Two Dane County circuit judges have struck down Wisconsin’s voter ID law, but Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen will appeal the decisions, which are likely to end up in Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Dane County Circuit Judge David Flanagan issued the most recent decision invalidating and permanently enjoining the identification requirements in a lawsuit brought by the Milwaukee Branch of the NAACP and immigration rights group Voces de la Frontera.
The state Department of Justice is already appealing a previous permanent injunction on the law issued by fellow Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Niess, and he released the following statement concerning both cases:
“My office will be appealing the Dane County Circuit Court’s decision in NAACP v. Walker, et al. Voter identification helps ensure election integrity. It is a measure that protects the right to vote. And similar election integrity reforms have been upheld as constitutional by the United States Supreme Court.
I believe that Wisconsin’s law complies with the state and federal constitutions and should be allowed to govern elections in this state. So long as the injunctions remain in place in NAACP v. Walker, et al., and League of Women Voters v. Walker, et al., that will not occur. An appeal is necessary to vindicate the law, and we look forward to presenting our arguments to the appellate court.”