The Battle for the Ballot
Wisconsinites fight for the right to vote
Written by Ava McNarney, Fashion Assistant Editor
Millions of Americans pledge allegiance to the U.S. flag every day, whether at school, work or an event. The stars and stripes have served as the face of democracy worldwide for nearly two and a half centuries. Taking patriotism to a level beyond most nations, you’d expect the U.S. to take every precaution to uphold its fundamental values.
Unfortunately, the division between federal and state governments gives policymakers the power to abuse these values. While we consider the right to vote one of the major components of being a U.S. citizen, the original Constitution hardly mentions it (Brower, 2022). The document allowed individual states to decide who was qualified to vote. Since-passed constitutional amendments have pushed to extend voting rights to more Americans, but millions are still left in the dark due to states’ failures to ensure voting rights.
Wisconsin is the fourth most difficult state to vote in (Ali, 2022). That’s an uptick from years prior due to a recent ban on voter registration drives and laws requiring proof of residency when applying to register to vote. However, voting has never been accessible for all Wisconsinites, specifically for those who are Black, Latinx, disabled or elderly (Banerjee & Gall, 2020). COVID-19 has exacerbated pre-existing voting hurdles; folks in redlined Milwaukee communities reported not receiving requested absentee ballots and experiencing health risks while attempting to vote in person. Voters who are disabled or need language assistance have struggled to meet strict absentee ballot deadlines and receive witness signatures (Banerjee & Gall, 2020).
Thanks to the pandemic, the absentee ballot remains one of Wisconsin’s most hotly debated political objects well into 2022. Wisconsin Democrats have mainly turned to mail-in voting due to health concerns and the ease of the process. After the 2020 election, 65% of Democrats and 49% of Republicans claimed that they were “very likely” to vote by mail again (Rakich & Mithani, 2021). Thus, it’s no surprise that the Wisconsin Republican Party has pushed to make it more difficult to vote via absentee ballot (Bentley, 2022).
In early 2021, a handful of state lawmakers introduced a pack of bills that would make it significantly more complicated to vote by mail and to register to vote in the first place (Voter Suppression Package, 2021). The package would impose restrictions such as requiring repeat voters to reregister to vote in each election, preventing them from automatically being sent ballots. It would counter the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission’s (WEC) largely successful proactive mailing of applications to 2.7 million registered voters in 2020.
Conservative legal group Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) recently made another attempt to suppress voters. The group filed a lawsuit against the WEC last month, demanding the commission add unnecessary questions related to voter residency and criminal record to its voter registration form (Conservative Group Sues, 2022). Earlier in the year, WILL temporarily eradicated drop boxes from the state of Wisconsin. This made it more challenging for voters–especially disabled voters–to vote until last month when the WEC approved local election clerks to entitle those with disabilities to receive help when mailing or delivering absentee ballots (Schmidt, 2022).
Groups attempting to suppress voters typically present themselves as mitigating voter fraud. There is little proof that voter fraud is a legitimate issue, even in mail-in elections (Morgan, 2020). Mail-in voting has appeared to increase voter participation; states that mailed a ballot to every registered voter in 2020 saw overall voter turnout increase by 4% (McGhee et al., 2021). Voting absentee allows you to take extra time to research candidates as you fill out your ballot, yet voting in person allows you to make a fully informed decision as things could change in the weeks leading up to the election. Just as neither method of voting unfairly benefits a specific party, neither is objectively superior from a voter’s perspective.
States’ independence to make voting-related decisions harms many communities, so the federal government must step in before voter suppression worsens. If the Senate passes the 2021 John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA) and Freedom to Vote Act (FTVA), they could increase voting accessibility nationwide and address other concerns including voter intimidation, gerrymandering and misinformation (Wiley, n.d.).
After educating yourself on the process, voting does not seem nearly as daunting and complex. In Wisconsin, anyone who is over 18, has not been convicted of a felony or treason and can provide proof of residence that includes a full name and current address can vote. The state of Wisconsin requires voters to present a photo ID when voting in person or by mail (Voting Guide, n.d.). This ID could be a Wisconsin-issued driver’s license, Wisconsin DOT-issued photo ID card, U.S. passport, military ID card, ID card issued by a Native American Tribe or an ID issued by a Wisconsin accredited university or college.
It’s hard not to feel powerless in the face of such pressing voter suppression issues, but taking action is easier than you might think. Whether you’re casting your vote or encouraging others to do so, participating in our democracy helps open closed doors for those who have more limited access to voting. Politicians are counting on the fact that you won’t vote–prove them wrong. As individuals, we have the opportunity to make our voices heard.
You can vote early by mail or in person from Oct. 25 to Nov. 6 or in person on Election Day, Nov. 8.
Sources
Ali, S. (2022, September 28). These Are the Most Difficult States to Vote in. The Hill.
Banerjee, S. & Gall, M. (2020, May 14). COVID-19 Silenced Voters of Color in Wisconsin. The Leadership Conference of Civil and Human Rights.
Bentley, C. (2022, October 7). How the Fight Over Mail-In Ballots and Election Laws is Playing Out in Wisconsin. WBUR.
Brower, M. (2022, February 3). What Does the Constitution Say About the Right to Vote? Democracy Docket.
Conservative Group Sues to End Use of National Mail Registration Form in Wisconsin. (2022, September 15). Democracy Docket.
McGhee, E. et al. (2021, April). Vote-By-Mail and Voter Turnout in the Pandemic Election. Public Policy Institute of California.
Morgan, B. (2020, July 6). Why Fears About Voting by Mail Are Unfounded. University of Chicago News.
Rakich, N. & Mithani, J. (2021, February 9). What Absentee Voting Looked Like In All 50 States. Five Thirty Eight.
Schmidt, M. (2022, September 7). Wisconsin Elections Commission Approves Guidance for Disabled Voters Following Court Order. Madison.com.
Voter Suppression Package Is an Attack On the Voting Rights of Wisconsinites, ACLU of Wisconsin Says. (2021, March 17). ACLU Wisconsin.
Voting Guide. (n.d.). WisDems.
Wiley, E. (n.d.). 6 Ways Federal Voting Rights Legislation Can Protect Voters and American Democracy. Legal Defense Fund.