Senate committee advances constitutional amendment to require photo ID for voting after heated hearing

A Senate committee voted to advance Senate Joint Resolution 2 on second consideration after a contentious public hearing and an executive-session vote that split the panel 5-3.

SJR 2 would add a photo-identification requirement to the Wisconsin Constitution and direct the Legislature to provide for provisional ballots that would be counted only if a voter later presents a valid ID. The committee approved the resolution in executive session; the motion was seconded on the record and the committee recorded five members voting “aye” and three members voting “no.”

Why it matters

Supporters said the amendment would lock an existing statutory voter-ID requirement into the state constitution to prevent future court decisions from removing it. Opponents — including disability advocates, voting-rights groups and civic organizations — told the committee the change would cement barriers that disproportionately affect seniors, people with disabilities, students, low-income voters and communities of color.

What happened at the hearing

Vice Chair Senator James presided over the hearing and the panel allowed a series of prepared witnesses to speak for and against SJR 2. The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, represented by Deborah Kronmiller, urged the committee to reject the amendment. “An expensive law that does not solve a problem but keeps eligible citizens from voting is a net loss for democracy,”…