The Wisconsin Supreme Court has upheld a 2011 law backed by Republicans requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls.
The rulings in two separate voter ID cases were released Thursday morning among several major decisions issued simultaneously.
The law already was ruled unconstitutional by a federal court judge in Milwaukee this spring, meaning that Thursday’s rulings have no immediate effect. That federal court decision is under appeal.
For the law to take effect, both the state Supreme Court and the federal courts would have to find it to be constitutional.
In April, U.S. District Judge Lynn struck down the law, saying it violates the federal Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution.
Gov. Scott Walker praised Thursday’s rulings and said he was confident voter ID would ultimately be upheld in federal court.
“Voter ID is a common-sense reform that protects the integrity of our elections,” Walker said. “People need to have confidence in our electoral process and to know their vote has been properly counted. We look forward to the same result from the federal court of appeals.”
