Senate passes voter ID requirement, bill heads to Walker

May 19, 2011
Posted in: Mass Media, Press

The bill requiring voters to show a photo ID in order to vote and outlaws straight party voting is on its way to Gov. Scott Walker.

The Senate passed the bill today on a party-line 19-5 vote. The Republican majority limited debate today to one hour over the objection of Dems. The body debated amendments to the bill for more than nine hours on Wednesday.

The Republicans stuck to their plan and ended debate on the voter ID bill precisely at 11 a.m., cutting off Dem Sen. Fred Risser’s floor comments.

Dems didn’t answer the the Chief Clerk’s call for their vote, and the vote ended up 19-5, with Dem Sens. Tim Carpenter, Jon Erpenbach, Dave Hansen, Jim Holperin and Bob Wirch recording their vote against the measure.

Erpenbach tried to halt the vote by calling for adjournment, but Senate President Mike Ellis said a roll call can’t be interrupted.

When the vote was finished, only five Dem votes were on the record and protesters in the gallery shouted “shame, shame, shameâ€