UW–Madison to Issue Voter IDs
UW–Madison students who do not have valid Wisconsin identification cards will be issued a free supplemental ID card for voting purposes only, Darrell Bazzell, vice chancellor for administration, announced in November.
The new cards, estimated to cost the university $100,000 over five years, are in response to a new state law that requires voters in Wisconsin to show photo identification at the polls. The new requirements will be in place starting with the Feb. 21 spring primary.
Students who are Wisconsin residents and have state-issued driver’s licenses or identification cards can use those forms of identification and do not need the UW–Madison voter ID.
“As a campus, we strive to create not just good students, but good citizens,” says Lori Berquam, dean of students. “By offering students an ID to use at the polls, we are helping them take the step to help create the future that they imagine.”
The cards will resemble Wiscard IDs issued to students, but will be clearly marked “voter identification.” The ID will include the student’s signature and expire two years from the issuance date, in compliance with a new state law. UW–Madison student ID cards do not currently meet these requirements.
The voter ID cards, which will not be valid for any other purpose or service on campus, will be available starting on Jan. 23 at the Wiscard office at Union South.
“Civic participation is an educational goal of UW– Madison, and it’s our aim to make it as easy as possible for all students to learn to register and legally vote,” Bazzell says. “We encourage students to exercise their rights and take advantage of this opportunity.”
Students using the voter IDs issued by UW–Madison will not need a separate state-issued ID, such as a driver’s license, but they must show proof of enrollment at the polls. A print-on-demand, enrollment-verification form will be available from the Student Center in MyUW; any student may use the form as proof of residence for voter registration.
The university will provide information about the new voter ID card via a website, social media, and public-awareness campaigns ahead of the February primary.