Federal appeals court reinstates voter ID law in Wisconsin
/The US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit [official website] on Friday reinstated Wisconsin's voter photo identification law after the three-judge panel issued an order [order, PDF] staying the injunction issued [JURIST report] by the US District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin [official website]. stating that the state may require photo identification during the November elections. During the hearing, the panel rejected [AP report] the argument that the law was discriminatory. The court reasoned that because the Supreme Court of Wisconsin [official website] revised [order, PDF] the procedures after the district court's decision to make it easier for persons who have difficulty affording any fees to obtain the birth certificates or other documentation needed under the law, or to have the need for documentation waived, the likelihood of irreparable injury is reduced. Therefore, the balance of equities and thus the propriety of federal injunctive relief was changed, warranting a stay of the injunction.
