On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it wouldn’t take up Wisconsin’s voter ID law, one of the most restrictive voting requirements in the country. In doing so, the court has cemented its reputation as a supporter of voter suppression.
In 2008 the court upheld Indiana’s voter ID law, which provides a model for other states, including Wisconsin, to emulate. In 2013, a 5-4 court majority stripped out the heart of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 and now no longer requires former Jim Crow states to get federal approval for major electoral law changes. In the wake of that decision, the affected states quickly imposed strict photo ID laws and limited access to the polls, according to the nonprofit, public interest news organization ProPublica. With those decisions the court has given its blessing to voter suppression around the country.
Wisconsin’s voter ID opponents argued in court—and the federal district court judge agreed—that the law would disenfranchise an estimated 300,000 qualified voters who lack an acceptable photo ID for voting, the majority of them low-income residents, the elderly, students, veterans and minorities who typically cast ballots for Democrats. Those supporting the law—Republicans, only—provided no evidence refuting that fact. That’s because they know that the law will create barriers for these specific voters. Disenfranchised voters aren’t a flaw in the GOP-backed law; they’re a feature.
Wisconsin’s voter ID law won’t be in place for the April 7 election since absentee ballots have already been sent out. But it will be in place in future elections, when 300,000 potentially lost votes will surely be decisive.
The U.S. Supreme Court severely damaged its reputation by not taking up Wisconsin’s voter ID law and revealing to us just how discriminatory, unconstitutional and un-American it is. The court should provide justice for all Americans, not just Republicans who have money, power and the desire to suppress votes and hijack elections.
