City of Madison - File #: 21412

• File #: 21412
• Version: 1
• Name: Safeguarding the fundamental right to vote: defeat or amend Wisconsin Senate Bill 6.
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Passed
• File created: 2/15/2011
• In control: COMMON COUNCIL
• On agenda: 2/22/2011
• Final action: 2/22/2011
• Enactment date: 2/23/2011
• Enactment #: RES-11-00147
• Title: Safeguarding the fundamental right to vote: defeat or amend Wisconsin Senate Bill 6.
• Sponsors: Brian L. Solomon, Julia S. Kerr, Shiva Bidar, Marsha A. Rummel, Bryon A. Eagon, Satya V. Rhodes-Conway, Michael E. Verveer, Lauren Cnare, Bridget R. Maniaci, Paul E. Skidmore

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
2/22/2011	1	COMMON COUNCIL	Adopt Under Suspension of Rules 2.04, 2.05, 2.24, and 2.25	Pass
2/16/2011	1	Council Office	RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT UNDER SUSPENSION OF RULES 2.04, 2.05, 2.24, & 2.25 - MISC. ITEMS

Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
Safeguarding the fundamental right to vote: defeat or amend Wisconsin Senate Bill 6.
Body
WHEREAS, one of the most fundamental rights accorded to U.S. citizens by the constitution is the right to vote, and;

WHEREAS, the absolute and unimpeded exercise of this right is essential to a functioning democracy, and;

WHEREAS, voting rights have been used as a way to perpetuate discrimination against minorities, women, and other specifically identified categories of citizens, and;

WHEREAS, heroic struggles have occurred to ensure voting rights for all citizens, often resulting in bloodshed and loss of life, but eventually securing passage of the 15th, 19th, and 24th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, and;

WHEREAS, there is a lack of evidence demonstrating any significant instances of fraud due to voter impersonation, and;

WHEREAS, there is no evidence that photo identification requirements would address the few isolated instances of such fraud, and;

WHEREAS, government issued ID cards can be expensive and are most often not possessed by students, minorities, low income citizens, the elderly, and the disabled, and;

WHEREAS, the National Commission on Federal Election Reform reported that a photo identification requirement would “impose an additional expense on the exercise of the franchise, a burden that would fall disproportionately on people (with limited means),” and;

WHEREAS, the State of Wisconsin is now considering legislation (Senate Bill 6), which requires a driver’s license, a Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) issued ID card, or a military ID card to vote; only ensures that ID cards will be offered at Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office locations; and requires voters to include a copy of photo IDs with their absentee ballots, and;

WHEREAS, many citizens do not have a valid driver’s license and would encounter hardship in accessing DMV site locations to obtain IDs, and;

WHEREAS, absentee...