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, completed
- Passes Senate, completed
- Passes Assembly, completed
- Adopted, completed
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: Bradley (R) , Cabral-Guevara (R) , Felzkowski (R) , Feyen (R) , Hutton (R) , Jacque (R) , Jagler (R) , James (R) , Kapenga (R) , LeMahieu (R) , Marklein (R) , Nass (R) , Quinn (R) , Stafsholt (R) , Testin (R) , Tomczyk (R) , Wanggaard (R) , Wimberger (R)
51 cosponsors
Allen (R) , Armstrong (R) , August (R) , B. Jacobson (R) , Behnke (R) , Born (R) , Brooks (R) , Callahan (R) , Dallman (R) , Dittrich (R) , Donovan (R) , Duchow (R) , Franklin, Brill and Tranel , 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) , Rodriguez (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
Senate: Report adoption recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3
Passed 5–3 Jan 7, 2025 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Aye · 17
- André Jacque (1)
- Chris Kapenga (33)
- Cory Tomczyk (29)
- Dan Feyen (20)
- Devin LeMahieu (9)
- Eric Wimberger (2)
- Howard Marklein (17)
- Jesse James (23)
- John Jagler (13)
- Julian Bradley (28)
- Mary Felzkowski (12)
- Patrick Testin (24)
- Rachael Cabral-Guevara (19)
- Rob Hutton (5)
- Romaine Quinn (25)
- Steve Nass (11)
- Van Wanggaard (21)
Nay · 15
- Bob Wirch (22)
- Brad Pfaff (32)
- Chris Larson (7)
- Dianne Hesselbein (27)
- Dora Drake (4)
- Jamie Wall (30)
- Jeff Smith (31)
- Jodi Habush Sinykin (8)
- Kelda Roys (26)
- Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (18)
- LaTonya Johnson (6)
- Mark Spreitzer (15)
- Melissa Ratcliff (16)
- Sarah Keyeski (14)
- Tim Carpenter (3)
Not voting · 1
- Rob Stafsholt (10)
Aye · 54
- Adam Neylon (15)
- Alex Dallman (39)
- Amanda Nedweski (32)
- Barbara Dittrich (99)
- Ben Franklin (88)
- Bob Donovan (61)
- Bob Wittke (63)
- Brent Jacobson (87)
- Calvin Callahan (35)
- Chanz Green (74)
- Chuck Wichgers (84)
- Cindi Duchow (97)
- Clint Moses (92)
- Dan Knodl (24)
- Dave Armstrong (67)
- Dave Maxey (83)
- Dave Murphy (56)
- David Steffen (4)
- Dean Kaufert (53)
- Duke Tucker (75)
- Elijah Behnke (6)
- Gus Gustafson (55)
- Jeff Mursau (36)
- Jerry O'Connor (60)
- Jessie Rodriguez (21)
- Jim Piwowarczyk (98)
- Joel Kitchens (1)
- John Spiros (86)
- Joy Goeben (5)
- Karen Hurd (69)
- Kevin Petersen (57)
- Lindee Brill (27)
- Mark Born (37)
- Nancy VanderMeer (70)
- Pat Snyder (85)
- Paul Melotik (22)
- Paul Tittl (25)
- Rick Gundrum (58)
- Rob Brooks (59)
- Rob Kreibich (28)
- Rob Summerfield (68)
- Rob Swearingen (34)
- Robin Vos (33)
- Ron Tusler (3)
- Scott Allen (82)
- Scott Krug (72)
- Shae Sortwell (2)
- Shannon Zimmerman (30)
- Todd Novak (51)
- Tony Kurtz (41)
- Travis Tranel (49)
- Treig Pronschinske (29)
- Tyler August (31)
- Will Penterman (38)
Nay · 45
- Alex Joers (81)
- Amaad Rivera-Wagner (90)
- Andrew Hysell (48)
- Angela Stroud (73)
- Angelina Cruz (62)
- Angelito Tenorio (14)
- Ann Roe (44)
- Ben DeSmidt (65)
- Brienne Brown (43)
- Christian Phelps (93)
- Christine Sinicki (20)
- Clint Anderson (45)
- Darrin Madison (10)
- Deb Andraca (23)
- Francesca Hong (76)
- Greta Neubauer (66)
- Jenna Jacobson (50)
- Jill Billings (95)
- Joan Fitzgerald (46)
- Jodi Emerson (91)
- Joe Sheehan (26)
- Kalan Haywood (16)
- Karen DeSanto (40)
- Karen Kirsch (7)
- Lee Snodgrass (52)
- Lisa Subeck (79)
- Lori Palmeri (54)
- Margaret Arney (18)
- Maureen McCarville (42)
- Mike Bare (80)
- Priscilla Prado (9)
- Randy Udell (47)
- Renuka Mayadev (77)
- Robyn Vining (13)
- Russell Goodwin (12)
- Ryan Clancy (19)
- Ryan Spaude (89)
- Sequanna Taylor (11)
- Shelia Stubbs (78)
- Steve Doyle (94)
- Supreme Moore Omokunde (17)
- Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (8)
- Tara Johnson (96)
- Tip McGuire (64)
- Vinnie Miresse (71)
Full history
- Jan 6, 2025 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Wanggaard, Bradley, Cabral-Guevara, Felzkowski, Feyen, Hutton, Jacque, Jagler, James, Kapenga, Marklein, Nass, Quinn, Stafsholt, Testin, Tomczyk, Wimberger and LeMahieu; cosponsored by Representatives Snyder, Donovan, Allen, Armstrong, August, Behnke, Born, Brooks, Callahan, Dallman, Dittrich, Duchow, Goeben, Green, Gundrum, Gustafson, Hurd, B. Jacobson, Kitchens, Knodl, Kreibich, Krug, Maxey, Melotik, Moses, Murphy, Mursau, Nedweski, Neylon, Novak, O'Connor, Penterman, Petersen, Piwowarczyk, Sortwell, Spiros, Steffen, Summerfield, Swearingen, Tittl, Tucker, Tusler, Vos, Wichgers, Wittke, Zimmerman, Kaufert, Rodriguez and Kurtz
- Jan 6, 2025 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
- Jan 7, 2025 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Jan 7, 2025 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Jan 7, 2025 · Senate
Report adoption recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3
- Jan 7, 2025 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Jan 7, 2025 · Senate
Placed on calendar 1-8-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Jan 8, 2025 · Senate
Read a third time and adopted, Ayes 17, Noes 15
- Jan 8, 2025 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 8, 2025 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Jan 8, 2025 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Jan 8, 2025 · Senate
Read a second time
- Jan 8, 2025 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Jan 8, 2025 · Senate
Rules suspended to give joint resolution its third reading
- Jan 9, 2025 · Assembly
Representatives Franklin, Brill and Tranel added as cosponsors
- Jan 9, 2025 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 1-14-2025 by Committee on Rules
- Jan 10, 2025 · Assembly
Representative VanderMeer added as a cosponsor
- Jan 14, 2025 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up
- Jan 14, 2025 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Jan 14, 2025 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Jan 14, 2025 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Jan 14, 2025 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 54, Noes 45
- Jan 14, 2025 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 14, 2025 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Jan 14, 2025 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Feb 18, 2025 · Senate
Deposited in the office of the Secretary of State on 2-18-2025
- May 20, 2025 · Senate
Published 5-20-2025. Enrolled Joint Resolution 1