by Thérèse Boudreaux
U.S. citizens residing in Wisconsin who do not already have an approved photo ID or the necessary identification documents to obtain one can still apply for a temporary identification card for voting purposes, free of charge.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation requests all Wisconsinites applying for the temporary free ID used for voting – this is not a Wisconsin Voter ID, which does not exist – bring proof of name and date of birth, proof of identity, proof of state residency and proof of U.S. citizenship.
If an applicant cannot produce these documents however, the DMV can still immediately provide the applicant with the temporary ID for voting, and have the applicant fill out a personal information form instead. The DMV can then use the information provided to facilitate a search process for U.S. born citizens and verify the applicant’s information.
Besides the temporary voter ID card, which is issued in the form of a paper receipt, Wisconsinites can vote at the polls if they present an expired or unexpired state-issued driver’s license, state ID card, U.S. military card or passport, federally recognized Indian tribe ID card, or certain student photo ID cards from a Wisconsin accredited college or university.
For a full list of other acceptable photo IDs, Wisconsin residents can visit https://bringit.wi.gov/do-i-have-right-photo-id.
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Thérèse Boudreaux is an apprentice reporter covering Michigan and Wisconsin for The Center Square under the mentorship of Midwest Regional Editor J.D. Davidson. Her work focuses on election-related news in these two states. Previously, she interned at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Thérèse graduated with a major in politics from Hillsdale College in May of 2024, where she produced award-winning radio journalism.
Photo “People Voting” by Ben Schumin. CC BY-SA 2.0.
