MADISON, Wis (WSAU) Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel is appealing a ruling that changes Wisconsin’s voter ID law. Federal Judge Lynn Adelman ruled last week that voters who don’t have proper ID can cast ballots after swearing out an affidavit verifying their identity. The court ruling says a safety net is needed for those who don’t have proper ID.
Schimel is asking the judge to stay the ruling. And he’s appealing the case to the full 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. If the stay is not granted the voting-by-affidavit order would be in effect for the November elections. The ruling does not cover the August primaries, since there would not be enough time to implement the change.
Schimel said he is “disappointed” in the ruling. He says the U.S. Supreme Court has already upheld similar voter ID laws in other states. He’s asked for a fast-track review of the case.Judge Adelman was appointed to the federal bench by Bill Clinton and is a former Democrat state senator.
Since his Wisconsin ruling, a separate federal court case sided with opponents of a voter ID law in Texas saying it would disproportionally impact minority and poor voters.