Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Relating to: requiring photographic identification to vote in any election (second consideration).
Constitutional amendments — Second consideration Elections — Ballots Identification cards Voting
- Introduced, stopped here
- Passes Assembly, not reached
- Passes Senate, not reached
- Adopted, not reached
Unfamiliar terms? Glossary
What this bill does
Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau
EXPLANATION OF PROPOSAL
This proposed constitutional amendment, to be given second consideration by the 2025 legislature for submittal to the voters in April 2025, was first considered by the 2023 legislature in 2023 Senate Joint Resolution 73, which became 2023 Enrolled Joint Resolution 9.
This constitutional amendment provides that a qualified elector may not vote in any election unless the elector presents photographic identification issued by this state, by the federal government, by a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state, or by a college or university in this state, that verifies the elector’s identity. Acceptable forms of photographic identification must be specified by law. The amendment authorizes the legislature to pass laws establishing exceptions to the photographic identification requirement. Additionally, if an elector is unable to present valid photographic identification before voting on election day, the elector must be given the opportunity to cast a provisional ballot and present valid photographic identification at a later time and place, as provided by law.
PROCEDURE FOR SECOND CONSIDERATION
When a proposed constitutional amendment is before the legislature on second consideration, any change in the text approved by the preceding legislature causes the proposed constitutional amendment to revert to first consideration status so that second consideration approval would have to be given by the next legislature before the proposal may be submitted to the people for ratification [see joint rule 57 (2)].
If the legislature approves a proposed constitutional amendment on second consideration, it must also set the date for submitting the proposed constitutional amendment to the people for ratification and must determine the question or questions to appear on the ballot.
Sponsors
Introduced by: Allen (R) , Armstrong (R) , August (R) , B. Jacobson (R) , Behnke (R) , Born (R) , Brill (R) , Brooks (R) , Callahan (R) , Dallman (R) , Dittrich (R) , Donovan (R) , Duchow (R) , Franklin (R) , Goeben (R) , Green (R) , Gundrum (R) , Gustafson (R) , Hurd (R) , Kaufert (R) , Kitchens (R) , Knodl (R) , Kreibich (R) , Krug (R) , Kurtz (R) , Maxey (R) , Melotik (R) , Moses (R) , Murphy (R) , Mursau (R) , Nedweski (R) , Neylon (R) , Novak (R) , O'Connor (R) , Penterman (R) , Petersen (R) , Piwowarczyk (R) , Snyder (R) , Sortwell (R) , Spiros (R) , Steffen (R) , Summerfield (R) , Swearingen (R) , Tittl (R) , Tucker (R) , Tusler (R) , VanderMeer (R) , Vos (R) , Wichgers (R) , Wittke (R) , Zimmerman (R)
Registered lobbying interests · 10
Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record
- All Voting Is Local Action
- American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin Inc
- Common Cause in Wisconsin
- Disability Rights Wisconsin
- FGA Action Inc
- Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources
- League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Inc
- Wisconsin Conservation Voters
- Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired
- Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Votes
Assembly: Report adoption recommended by Committee on Campaigns and Elections, Ayes 5, Noes 2
Passed 5–2 Jan 9, 2025 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Full history
- Jan 6, 2025 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Snyder, Donovan, Allen, Armstrong, August, Behnke, Born, Brooks, Callahan, Dallman, Dittrich, Duchow, Goeben, Green, Gundrum, Hurd, B. Jacobson, Kitchens, Knodl, Kreibich, Krug, Melotik, Moses, Murphy, Mursau, Nedweski, Gustafson, Neylon, Novak, O'Connor, Penterman, Petersen, Piwowarczyk, Sortwell, Spiros, Steffen, Summerfield, Swearingen, Tittl, Tucker, Tusler, Vos, Wichgers, Wittke, Zimmerman, Maxey, Kaufert, VanderMeer, Franklin, Brill and Kurtz; cosponsored by Senators Wanggaard, Bradley, Cabral-Guevara, Felzkowski, Feyen, Hutton, Jacque, Jagler, James, Kapenga, Marklein, Nass, Quinn, Testin, Tomczyk, Wimberger, Stafsholt and LeMahieu
- Jan 6, 2025 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Campaigns and Elections
- Jan 7, 2025 · Assembly
Representative Tranel added as a coauthor
- Jan 8, 2025 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Jan 9, 2025 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Jan 9, 2025 · Assembly
Report adoption recommended by Committee on Campaigns and Elections, Ayes 5, Noes 2
- Jan 9, 2025 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Jan 9, 2025 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 1-14-2025 by Committee on Rules
- Jan 10, 2025 · Assembly
Representative Rodriguez added as a coauthor
- Jan 14, 2025 · Assembly
Laid on the table
- Mar 23, 2026 · Assembly
Failed to adopt pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1