Here & Now

With Voter ID, Key To Voting Is In The Cards

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

IN JUST TEN DAYS, WISCONSIN VOTERS WILL TRIM THE THREE-CANDIDATE FIELD IN THE STATE SUPREME COURT RACE DOWN TO TWO. PRIMARY ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH. IT’S WISCONSIN’S FIRST ELECTION WHERE CITIZENS MUST SHOW IDENTIFICATION AT THE POLLS IN ORDER TO CAST THEIR VOTES. WHAT SPECIFIC PROOF OF ID IS REQUIRED. “HERE AND NOW” PRODUCER ANDY SOTH WITH JEN HADLEY SOLVED THE MYSTERY.

JENNIFER HADLEY:

THE FOOL, THE MAGICIAN, THE EMPRESS. THE FUTURE OF YOUR VOTE IN WISCONSIN LIES IN THE CARDS. GOVERNMENT-ISSUED ID CARDS PROVING YOUR IDENTITY AT YOUR POLLING PLACE. WISCONSIN DRIVER’S LICENSE, THE MOST POPULAR AND POWERFUL CARD IN THE DECK. YOU DON’T EVEN NEED THE ADDRESS TO BE CURRENT TO USE IT TO VOTE. THE WISCONSIN STATE ID CARD DOES NOT LET YOU DRIVE, BUT IT DOES LET YOU VOTE. AND YOU CAN GET IT FOR FREE AT THE DMV. MANY MORE HOLD THE POWER OF PROVING IDENTITY, THE PASSPORT, THE UNIFORMED SERVICES ID, THE TRIBAL ID FROM ANY FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED INDIAN TRIBE IN THE STATE AND THE CERTIFICATE OF NATURALIZATION. AND IF YOU’RE A STUDENT, BEHOLD, THE ID FROM ACCREDITED UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE OR TECH SCHOOL BEARING THE DATES AND A SIGNATURE. BUT BE FOREWARNED ITS POWER IS USELESS WITHOUT PROOF OF ENROLLMENT, SUCH AS A TUITION RECEIPT OR OFFICIAL COURSE SCHEDULE. IF YOU GO FORTH AND VOTE, KNOW YOU MUST NOT ONLY KNOW YOURSELF, YOU MUST PROVE WHO YOU ARE, TO THE POLL WORKERS FOR THE POWER LIES IN THE CARDS.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

AND YOU’LL NEED THAT ID TO VOTE IN THE FEBRUARY 16 SUPREME COURT PRIMARY ELECTION. FOR MORE VOTER INFORMATION, GO TO WISCONSINVOTE.ORG.