The November election is drawing closer, and if you’re anything like me you want your voice to be heard. If you’ve looked through your email you’ve probably seen the notice from the University of Wisconsin saying voter IDs are offered at the WisCard office. But what does that mean? Do you actually need a voter ID card? Why the sudden change in how we register to vote? Fortunately, if you’re asking any of these questions you’re not alone. Many people are currently uninformed or misinformed about the new voter registration process and ID laws, and unless you want a surprise at the polls, that needs to change.
Here are some common questions and misconceptions about the new voter ID law:
Why is this law being put into effect in the first place? Voter fraud, as much as many people think it doesn’t matter, is actually a serious issue. During one of the last elections in Wisconsin, a man voted five times for the same candidate under different names. He went to multiple polling places and was not asked to show identification because the people whose names he was voting under had already registered. Previously, only people registering to vote on site at a polling place were required to show photo identification, so this man and many others got away with voter fraud. The new law requiring photo ID will not only prevent people from voting multiple times, but also prevent felons from voting under other people’s names, and having ballots “cast” by the deceased.
What is a voter ID card and do I need one? A voter ID card is a free photo identification card given out by the Department of Transportation or another government entity. You are only eligible for a voter ID card if you are a U.S. citizen, currently do not hold a valid Wisconsin driver’s license, are not a convicted felon, will be over the age of 18 before the election and have resided in Wisconsin for at least 28 days by Election Day.
If I’m from Michigan and go to UW. I can vote in the November election with my Michigan ID, right? Yes, you can vote, but no, you cannot use your Michigan (or any other state) ID to vote in a Wisconsin election. If you’re an out-of-state student and registered to vote in your home state you need to re-register to vote in Wisconsin and get a voter ID card from the WisCard office so the poll workers know that you live in Madison and currently attend school here.
How do I get my voter ID card through the university? It’s pretty easy! All you need to do is go to the WisCard office at Union South with a valid WisCard and they will issue you a voter ID card and a proof of enrollment document that you need to show to the poll workers. Your voter ID card will be valid for two years.
If I have to jump through all these hoops just to register, is it even worth it to vote in this election? Absolutely. This election is crucial, no matter whether you’re a Democrat, a Republican or anywhere in between. If you even have the slightest opinion on who will make Wisconsin a better place to live, study and work, please, go out and cast your vote! Once you have the proper identification, which doesn’t take too long to get anyway, you don’t need to worry about being turned away at the polls.
The college-age population is one of the most important demographics to win over if Gov. Scott Walker and Mary Burke have any plans of winning this election. Even if you’re not into politics your voice can still be heard and you can make the right choice for Wisconsin if you show up with a valid ID and cast your vote!
Kelly Michelle ([email protected]) is a sophomore majoring in elementary education.
