Dec 5 Speaker / Wisconsin Voter IDs are FREE [UPDATE]

This event has now been opened to the public: George Mendez, an Emmy Award-winning former NBC studio manager, will talk about being Mexican American and Irish American working behind the scenes at a major network at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 5, in 2302 Centennial Hall, UWL. The event is free and open to the public.

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[UPDATE: HERE IS THE ABSOLUTE FACT FROM REID MAGNEY, WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION.]

Thanks for posting about ways people can get a free ID to vote in Wisconsin!

Just to clarify, if you don't have a Wisconsin driver license, state ID card or other acceptable photo ID, you can get an ID card for free from the DMV. Just make sure you check the box that says you need the ID to vote.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission has a helpful video: https://youtu.be/o31j2r16RAM

To get a state ID card, you need certain documents including a birth certificate. The full list is here: http://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/license-drvs/how-to-apply/id-card.aspx. If you don't have all the documents you need, bring what you have and DMV will help you by verifying your birth records in Wisconsin or another state, through the ID Petition Process (IDPP). The ultimate goal is to get you a state ID card for free. If DMV can't issue you an ID card immediately, they will mail you a document with your photo on it that can be used for voting. The document is good for 180 days, and can be renewed multiple times.

Finally, it's important to know there are exceptions to the photo ID requirement for voters who may find it difficult to get to the polls on Election Day because of age, disability, infirmity or illness. These people can contact their municipal clerk's office and ask to become permanent absentee voters, and they will never need to provide a photo ID. You can learn more about it here: https://www.bringitwisconsin.com/absentee-voting-and-exceptions-permanent-absentee-voters-video

Thanks,
Reid Magney
Public Information Officer
Wisconsin Elections Commission
 
[END OF UPDATE]

Some confusing info has been circulating lately about voter IDs as part of a great and worthy campaign to help raise funds for needy families in our area.

By law, people who are eligible to vote in Wisconsin but who do not have a WI driver's license or other approved Voter ID may obtain a Wisconsin Voter ID FREE OF CHARGE even if they do not have a birth certificate. To repeat: there should be no cost to obtain a WI voter ID even if the applicant does not have a birth certificate.

Here is the WORD from the Wisconsin Election Commission's own website titled, LEARN HOW TO GET A FREE VOTER ID EVEN IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

If people are not sure if they have the right ID, they can learn more here.

Here is a brochure about the Wisconsin Voter ID. "A document petition process is available at the WI DMV if you apply for a State of Wisconsin ID card and your documents to prove U.S. citizenship, name and date of birth, and/or legal name change are unavailable. If you do not have the documents mentioned above, DMV staff will work with you to verify your records through other means. You can still get a free State of Wisconsin ID card on the day you visit the DMV even if you are unable to provide the documents listed above."

Here is a Wisconsin Elections Commission release about "FREE Photo ID for voting  now available with one trip to DMV. "

To be sure, there are major problems with Wisconsin's voter ID system which was deliberately designed to disenfranchise voters and there's no reason to believe things will be a whole lot better going forward. Confusing info may give people the wrong impression that they would have to pay to get an ID for voting, the process to get the free voter ID may be confusing, some DMV employees may give out inaccurate info, and DMV offices, the only place you can get a FREE VOTER ID, often have limited hours or are in locations hard to access by public transportation. Our regional DMV is accessible by bus at least, but only during very limited hours.

And it is confusing because there is the regular Wisconsin ID which requires an application and documents (that people may have to pay to get or replace) and a fee. And, people who have or get a regular Wisconsin ID may use it as their photo ID for voting. So donating to help people get rides to and/or pay for getting a regular Wisconsin ID will be helpful.

But there is a separate procedure for people who just want to get a FREE WISCONSIN ID CARD FOR VOTING PURPOSES. And that application process is free.

So, if you hear otherwise, please offer these links for correct info.