Voter ID worked, but still not needed

So, what was all the fuss about? That was the sentiment of some voters after having to show a photo ID before they could cast their ballots in this week’s primary election. It took years of legal battles before the courts ultimately ruled forcing people to show identification at the polls is legal. It is true that poll workers across the state reported relatively few problems during Tuesday’s primary. Some were sent home after forgetting their ID, and some poll workers requested more information than the law requires, but it was generally considered a good test run for the April and November elections when more people will head to the polls. But how many people chose not to vote Tuesday because they can’t, or don’t want to, comply with the new voting law. Turnout statewide barely cracked 10 percent. And let’s not forget why this law came about. It was not, as supporters claimed, an effort to crack down on voter fraud. Such fraud is nearly non-existent, and those few cases where it has happened have been prosecuted. This is only about keeping certain segments of the population from voting, or at least making it more difficult for them to do so. Wisconsin’s voter ID law is also among the most restrictive in the nation, making it even more likely some voters will be disenfranchised. So while we reluctantly pull out our ID’s in order to exercise our civic duty, remember the whole reason for having to do so remains a ruse.