Skip to main content

Pocan Statement on Federal Court Ruling on Wisconsin Voter ID Laws

April 29, 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) today issued the following statement on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin's ruling that Wisconsin's voter identification law unfairly burdens disadvantaged and minority voters:

"The federal district court in Milwaukee made the right decision to protect the rights of Wisconsin voters. The voter ID law pushed by Gov. Scott Walker and Republicans in the state legislature infringes on every American's fundamental right to vote. This is a critical step towards reversing a dangerous movement across the country that unfairly restricts disadvantaged and minority voters' access to the polls. But, the fight is not over. We need to affirm every citizen's right to vote without condition."

In 2013, Pocan introduced legislation with U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (MN-05) to explicitly guarantee the right to vote in the U.S. Constitution. The Pocan Ellison Voting Rights Amendment would amend the Constitution to provide all Americans with the affirmative right to vote and empower the government with the authority to protect this fundamental right.

###