Appellate court holds for Wis voter ID, says it can be in effect November 4

[dragonlady]

A federal appeals court in Chicago Friday reinstated for now Wisconsin's voter ID law hours after the three-judge panel heard arguments on the subject.

The move by the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals clears the way for the state to implement the law for the Nov. 4 election, though it does not stop the ongoing appeal over whether the measure is unconstitutional.

"The state of Wisconsin may, if it wishes (and if it is appropriate under rules of state law), enforce the photo ID requirement in this November's elections," the unsigned two-page order reads.

The appellate court said Friday that it was satisfied by changes imposed on the law by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in a separate decision earlier this year. http://www.jsonline.com/news/appeals-panel-questions-why-voter-id-shouldnt-be-in-place-nov-4-b99350157z1-274904111.html

The state's attorney assured the court that the new procedure for giving state IDs without documents that cost money (birth certificates, etc.) would be able to get everyone an ID by the election (yeah, right).

The next step, hopefully being taking right this minute, is an application to Justice Elena Kagan for an emergency stay of this order. She's the justice assigned to this circuit.

This decision is so clearly wrong.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Barring either the stay or shocking revelations

on the ongoing Walker scandal, I'm pretty much afraid that the Republicans will do nothing but solidify their grasp on this state in November.

[Pharaoh]

2. Idiots!

The state's attorney assured the court that the new procedure for giving state IDs without documents that cost money (birth certificates, etc.) would be able to get everyone an ID by the election (yeah, right).

So you don't need any documents to get an ID, but you need an undocumented ID to vote? I tell you these people get more psychotic by the day!! And the Judges are scum too!

[dragonlady]

5. The DMV is to start taking applications for IDs on Monday

Under (the DMV's new program), people can submit birth information so state officials can check state and federal databases to find records of their birth. The officials will also review baptismal records, school records or other documents for those who were never issued birth certificates. http://www.jsonline.com/news/appeals-panel-questions-why-voter-id-shouldnt-be-in-place-nov-4-b99350157z1-274904111.html

For people born abroad, or even in other states, how long would that take? Do voters have to go to the DMV once to submit the application and again to get the result? If there aren't enough workers to do all the checking in time for the election, what then (so sorry, you should have had your paperwork in 6 weeks in advance)? If IDs are manufactured in California (as I've heard), what if there is a backlog or problem there that delays the IDs until after the election? What if the person's birth was never recorded and there are no other documents to be submitted? Who will decide whether a certain item of proof is acceptable? Is any of this subject to a slow-down caused by rules the Walker administration decides to create? And the kicker, if the state changes the procedure that was outlined to the court, that made them think the procedure would be acceptable, how can that change be challenged in time to call off voter ID for this election?

[snacker]

7. And, with DMV center hours cut...

some centers in the northern part of the state are only one day before the election occurs. So if you need a photo ID in the Minocqua area, for instance, you will have to get one on November 4th between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3:45 p.m..

http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/about/locate/dmv/

[WillyT]

3. K & R !!!

[mysuzuki2]

4. Scott Walker has just been reelected.

[MillennialDem]

6. Yep and what a dirty cheating corrupt POS. Can't win on his merits so he cheats.

[dragonlady]

8. Clarification about this order

The court concludes that the state's probability of success on the merits of the appeal is sufficiently great that the state should be allowed to implement its new process, pending further order of the court. "The appeals remain under advisement and an opinion on the merits will issue in due course."

In other words, later on they will get around to writing an opinion with their legal reasoning and citations of law behind upholding the voter ID requirement, but for now, they've decided to let it go ahead for the election that takes place in six weeks.

Quote from an expert on election law:

Rick Hasen, a University of California, Irvine law professor and author of the book "The Voting Wars," said it was unusual for an appeals court to allow such a significant change to voting procedures this close to an election.

"Even though the (U.S.) Supreme Court could well agree that Wisconsin's voter ID law is legal, there's a real chance that the (U.S. Supreme) Court could reverse today's 7th Circuit order," Hasen said by email. "The Supreme Court has said that courts should not make changes in the run-up to elections, which can cause voter and election official confusion. The 7th Circuit did not even mention this rule in its order today." (updated version of the citation above)

[charmay]

9. This is criminal. I'm speechless.

[riversedge]

10. I read about this just before dinner and could not bring

myself to read any articles about the decision at the time. My heart just fell. I am still --some many emotions--disgust anger sadness--just all jumbled up.

[yourout]

11. Have to admit it was smart of the Pukes to stack the courts before....

foisting all the nasty vile shit on us.

They do know how to play the long game.

[snacker]

12. All part of their evil plan, I suppose.

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2011/07/25/277592/walker-closes-dmvs/

From July, 2011: After Signing Law Disenfranchising ID-less Voters, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker Closes 10 DMV Offices

[Archae]

13. I have a Wisconsin ID, same one I used in 2012.

I should have no trouble.

BUT...

What about those with no driver's license or Wisconsin ID?

If my Great-Grandfather was still alive, he wouldn't be able to vote.
No birth certificate, no driver's license, and he lived here in Wisconsin for about 60 years, without being able to speak English.
(He only spoke German.)

What I want to know is who appointed these judges on that court.
I'd be willing to bet money they were appointed by Reagan, or either Bush.

[dragonlady]

14. The judges convinced themselves the new process would work fine

They wanted to uphold voter ID and grabbed the assurance from the state's attorney that the state would provide free IDs for everyone by matching their information with databases rather than requiring a birth certificate. This may help some people if they can fill out all the paperwork involved, but doesn't relieve many of the problems that the district judge cited when striking down voter ID.

You win that bet: one by Reagan, two by G W Bush.

[snacker]

15. Scott Walker's Favorite Judge Rescues Voter ID

http://www.prwatch.org/news/2014/09/12601/scott-walker%E2%80%99s-favorite-judge-could-rescue-voter-id

[lutefisk]

16. Stunning.

Between Randa's bizarre ruling and this "lightning fast" decision, our federal court system would appear to be compromised.

Now for phase two of the voter suppression plan in which they create confusion and fear. How long until we hear about misinformation being disseminated to the poor, elderly, and disenfranchised???