Politics & Government
Voter ID Law In Effect for Recall Election — Sort Of
Poll workers will have to ask voters for photo IDs for the recall but they can't stop voters from casting ballots.
Poll workers will be required to ask voters for photo identification during this summer's state Senate recall elections — but poll workers can't stop residents from casting their ballots, at least for now.
The Government Accountability Board, the state agency that oversees elections, issued a reminder this week regarding the recently enacted voter ID law. While the requirement that all voters produce a photo ID does not go into effect until the 2012 spring primary, the new law requires that voters be asked for the information beginning with the recall elections.
In 2012, voters who do not have identification on them when they show up at the polls will be given conditional ballots that will be counted only if they can produce identification later.
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The 8th Senate District seat now held by Alberta Darling covers parts of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties. Barring any court rulings that could delay the recall process, and the general election is scheduled for Aug. 9.
Washington County Clerk Brenda Jaszewski said that requiring poll workers to ask even though the identification is a way of training them.
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"It's just a way of preparing poll workers for the the changes that are coming," she said.
Janice Moyer, the clerk in Menomonee Falls, predicted that there would be some confusion.
"We're having a hard enough time getting ready for the election," Moyer said. "There are so many changes, but we are managing."
Moyer said poll workers will be trained the week before the primary.
The new law also changes the residency requirements for voters. The old law required that a voter move into the district at least 10 days before the election. The new law requires 28 days.
The dates for absentee voting also have changed. For the July 12 primary, absentee voting starts June 27 and ends July 8. For the general election, absentee voting starts July 25 and ends Aug. 5.
In Milwaukee County, Election Commission Administrator Lisa Weiner said the requirement that poll workers ask for identification is "just for practice." But she is concerned about other aspects of the confusing race.
"Alberta Darling filed a lawsuit challenging the petitions," Weiner said. "What if she wins? I have to order ballots and I don't know if the election will be held."
No court date has been set for the lawsuit.
