The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 10, 2025
On the ballot with Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race April 1st was a question to enshrine a voter ID requirement into the state’s constitution. Voter ID is popular in Wisconsin and elsewhere, but comes with unintentional – or perhaps intentional, consequences.
A 2024 poll by the Pew Research Center found 82% of Americans favored government-issued ID for voting, and Wisconsin already has a voter ID law in place since 2011. The recent ballot question asked whether voters should be required to present a valid photo ID, but deferred to state law as to the type of ID. It passed 63% to 27%.
At the moment, the state accepts a Wisconsin driver’s license or non-driver ID, military ID, U.S. passport, tribal ID card, student ID card, naturalization papers, or a VA health card. But the devil, as they say, is in the details.
While Wisconsin allows some student IDs, Votebeat reports that IDs from the 50,000-student University of Wisconsin – Madison and other campuses are NOT acceptable for voting. The state offers a free ID for voting, but requires applicants to appear in person at the DMV with citizenship, residency or other documents. Disability activists say 11 of Wisconsin’s DMV offices are not handicapped accessible.
We’ve linked to more on Wisconsin’s voter ID amendment at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Pew Research Center – Bipartisan Support for Early In-Person Voting, Voter ID, Election Day National Holiday
Wisconsin Public Radio – Voter ID in Wisconsin: What to know about Wisconsin’s April 1 referendum
BallotPedia – Wisconsin Question 1, Require Voter Photo ID Amendment (April 2025)
Wisconsin Legislature – 2025 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 2
Votebeat Wisconsin – Wisconsin voters to decide whether to put photo ID requirement in constitution
Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation – Wisconsin ID card for voting purposes – petition process
Wisconsin Examiner – Wisconsin voters approve constitutional amendment to enshrine voter ID law
Groups Taking Action:
ACLU WI, Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition, League of Women Voters WI
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE!
Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
Want ADM sent to your email? Sign up here!
Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX
#Democracy #DemocracyNews #VoterID #Wisconsin #WIConstitution