Wisconsin

“A second judge has declared Wisconsin's voter ID law unconstitutional, further guaranteeing that the ID requirement will not be in place for elections this fall.”

“As several states prepare to implement voter ID laws passed by their legislatures in November, TPM’s interviews with elections officials show that education efforts are all over the map.”

“The fact is there are tens of thousands of folks in Milwaukee County [WI] who don't have a valid photo ID for any number of reasons but still manage to get by just fine. These are the same people some suggest are committing massive voter fraud even though there's little hard evidence to support most of those claims.”

“A study by the Associated Press found that legitimate votes have been rejected after many states passed tougher voter ID laws in order to prevent fraud. ... When Edward and Mary Weidenbener went to vote in Indiana's primary in May, they didn't realize that state law required them to bring government photo IDs such as a driver's license or passport.”

League President Elisabeth MacNamara and Senior Elections Director Jeanette Senecal are among the “foes” in this piece on how the “Foes of Voter ID Laws Find Ways to Mute Their Impact.”

“State Rep. Robin Vos (R-Burlington) has joined a chorus of Republicans continuing to raise questions over Racine County's election practices in Democrat John Lehman's narrow defeat of GOP Sen. Van Wanggaard in the June 5 recall. ... The issue is not unique to Racine. Poll watchers statewide reported confusion over the residency requirement implemented this year.”

“Our election system is literally awash in money, and the 2012 election will again shatter all spending records. The amount of money from wealthy special interests, millionaires and billionaires coursing through the Wisconsin recall election and the presidential election corrodes public faith in our democracy.”

As I wrote earlier this week, I was in Wisconsin on Tuesday to observe the recall election. It was a long day, but very exciting to bear witness to democracy at work.

“Young voters and African-American voters did more than their part to show up, according to exit polls and early reports, despite significant efforts to confuse and challenge them from groups that profess to be fighting voter fraud.”

More than 160 Wisconsin League volunteers are out in force as election observers while voters decide the outcome of the recall election for Governor Scott Walker and other officials.