Federal Lawsuit Challenging Voter ID, Other Election Changes Begins

A federal trial on Wisconsin’s voter ID law will begin in Madison on Monday.

The trial is one of two legal challenges to the state’s voter ID law making its way through the courts.

This week, arguments will begin in the suit brought on by liberal group, One Wisconsin Institute, which alleges the law intends to make it more difficult to vote in Wisconsin, particularly for minorities, young people and voters who tend to support Democratic candidates.

Scot Ross, the group’s executive director, said he believes the current law impedes voting.

“Legal voters have been and will be denied the franchise because of what Gov. Walker and the Republicans have done to voter rights in the state of Wisconsin,” Ross said.

In addition to challenging the voter ID law, the suit brings up more than a dozen other voting-related laws in Wisconsin. Those include the reduction of the early voting period and the elimination of statewide special registration deputies.

Wisconsin’s voter ID law was previously upheld in state and federal court.