ACLU Comment on Appeals Court Action in Wisconsin Voter ID Challenge

CHICAGO — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit today declined to review a challenge to Wisconsin’s restrictive voter ID law at this time. The American Civil Liberties Union, which brought the case on behalf of Wisconsin voters, sought initial review from the entire court; the challenge will instead be heard by a three-judge panel.

Sean Young, senior staff attorney with the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, had this reaction:

“Courts nationwide have concluded that unnecessary and burdensome restrictions on voters are discriminatory and unconstitutional. We look forward to the day when the Seventh Circuit joins this consensus by striking down Wisconsin’s voter ID law.

“Two trial courts have found that, over the last five years, Wisconsin has utterly failed to get IDs into the hands of voters who need them. There’s no reason to believe that the state’s latest eleventh-hour ‘emergency’ procedures will work any better than its past failed policies.”

The order is at: https://www.aclu.org/legal-document/frank-v-walker-en-banc-denial

More information is at: https://www.aclu.org/cases/frank-v-walker-fighting-voter-suppression-wisconsin