Wisconsin Assembly passes GOP-backed voter ID bill

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Wisconsin Assembly passes GOP-backed voter ID bill
– 39 mins ago

MADISON, Wisconsin (Reuters) – The Wisconsin state Assembly passed a Republican-backed bill on Wednesday that will stiffen requirements for voter identification at polling places and was decried by Democrats as targeting their constituents.

The Assembly passed the bill by a vote of 60-35 and sent it on to the Senate, which is also controlled by Republicans. Democrats introduced more than 50 amendments, all of which failed.

The measure was expected to further split the partisan divisions in the state after the recent bruising battle over newly elected Republican governor Scott Walker's successful campaign to weaken public sector union bargaining rights.

Democrats said the new measure, which will require voters to show an approved photo ID before receiving their ballot, was aimed at discouraging many of their constituents, especially college students, rather than addressing vote fraud, which they said was not a serious problem in the state.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110512/pl_nm/us_wisconsin_voter_id