Common Cause Wisconsin: October 2016

Monday, October 31, 2016

Early, In-Person Absentee Voting Ends This Friday for Most of Wisconsin

For Release: Monday - October 31, 2016

Election Day – Tuesday, November 8th – is Just Eight Days Away

Early, in-person absentee voting will end for most of Wisconsin this Friday, November 4th – though in some municipalities you'll still be able to cast an early absentee ballot as late as Saturday, November 5th (e.g., Milwaukee) or Sunday, the 6th (e.g., Madison).

For more information about early voting in your city, town or village, contact your municipal clerk.

If you are voting with an absentee ballot by mail, remember – it must be RECEIVED by your municipal clerk no later than 8:00 PM on Election Day. So get your ballot in the mail ASAP!

More on what you need to know about casting an early, absentee ballot in-person or by mail.

Before you cast your ballot, make sure you are registered to vote at your current address. Go to MyVote.WI.gov, select "Register to vote," and enter your name and date of birth.

If you find out that you are not already registered to vote at your current residence, you can still register in your clerk's office – and at some early voting locations (check with your municipal clerk) – until close of business this Friday – or at the polls on November 8th. When you register to vote, you'll need to show a proof of residence document (hard copy or electronic on your cell phone or tablet).

More information on voter registration is here.

And don't forget an ID.

You will need to present one of the acceptable forms of ID pictured left when voting in Wisconsin, so take a moment and check to see if you have the ID you need to cast a ballot early or on Election Day.

(Click image to enlarge)

If you don't have an acceptable ID, review the information on our downloadable fact sheet on voter ID and/or visit: Bring It to the Ballot.

And do NOT give up on voting just because you do not have an ID!

Our partners at VoteRiders can help you get an acceptable form of ID for voting from your local DMV before next Tuesday's election. Just call one of these two voter ID hotline numbers for assistance: (608) 729-7720 or (414) 882-8622.

Are you (or do you know) a college student voting in Wisconsin?

Here are "Three Things College Students Need to Do To Vote in Wisconsin."

Have voting questions or problems?

Common Cause in Wisconsin is once again partnering with the nonpartisan Election Protection coalition, led by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, to provide "guidance, information and help to any American, regardless of who that voter is casting a ballot for."

Election Protection’s highly-trained legal volunteers are available to assist voters with any questions or problems, no matter how simple or complex. Voters may call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) toll-free with any questions or issues that may arise. Spanish-speaking voters may seek assistance through the 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682) hotline.

Do you need a ride to the polls?

CC/WI has both identified and recruited organizations and individual volunteers across the state willing to offer free rides to the polls. The latest list of free ride options is available on our website here.

If you are interested in being a driver or know of any folks in your area offering this service during this last week of early voting, on Election Day, or both, please contact CC/WI by email so that we can add them to our list!

CONTACT:

Jay Heck

608/256-2686 (office)
608/512-9363 (cell)

For Voting Information, contact:

Sandra Miller
Director of Information Services & Outreach
608/658-2109
smiller@commoncause.org

Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
608/256-2686

Want Good Government?
Join Common Cause in Wisconsin!
www.CommonCauseWisconsin.org

Friday, October 28, 2016

Common Cause Joins 7th Circuit Challenge to Wisconsin Barriers to Youth Vote

Media Contacts:
David Vance (202) 736-5712 or dvance@commoncause.org
Jay Heck (608) 256-2686 (O) (608) 512-9363 (C) or jheck@commoncause.org

For Release: Friday - October 28, 2016

Common Cause Joins 7th Circuit Challenge to Wisconsin Barriers to Youth Vote

Common Cause filed an amicus curiae brief on Wednesday in One Wisconsin Inst. v. Thomsen before the 7th Circuit urging the appellate court to take a fresh look at Wisconsin’s cuts to election reforms previously utilized by youth voters. Months earlier, the Western District of Wisconsin struck down the state’s photo ID law on 14th Amendment grounds but failed to resurrect a number of provisions – 8 in total – struck down by the state in violation of the 26th Amendment, that made voting easier for youth.

"We applaud the lower court for cutting early voting restrictions," said Common Cause President Karen Hobert Flynn. "But the court needed to go farther. It needed to undo the legislature's limitations on younger voters. Millennials, in particular, by virtue of sheer numbers, have a lot of clout these days. Our youth have an important role to play in national politics, just as they did in 1971, when the 26th Amendment was passed. It's time for the courts to acknowledge their full right to the franchise, and stop these state efforts to curb their participation."

Between 2011 and 2015, the Wisconsin legislature imposed a strict photo ID requirement and cut a number of strong reforms that made voting more accessible for younger people, particularly students.

"Since Wisconsin's birth in 1848, higher education and our university and college students have been a central element of our development as a beacon for democracy and enlightenment in the nation," said Jay Heck, Executive Director of Common Cause Wisconsin. “The recent, unconstitutional abridgement of college and university students' ability to vote in this state is in an affront to our tradition and a barrier to our ability to produce engaged and informed citizens and a brighter future for Wisconsin."

State legislatures must acknowledge the contributions of youth and put an end to the vote suppressive tactics passed across the country over the past few years. As we note in our report, Tuning In and Turning Out, strict photo ID laws can hurt young people’s turnout, just as they do people of color and working Americans. Other states, though, are moving in the right direction, adding strong reforms such as preregistration to ensure that eligible youth start voting – and continue voting. Our democracy has too much at stake to have it any other way.

The 26th Amendment, which passed in 1971 quicker than any of our others, reduced the voting age from 21 to 18. As then-President Nixon noted when certifying it, "The reason I believe that your generation, the 11 million new voters, will do so much for America at home is that you will infuse into this nation some idealism, some courage, some stamina, some high moral purpose, that this country always needs.” Common Cause fought hard then to ensure young people could vote, and continues to do so today – as an organization of 625,000 members, including thousands of youth – to ensure the franchise is accessible to all eligible voters, no matter their age.

The Institute for Public Representation at Georgetown Law represented Common Cause in this matter.

To read the brief, click here.

####

Common Cause is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to create open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process.

Contact:

Jay Heck
608/256-2686 (office)
608/512-9363 (cell)

jheck@commoncause.org

Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
608/256-2686

Want Good Government?
Join Common Cause in Wisconsin!
www.CommonCauseWisconsin.org

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Swing State Report Faults Wisconsin Voter ID Law But Praises Other Voting Measures

For Release: Thursday - October 27, 2016

Swing State Report Faults Wisconsin Voter ID Law But Praises Other Voting Measures

Wisconsin should drop its fight to preserve an unneeded, vote-suppressing, voter identification requirement and move to join the five states that register eligible citizens automatically when they do business at motor vehicle and other state offices, Common Cause says in a report released yesterday.

Protecting the Vote in 2016: A Look at 11 Swing States praises the state’s use of online registration and same day registration, allowing voters to register at the same time they cast their ballots. It also rates the state “excellent” for using voting machines that provide voters with a paper record and for its refusal to accept ballots cast using the internet. Those practices enhance ballot security, the authors argue.

"This is the first presidential election in which Wisconsinites will need to show one of a fairly narrow array of photo ID in order to cast a vote and have it count,” said Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause in Wisconsin. “We urge everyone to check ahead of time – now would be best – to ensure they have what they need to have their voice heard on November 8th."

The report is intended to serve as a guidebook for voters seeking to navigate state laws impacting their exercise of the right to vote. It encourages every eligible voter to register and cast a ballot and emphasizes that studies show that those who make a plan, including how and where to vote, are more likely to follow through and succeed. Knowing what to expect at the polling place on Election Day helps voters flesh out such a plan and knowing your rights assists you in securing your ballot.

“As Americans we should encourage every eligible person we know to vote. But with the release of Protecting the Vote 2016, Common Cause lays bare the lengths some state legislatures have gone to erect barriers making it harder for some Americans to vote,” said Common Cause President Karen Hobert Flynn. “Once voters learn laws they thought made elections safer, like voter ID requirements, actually prevent hundreds of thousands of eligible people from voting, they are more likely to see it as a manipulation of the system and reject it. It is critically important that voters exercise their constitutional right, so take a few minutes to learn more, because the best way to fight back against politicians gaming the system to silence your voice is to make a plan to vote.”

In addition to Wisconsin, the report focuses on the swing states of Colorado, Iowa, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The report provides a comprehensive overview of voting practices – from how voters register to what they can expect at the polling place, to what states do to ensure ballots are accurately counted – in 11 swing states where races are tight and single votes can make a difference.

The report examines and summarizes each state’s laws impacting voters and rates them as “excellent,” “good,” “satisfactory,” “needs improvement” and “unsatisfactory.”

The report reviews:

Voter ID: State requirements for voter identification at the precinct, noting whether the laws are fair or vote-suppressive.
Voter Registration: Options each state provides for voter registration, understanding that more opportunities increase the chances that those who have been politically marginalized can participate;
Voting Place Challenges: State laws governing challenges to voters at the polling place on Election Day, given that such efforts are often unsubstantiated, sometimes intimidating, and can lead to illegal behavior;
Provisional Ballots: State procedures for counting provisional ballots, because some practices leave some voters voiceless;
Paper Trails: Whether a state provides a paper record for each vote, verifiable by the voter, as glitches can occur with voting machines;
Post-Election Audits: State policies and practices for robust post-election audits to detect and if necessary correct outcome-changing miscounts;
Internet Ballot Transmission: State laws on the transmission of marked ballots over the internet, where because of the limits of current technology they can be intercepted and undetectably altered.

Authored by Allegra Chapman, Susannah Goodman and Dale Eisman of Common Cause and Pamela Smith of Verified Voting, the report also aims to encourage election officials, state administrators, and legislators to improve existing election systems. America has no perfect voting system; all states could do more to provide access to voters and upgrade technology and safety measures. States that scored “needs improvement” or “unsatisfactory” in our ratings should heed the recommendations to improve their systems.

To read the full report and report cards on each of the battleground states, click here.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Today is the Last Day to Register to Vote By Mail in Wisconsin

For Release: Wednesday - October 19, 2016

Today at 5:00 PM is the deadline for Wisconsin's "open" voter registration period. What this means is that all registration forms sent by mail must be postmarked today, October 19th.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the "closed" voter registration period. During this time, you can register in your municipal clerk's offices or at early in-person absentee voting sites up until November 4th (the Friday before Election Day) at 5:00 PM or close of business, whichever is later. You will need to bring a proof of residence document to complete your registration (this document can be shown electronically). If your driver’s license or state ID card has your current address, that’s all you need.

Examples of proof of residence documents are here.

If you are not able to register to vote before November 4th, you will still be able to do so (as long as you bring a proof of residence document with you) on Election Day. However, to avoid long lines, we urge you to register to vote as soon as possible.

Remember, you cannot make your voice heard at the ballot box unless you are registered to vote. Don't put it off. Register today!

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Help Protect the Integrity of the November 8th Election

Tuesday - October 18, 2016

Friends,

We need your help.

CC/WI is recruiting volunteers across the state for the nonpartisan Election Observer Program organized by our longtime coalition partner, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin. Volunteers will help ensure we have a fair election by watching for signs of voter disenfranchisement and intimidation, and by monitoring the way Wisconsin's new election laws and procedures are being applied.

Even if you can only spare a few hours on Election Day, you can still sign on as an election observer!

According to the League, past volunteers have said that providing this public service was both "very rewarding and educational" as they got to "see democracy in action and report on how well our voting procedures work and how they can be improved."

Becoming an election observer is a vital way you can help maintain a strong democracy in our state, so don't put it off – sign up now!

It's simple.

Just fill out the League’s online Election Observer Volunteer Form.

Once you sign up, the League provides everything you need to quickly get up to speed: online training, a reporting form, a polling place assignment with flexible shifts, and an Election Day hotline number if you have a question or need to report a problem.

If you have already volunteered, that's terrific – thank you! Please share this message with your friends, family – with anyone you think might be willing to be a part of this vital program.

Contact:

Sandra Miller
Director of Information Services & Outreach
608/658-2109
smiller@commoncause.org

Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
608/256-2686

Want Good Government?
Join Common Cause in Wisconsin!
www.CommonCauseWisconsin.org

Friday, October 14, 2016

Voter Photo ID is Still in Effect for Early Voting and Nov. 8th Election

For Release: Friday - October 14, 2016

A Federal Judge on Thursday stopped short of waiving Wisconsin's photo ID requirement to vote on or before November 8th – despite the utter failure of Governor Scott Walker's Department of Transportation to adequately train and inform DMV workers to comply with Judge Peterson's July order to clarify, simplify and make it easier for voters to obtain the most commonly-utilized photo identification required under state law to be able to cast a ballot and have it counted.

According to the voter ID law, Wisconsinites who lack one of the acceptable forms of ID for voting are able to obtain a free Wisconsin ID from their local DMV by submitting a set of requisite documents. Citizens lacking such documents are supposed to enter a "petition process" that includes the receipt of a "temporary voting credential" within six days by mail.

Earlier this month, however, it was discovered that DMV workers at locations across the state were giving incorrect information about this petition process.

Wisconsin's voter photo ID law will still be in place and enforced for the November 8th election and for early voting, prior to Election Day.

Here is more information on what you need to know to cast your ballot and have your vote count:

Early, absentee voting is available now!

If there is even the slightest chance you won’t make it to the polls on November 8th, don’t wait – see our guide to voting with an early, absentee ballot – in person or by mail, and then VOTE.

Important: If you're voting by mail with an absentee ballot, make sure the witness who signs your ballot certificate envelope includes their address with street number, street name and municipality. Due to a recent change in Wisconsin's voting law, if this information is not included, your absentee ballot will NOT be counted.

Before you head to your polling place, make sure you're prepared.

1. You must be registered to vote at your current address.

If you are not or you're unsure if you are, see this information on voter registration options and deadlines.

2. When you vote, you will need to present one of the acceptable forms of photo ID for voting pictured below. (Click image to enlarge)

For more information about voter photo ID, and how to get a free ID if you don't have an ID acceptable for voting, see our downloadable fact sheets:

All Eligible Wisconsin Voters
Spanish Language version

Senior Citizens
Spanish Language version

College Students

Or visit: Bring It to the Ballot. If you do not have an acceptable ID for voting and need help getting one, contact one of these two Voter ID Hotlines: (608) 729-7720 or (414) 882-8622.

3. Are you (or do you know) a college student voting in Wisconsin?

Here are "Three Things College Students Need to Do To Vote in Wisconsin."

Have voting questions or problems?

Common Cause in Wisconsin is once again partnering with the nonpartisan Election Protection coalition, led by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, to provide "guidance, information and help to any American, regardless of who that voter is casting a ballot for."

Election Protection’s highly-trained legal volunteers are available to assist voters with any questions or problems, no matter how simple or complex. Voters may call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) toll-free with any questions or issues that may arise. Spanish-speaking voters may seek assistance through the 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682) hotline.

Do you need a ride to the polls?

As we did in 2014, CC/WI is currently identifying and recruiting organizations and individuals statewide willing to give free rides to the polls on Election Day and/or during the early voting period.

We are also raising awareness that help is available in communities across the state by sharing this "master list" of ride options widely. The list will be updated regularly as we add more groups/volunteers.

If you would like to be a part of this effort to help folks get to the polls, let us know by email or phone (608-658-2109) and we’ll add you to our list of drivers within your community.

Want to help protect the integrity of the November 8th election?

Sign up and receive training to be a poll worker. Municipalities across the state are shorthanded and are looking for folks who can work at their polling place. Contact your local municipal clerk for more information.

Or volunteer to be an election observer. Our longtime coalition partners at the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin are training nonpartisan poll observers across the state to watch for signs of voter disenfranchisement and intimidation, and to monitor the way new election laws and procedures are being applied. Sign up now using the League’s online Election Observer Volunteer Form.

Exercise your most precious right as an American citizen – VOTE.

And then do what you can to help make sure every eligible voter you know is able to do the same!

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Election Day is Less Than Four Weeks Away - What You Need to Know/ Reform Update

Wednesday October 12, 2016

1. What you need to know about voting in Wisconsin before and on November 8th
2. U.S. Supreme Court's decision to to review Walker illegal campaign coordination case
(John Doe II) does not exonerate Walker & allies
3. Sign the petition demanding non-partisan redistricting reform in 2017
4. Jay Heck and Bert Zipperer on the Assault on Democracy in Wisconsin since 2011

1. Election Day, November 8th is now less than four weeks away! If you haven't been focusing yet, now is the time to do so. Barring any last-minute, court-ordered changes to Wisconsin's current voting laws (and we will alert you immediately if there are any), here is what you need to know to vote – and how you can get involved to help others do the same:

Early, absentee voting is available now!

See our guide to voting with an early, absentee ballot – in person or by mail, and then VOTE.

Important: If you're voting by mail with an absentee ballot, make sure the witness who signs your ballot certificate envelope includes their address with street number, street name and municipality. Due to a recent change in Wisconsin's voting law, if this information is not included, your absentee ballot will NOT be counted.

You must be registered to vote at your current address. If you are not or you're unsure if you are, see this information on voter registration options and deadlines.

When you vote, you will need to present one of the acceptable forms of photo ID for voting pictured left. (Click image to enlarge)

For more information about voter photo ID – and how to get a free ID if you don't have an ID acceptable for voting – see our downloadable voter ID fact sheet. Or visit: Bring It to the Ballot.

If you do not have an acceptable ID for voting and need help getting one, contact one of these two Voter ID Hotlines: (608) 729-7720 or (414) 882-8622.

Are you (or do you know) a college student voting in Wisconsin?

Here are "Three Things College Students Need to Do To Vote in Wisconsin."

Do you need a ride to the polls?

As we did in 2014, CC/WI is currently identifying and recruiting organizations and individuals statewide willing to give free rides to the polls on Election Day and/or during the early voting period.

If you would like to be a part of this effort to help folks get to the polls, let us know by email or phone (608-658-2109) and we’ll add you to our list of drivers within your community.

Want to help protect the integrity of the November 8th election?

Sign up and receive training to be a poll worker. Municipalities across the state are shorthanded and are looking for folks who can work at their polling place. Contact your local municipal clerk for more information.

Or volunteer to be an election observer. Our longtime coalition partners at the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin are training nonpartisan poll observers across the state to watch for signs of voter disenfranchisement and intimidation, and to monitor the way new election laws and procedures are being applied. Sign up now using the League’s online Election Observer Volunteer Form.

Please take some time now, prepare and then VOTE. And then help make sure every eligible voter you know is able to do the same!

2. Last week, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) said they would not be considering the appeal of a case that the Wisconsin Supreme Court wrongly dismissed in July of 2015 – the so called "John Doe II" case involving the illegal campaign coordination of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker with outside "independent" special interest groups, primarily Wisconsin Club for Growth, during the tumultuous recall elections of 2011 and 2012.

For those closely following this situation, the decision by SCOTUS not to take the case was not at all surprising. SCOTUS typically takes less than 2 percent of the cases that reach it for consideration and with the current 4 to 4 ideological deadlock created by the vacancy on the court by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in February, SCOTUS has been particularly reluctant to take any controversial cases, which John Doe II certainly was.

But just because SCOTUS didn't take the case doesn't mean there wasn't illegal activity in Wisconsin by Walker and others. It just means that SCOTUS takes very few cases and is avoiding controversial cases like this one in particular, until the current vacancy on the court is filled.

The release of secret documents from the case by the British newspaper, The Guardian, in mid-September makes it abundantly clear that Walker was much more involved in illegal campaign fundraising and coordination from the very beginning of his first term in office, than was previously known. The documents also demonstrated just how compromised and corrupted the conservatives on the Wisconsin Supreme Court were when they declared that previously illegal campaign coordination in Wisconsin was legal and by ending the investigation by five district attorneys (two of them, Republican) and a Republican special prosecutor in that July 2015 decision.

For more on the SCOTUS decision and CC/WI's take on it go here, here and here.

For more on The Guardian newspaper document revelations see CC/WI Director Jay Heck on Capital City Sunday and on MSNBC.

3. Ending partisan gerrymandering

of state legislative and congressional districts in the upcoming 2017-18 legislative session is a top political reform priority as the next redistricting process in 2021 nears.

If you have not done so already, please sign our on-line petition in support of the non-partisan "Iowa model" for Wisconsin. We have well over 2,000 signatures so far and are trying to get as many as possible to deliver to the Wisconsin Legislature in 2017.

4. Finally, to listen to a wide-ranging interview about all of these important political reform issues, here is a recent conversation between Jay Heck and former Madison Alder, Bert Zipperer on WORT-FM.

CONTACT:

Jay Heck

608/256-2686 (office)
608/512-9363 (cell)

Jay Heck, Executive Director
Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
608/256-2686

Want Good Government?
Join Common Cause in Wisconsin!
www.CommonCauseWisconsin.org

Saturday, October 1, 2016

In the News - October 2016

Did a Wisconsin election clerk block early voting because of 'partisan bias' against Democrats?
October 28, 2016 - Tom Kertscher, Politifact

A City Clerk Opposed an Early-Voting Site at UW–Green Bay Because ‘Students Lean More Toward the Democrats’
October 25, 2016 - Ari Berman, The Nation

¿Que necesito para votar?
October 20, 2016 - Dante Viscarra, La Comunidad News

Education A Continuing Concern For Voter ID Law
October 18, 2016 - Tim Kowols, Door County Daily News

Voter ID mess could have been avoided or simplified, says advocate
October 18, 2016 - Mitch Reynolds, WIZM 1410 AM/92.3 FM , La Crosse

Linked by Signature Law, McCain and Feingold Fight Back
October 15, 2016 - Scott Bauer and Bob Christie, Associated Press

Judge addresses shortcomings of Wisconsin voter ID law
October 14, 2016 - Vidushi Saxena, The Badger Herald

What you need to know about voting in Wisconsin before and on Nov. 8
October 12, 2016 - Wisconsin Gazette

Political Money: “Wisconsin Darkest of All the States”
October 12, 2016 - Tim Morrissey, Public News Service

AUDIO: The Assault on Democracy in Wisconsin
October 7, 2016 - A Public Affair Program with host Bill Zipperer, WORT FM 89.9, Madison

Undisclosed Dark Money Reigns Supreme in Wisconsin Campaigns and Elections
October 5, 2016 - Mary Botari, PR Watch

U.S. Supreme Court rejects John Doe appeal
October 3, 2016 - Steven Dent, WeAreGreenBay.com

U.S. Supreme Court Will Not Hear Wisconsin John Doe Case
October 3, 2016 - Latoya Dennis, Milwaukee Public Radio,

Federal judge orders investigation into Wisconsin DMV's (in)ability to issue photo IDs
October 3, 2016 - Mitch Reynolds, WIZM News-Talk Radio, La Crosse

Monday, October 31, 2016

Early, In-Person Absentee Voting Ends This Friday for Most of Wisconsin

Friday, October 28, 2016

Common Cause Joins 7th Circuit Challenge to Wisconsin Barriers to Youth Vote

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Swing State Report Faults Wisconsin Voter ID Law But Praises Other Voting Measures

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Today is the Last Day to Register to Vote By Mail in Wisconsin

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Help Protect the Integrity of the November 8th Election

Friday, October 14, 2016

Voter Photo ID is Still in Effect for Early Voting and Nov. 8th Election

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Election Day is Less Than Four Weeks Away - What You Need to Know/ Reform Update

Saturday, October 1, 2016

In the News - October 2016

Non-Partisan Redistricting Reform

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