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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — University of Wisconsin System campuses will issue free voter identification cards to students who request them.
Regular university IDs from most campuses won't work at the polls because they don't comply with a new state law that requires a signature and a proper expiration date. Except for UW-Superior, university-issued ID cards don't meet the criteria.
Students who are Wisconsin residents don't need a voter ID if they have a state-issued driver's license or ID card, a U.S. passport or military ID, the State Journal (http://bit.ly/YUZZS6 ) reported. Students from out of state who have lived in Wisconsin for at least four weeks before the Nov. 4 elections are eligible to vote but must meet a higher standard than in previous elections.
Even with the new university-issued cards, students will need to provide proof of enrollment at the polls.
UW-Madison students should be able to pick up the new cards beginning early next week, spokesman John Lucas said. The university recently launched a website to help students understand the new state voting regulations.
After the law had only been in effect for the low-turnout February 2012 primary, it had been on hold following a series of court orders that blocked it. A recent federal appeals court ruling reinstated the requirement that voters show photo IDs before casting ballots.
Thirty-four states have passed laws requiring a form of identification at the polls, 32 of which were in force as of Friday, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Wisconsin is one of nine states with the strictest photo ID laws, the organization said.
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Information from: Wisconsin State Journal, http://www.madison.com/wsj
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