Senator Spencer Coggs (D-Milwaukee) announced that he is introducing a bill in the Senate that will counteract the Voter ID Bill by suspending the fees associated with obtaining a birth certificate in Milwaukee County for 12 months from the time Coggs’ bill was passed. Sen. Coggs said, “This ‘voter suppression bill’ that requires proof of identification to vote was passed by the Republican legislature in spite of strong community-wide opposition. I feel it is important that I now try to make the process work for the disadvantaged people in Milwaukee County.”
The Republican Voter ID bill requires a voter to present specific forms of picture identification to vote at a polling place or by absentee ballot. Coggs said, “While the law allows an individual to obtain a cost-free state identification card, thousands of disadvantaged residents in Milwaukee County do not have the money to obtain a copy of their birth certificate, which is necessary to obtain a valid driver’s license or state photo ID.”
Sen. Coggs said that this bill presents a financial burden on disadvantaged residents in Milwaukee County, because only 47 percent of African American adults and 43 percent of Hispanic adults have current valid driver’s licenses. It will also have a financial impact statewide because 23 percent of all Wisconsin residents aged 65 or older don’t have a state photo ID.
Disenfranchised voting groups represent nearly 1 million people across the state of Wisconsin, but the greatest financial impact will be felt by disadvantaged voters in Milwaukee County.
“This bill is a small step toward accommodating disadvantaged Milwaukee County voters, who want to exercise their fundamental right to vote in the upcoming elections, particularly the 2012 presidential elections. I also feel is it will improve the opportunity for the elderly, low-income, disabled, students and people of color who have historically been disenfranchised from voting,” stated Sen. Coggs.
