Wisconsin Attorney General demands action against voter ID laws
The Wisconsin State Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen is asking the Wisconsin Supreme Court to take action and review rulings made by two judges that struck down the state's voter ID law. The Attorney General is also requesting these authorities do so in time for the upcoming November elections.
"No quarter has been given in defending voter ID," Van Hollen said in a statement. "People in this state are very frustrated that a common sense law enacted by the Legislature and signed by the governor has been blocked."
The state's Supreme Court has already declined once this year to step in and overturn the rulings, which were made by two separate judges saying the law created a "substantial impairment of the right to vote," according to the Journal Sentinel. But, with more pressure from the Attorney General, the court is expected to eventually take these cases, while some experts doubt it will be done in time for the election.
The law requires voters to show at least one of several approved types of photo IDs in order to vote. Supporters claim this helps curb voter fraud while detractors say it makes it unnecessarily hard for senior citizens and minorities to vote.
While the issue of voter identification rights has already created national fervor with the conflict between Florida and Department of Homeland Security, Wisconsin's particular case is entangled by two ongoing federal lawsuits against Governor Scott Walker and the state Government Accountability Board, which oversees state elections.
While these cases may involve complicated voter rights and election procedure laws, the use of real-time court reporters can be crucial to ensure that litigators have the most accurate deposition transcripts available. Any lawyers involved in complicated cases may also want to partner with Wisconsin court reporters who can provide video deposition services.
