FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 10, 2021

Contact: Prudence Robertson, probertson@sbalist.org, (240) 672-2828

Washington, D.C. – S.B. 204, legislation in Wisconsin pertaining to voter I.D. protections for absentee voting, was passed by the Wisconsin Senate yesterday.

Importantly, S.B. 204 would help ensure voter I.D. protections for absentee voting by requiring voters casting absentee ballots to prove their identity, restricting the automatic mailing of absentee ballots, and mandating a clear absentee ballot request process.

National Chairman of the Election Transparency Initiative and former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who recently urged Senate leaders to bring the bill to the floor for a vote, issued the following statement:

“We are grateful for the leadership of State Senator Duey Stroebel in introducing this critical election transparency legislation and for Senator Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu who ensured it received its day on the floor. Americans have a right to be confident that it is easy to vote and hard to cheat. By sending this bill to the House, Wisconsin is moving closer to this goal by establishing a process for absentee voting that people can trust. There is no reason why voting-by-mail should have fewer safeguards than voting-in-person – a consistent voter I.D. requirement is simply common sense. We urge the Wisconsin State Assembly to follow the Senate’s lead by standing tall for fair and secure elections.”

Wisconsin provides a free voter I.D. card for any resident who doesn’t have an existing form of I.D., but wants to vote. 2020 voter turnout in Wisconsin was at 75.8%, the highest it has been in decades.

According to recent polling released by the Honest Elections Project, Americans of all backgrounds and political persuasions overwhelmingly favor requiring that voters show ID to vote:

  • 64% of voters, including Black (51%) and Hispanic (66%) voters, as well as urban (59%) and Independent (61%) voters, want to strengthen voting safeguards that prevent fraud – not eliminate them.
  • 77% of voters, including strong majorities of Republicans (92%), Independents (75%), and Democrats (63%) all support requiring voter ID.
  • 64% of Black voters, 77% of Hispanics, and 76% of low-income voters reject the notion that presenting a form of ID at the ballot-box is a “burden.”
  • Two-thirds of voters (66%) support increased protections on absentee voting, like requiring voter ID to vote absentee, which proposed federal bills, H.R.1 and S.1 expressly forbid, contrary to the clear will of the American people.

Separately, Rasmussen found 75% of likely U.S. voters say that showing a photo I.D. to vote is necessary for a “fair and secure election process.” Additional polling from Rasmussen found that 85% of registered voters said it is “common sense” to require photo I.D.

The Election Transparency Initiative, a partnership between American Principles Project (APP) and the national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List), was organized to combat H.R. 1/S. 1 and advocate for state-based election reforms that voters can trust.

###