Introduction
In recent years, voting barriers have intensified in Wisconsin, particularly due to stringent voter identification requirements. Among the affected groups, students face unique challenges in exercising their right to vote. Many rely on their campus identification cards as their primary or sole form of photo ID. Under Wisconsin’s voter identification law, these student IDs must meet specific criteria to be acceptable for voting. However, a significant number of University of Wisconsin (UW) campuses do not currently provide IDs that comply with these requirements, creating obstacles for students.
Current Situation
Under Wisconsin law, a student ID can be used for voting if it is issued by an accredited university or college and includes the date of issuance, an expiration date no later than two years from issuance, and the student's signature. Unfortunately, not all UW institutions offer IDs that meet these criteria:
UW Campuses with Compliant IDs:
Eau Claire
La Crosse
Stout
Whitewater
Superior
UW Campuses without Compliant IDs:
Madison
Milwaukee
Green Bay
Parkside
Oshkosh
Platteville
River Falls
Stevens Point
In contrast, nearly all schools in the Wisconsin Technical College System provide voter-compliant IDs.
Challenges Faced by Students
The lack of compliant IDs at several UW campuses poses several problems:
Inconvenience and Confusion: Students at campuses without compliant IDs face significant hurdles, including the need to obtain alternative IDs. This can be particularly challenging for students living off-campus or at home who may not have easy access to resources needed to secure a special ID on Election Day.
Cost Concerns: Some campuses have expressed concerns about the financial implications of reissuing IDs every two years. However, the solution to this issue lies in offering students the option to either replace their expired card or retain their current one while providing a free, in-house voter ID.
Preferred Name and Pronouns: To address the diversity of the student body, it is crucial that student IDs reflect preferred names and pronouns. The challenge arises in balancing this with the legal name requirements for voting. A viable solution is to print preferred names on the front of the ID and include the legal name on the back, near the signature line.
Recommended Best Practices
To ensure that all students have access to compliant voter IDs, higher education institutions should implement the following best practices:
Initial Voter-Compliant IDs: Universities should issue voter-compliant IDs to all incoming students. This approach ensures that students have an acceptable ID for voting throughout their initial two years of study.
Renewal Notifications: After the two-year period, universities should notify students via email about the expiration of their voter ID and provide clear instructions on how to renew their ID or obtain alternative voting identification.
In-House Printing Solutions: Implement a system where expired IDs can be replaced with a voter-compliant version or where a new, in-house printed ID is offered for voting purposes. This solution is cost-effective and ensures continued access to voting.
Conclusion
Addressing the barriers to student voting in Wisconsin requires a concerted effort to ensure that all UW campuses provide voter-compliant IDs. By adopting the recommended best practices, universities can significantly reduce the voting barriers faced by students and promote greater participation in the democratic process. The proposed solutions not only address current challenges but also set a precedent for inclusivity and accessibility in student voting rights.