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kpete

(71,986 posts)
Tue Dec 13, 2011, 12:28 PM Dec 2011

ACLU Sues Scott Walker Over WI’s Voter ID Law

Wisconsin’s voter ID law imposes the equivalent of a poll tax on individuals with out-of-state drivers licenses and discriminates against the poor, students and the elderly, according to a federal lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on Tuesday.

ACLU lawyers argue in a 54-page lawsuit that the law “imposes a severe and undue burden on the fundamental right to vote under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution; violates the Twenty-Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution as an unconstitutional poll tax; and violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment in arbitrarily refusing to accept certain identification documents.”

The suit argues that the law would force individuals to “choose between surrendering their driving privileges to obtain a free Wisconsin state ID card, paying a fee for a Wisconsin driver’s license, or losing their right to vote.” They argue that the requirement to surrender an out-of-state driver’s license “constitutes a material requirement imposed on an eligible voter who refuses to forfeit his/her right to vote without paying an unconstitutional poll tax.”

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/aclu_sues_scott_walker_over_wisconsins_voter_id_law.php?ref=fpa

26 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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ACLU Sues Scott Walker Over WI’s Voter ID Law (Original Post) kpete Dec 2011 OP
good news. barbtries Dec 2011 #1
2nd that motion, and K and R. nt. Stuart G Dec 2011 #2
3rd that motion, K & R freshwest Dec 2011 #3
K&R Thanks for posting. n/t Scuba Dec 2011 #4
best news I've heard all day liberalnationalist Dec 2011 #5
And they should not have to pay to do it. There was no "widespread voter fraud" in WI AllyCat Dec 2011 #13
Great! xxqqqzme Dec 2011 #6
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Dec 2011 #7
ACLU sues contrarian22 Dec 2011 #8
Well, no, Stevens has not said that this set of laws, and the effects it has, are legal saras Dec 2011 #11
Not when it asks people to surrender rights they already have to get some other right to which they AllyCat Dec 2011 #12
Not exactly EC Dec 2011 #15
It already cost me $14.00 EC Dec 2011 #9
Result of a article a week ago... Evasporque Dec 2011 #10
Good news...now I hope there will be more suits against South Carolina, Florida & every other state Pachamama Dec 2011 #14
Yes! More lawsuits needed The Genealogist Dec 2011 #16
Kansas under Brownback is also up to no good. The Kansas AG Kobach is pushing an ID law. tblue37 Dec 2011 #20
legislation supporting voter suppresion is a part of the ALEC template. hue Dec 2011 #24
Good news! K&R highplainsdem Dec 2011 #17
They should register voters N.OW and challenge the legality of any obstruction being met. julian09 Dec 2011 #18
Ok, NOW I'll send the check in. lindysalsagal Dec 2011 #19
Followed your lead and made a contribution to ACLU for the first time in my life... rfranklin Dec 2011 #26
K&R ... Bigtime! Bozita Dec 2011 #21
I posted this a while ago...Sorry didn't see this posted. Let me go see if I can delete.. midnight Dec 2011 #22
Thats good news The Last Democrat Dec 2011 #23
Let's hope it brings at least .. 99Forever Dec 2011 #25
 

liberalnationalist

(170 posts)
5. best news I've heard all day
Tue Dec 13, 2011, 12:57 PM
Dec 2011

I hope that this spreads nation wide...no one who is an American citizen over the age of 18 should be denied to vote. States do not have power to make up federal laws and break the constitution as they go.

AllyCat

(16,184 posts)
13. And they should not have to pay to do it. There was no "widespread voter fraud" in WI
Tue Dec 13, 2011, 03:42 PM
Dec 2011

We could register at the polls with proof that we lived at our address (and that could mean bringing in a bill from the power company or a lease agreement). Overnight, we have this dictator in saying that we have to prevent voter fraud while he and his ilk promote and utilize ELECTION fraud right under our noses. We all see it, we report it, and nothing gets done.

xxqqqzme

(14,887 posts)
6. Great!
Tue Dec 13, 2011, 01:32 PM
Dec 2011

If the DoJ is going to pretend medical marijuana is more threatening, glad the ACLU is stepping in to fight this crap.

contrarian22

(16 posts)
8. ACLU sues
Tue Dec 13, 2011, 01:37 PM
Dec 2011

Delaying tactic, Former Supreme Court Justice Stevens majority opionion says ID laws are legal.2008

 

saras

(6,670 posts)
11. Well, no, Stevens has not said that this set of laws, and the effects it has, are legal
Tue Dec 13, 2011, 03:09 PM
Dec 2011

There's not a universal blanket "ID laws" concept that covers everything. It just doesn't exist.

AllyCat

(16,184 posts)
12. Not when it asks people to surrender rights they already have to get some other right to which they
Tue Dec 13, 2011, 03:39 PM
Dec 2011

are entitled. How do you feel this opinion relates to this case?

EC

(12,287 posts)
15. Not exactly
Tue Dec 13, 2011, 05:25 PM
Dec 2011

Not enough evidence on our side was shown...now we'll have the evidence that people are being denied their rights. He also said the other side didn't prove their case either, that he saw no evidence of the fraud they were aiming to stop with the ID's.

EC

(12,287 posts)
9. It already cost me $14.00
Tue Dec 13, 2011, 02:50 PM
Dec 2011

I had to get a new license because my old one wouldn't renew until after the election and it had my old address on it. Our licenses are good for 6 years and if you move during that time you can call or get on line and change your address, but it doesn't change on the physical license until it's renewed or you BUY a replacement. I bought the replacement because I want to vote.

Evasporque

(2,133 posts)
10. Result of a article a week ago...
Tue Dec 13, 2011, 03:07 PM
Dec 2011

It was posted in DU2 and highlighted the issues people have...and how it flat will prevent people from voting.

Pachamama

(16,887 posts)
14. Good news...now I hope there will be more suits against South Carolina, Florida & every other state
Tue Dec 13, 2011, 04:39 PM
Dec 2011

...trying to implement these laws designed to suppress the vote....

tblue37

(65,340 posts)
20. Kansas under Brownback is also up to no good. The Kansas AG Kobach is pushing an ID law.
Tue Dec 13, 2011, 11:06 PM
Dec 2011

He's the same tool who writes those nasty anti-immigrant laws in places like Arizona.

hue

(4,949 posts)
24. legislation supporting voter suppresion is a part of the ALEC template.
Wed Dec 14, 2011, 09:40 AM
Dec 2011

Repukes advance this policy whenever they can.

 

julian09

(1,435 posts)
18. They should register voters N.OW and challenge the legality of any obstruction being met.
Tue Dec 13, 2011, 06:51 PM
Dec 2011

Time to meet obstruction with action to register voters of all stripes, students, elderly, minorities and help with getting IDs.
Can't wait til last few weeks because of difficulties that may be encountered that take time to remedy.

 

rfranklin

(13,200 posts)
26. Followed your lead and made a contribution to ACLU for the first time in my life...
Wed Dec 14, 2011, 10:59 AM
Dec 2011

This is getting serious!

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