to verify the information.
Jim Miller, director of the Transportation Department's Division of Motor Vehicle's field services bureau, said the turn-around time could be days or weeks. If the search turns up nothing, the agency would consider alternative documents such as baptismal certificates, census records or perhaps a family Bible.
The turn-around time could leave people who decide to apply for an ID on Election Day out in the cold. Miller said they could cast a provisional ballot and hope the state can verify their information in time for the vote to count.
Typically voters who cast provisional ballots must supply all missing information by 4 p.m. on the Friday following the election. Miller said he's hopeful searches in such instances could be completed quickly.
Miller didn't have any estimates on how much the process might cost.
The announcement comes after the state Supreme last month upheld a Republican-authored law that requires voters to show photo identification at the polls. The high court's decision said the state can't require someone seeking an ID to vote to pay fees for supporting documents, however.
The voter ID law is not in effect; it remains blocked in federal court. But Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration has been laying the groundwork to re-implement it if it's upheld there as well.
The Department of Transportation issues ID cards for free if they're used for voting. But applicants must supply birth certificates to help the agency verify their identity. Anyone who lacks a copy of their birth certificate would have to buy a new one.
Transportation officials said beginning on Monday the agency will offer free verification of birth claims from people who want state IDs specifically for voting.
Under the process, ID card applicants who lack birth certificates must present some sort of proof of identity, such as a social security card, a W-2 form or a student ID, as well as proof of residency, such as a utility bill, just like any other driver's license or ID card applicant.
They then can fill out a petition with their name, sex, date-of-birth and place of birth as well as a statement testifying to their identity. The agency will then forward the information to the records office, which will search state records nationwide for their birth certificates for free. If the applicant was born in another country, the office will contact the U.S. State Department to verify the information.
Jim Miller, director of the Transportation Department's Division of Motor Vehicle's field services bureau, said the turn-around time could be days or weeks. If the search turns up nothing, the agency would consider alternative documents such as baptismal certificates, census records or perhaps a family Bible.
The turn-around time could leave people who decide to apply for an ID on Election Day out in the cold. Miller said they could cast a provisional ballot and hope the state can verify their information in time for the vote to count.
Typically voters who cast provisional ballots must supply all missing information by 4 p.m. on the Friday following the election. Miller said he's hopeful searches in such instances could be completed quickly.
Miller didn't have any estimates on how much the process might cost.