A foundation that advocates for young voters has filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to overturn Wisconsin’s restrictions on what student identification cards meet the standards of the state’s voter ID law.
The suit, filed in the Western District of Wisconsin yesterday, notes student IDs currently only meet the state requirement if they contain an issuance date, an expiration date no more than two years after it was issued and the holder’s signature. In addition, students have to prove through other documents they’re currently enrolled in school.
The lawsuit, filed by the Andrew Goodman Foundation against members of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, seeks to overturn those restrictions.
The suit also argues the restrictions on student IDs were a strategic attempt by Republicans in 2011 to drive down turnout among younger voters, who tend to support Dems.
None of the restrictions is relevant to confirming a voter’s identity, the suit contends. What’s more, there haven’t been any reported instances of voting fraud by any student in Wisconsin before or after the enactment of the requirements, according to the suit.
“The real-world effect of the restrictions, therefore, is not to address a problem that truly exists, but, rather, to make it significantly more difficult for young Wisconsin voters to exercise their constitutional right to vote,” the suit alleges.
The Andrew Goodman Foundation said the lawsuit was supported and funded by the progressive group Priorities USA Foundation. The foundation is an arm of Priorities USA, which has pledged to spend $100 million in four swing states, including Wisconsin, opposing President Trump.
Read the suit here.
See the group’s release here.
