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Janesville information session set about state’s voter ID law

JANESVILLE — No identification is necessary for voters and democracy advocates who want to learn more about Wisconsin’s new voter ID law.

Representatives from the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board on Tuesday will be at the Rock County Job Center on Janesville’s south side to talk about the law that went into effect in May. The event is hosted by the League of Women Voters and Rock County Clerk Lori Stottler.

All are welcome, Stottler said.

“Anybody who has questions or is confused about the laws for the 2012 election cycle as it pertains to voting” should attend the informational session, Stottler said.

The accountability board created a speakers bureau as part of a $2 million effort to educate the public about the new law, Stottler said. The speakers are available for presentations to groups. The accountability board also has a mountain of information about the law available online.

Stottler particularly recommends that high schools in Rock County send representatives to Tuesday’s event. State statutes require at least one person on staff at each high school be deputized to register voters, Stottler said. High school students turning 18 can register at their school or with other new voters at municipal clerks’ offices.

The program also is important for people who expect to be pounding the pavement to register new voters or spread the word about the identification requirements, Stottler said.

The state ran a “soft implementation” of the law during recall elections. Poll workers asked voters for identification. Voters who didn’t have photo identification were allowed to vote; poll workers gave them brochures about the law.

Here are a few facts from the accountability board’s online list of frequently asked questions.

Q: How much does it cost to get an ID to vote?

A: Nothing, if you are qualified for a Wisconsin ID card and request a free one for voting purposes. (Normally an ID card costs $28.)

Request a voting ID soon in order to get your free ID in time for the February primary election, the accountability board urges. In order to get a Wisconsin ID card, you will need several documents, including:

-- A birth certificate or passport.

-- Proof of identity such as a document with a photo or signature.

-- Proof of residence such as a pay stub, utility bill or bank statement.

You can’t get a free ID if you already have a driver’s license.

Q: What kind of ID is acceptable at the polls?

A: Among many options are a Wisconsin driver’s license, military identification, tribal identification, a U.S. passport or a signed, dated ID from a Wisconsin college or university.