Frank v. Walker

Dist. Ct. erred in finding that Wisconsin statute requiring voters to obtain and produce photo ID at polls was unconstitutional and in entering injunction to prohibit enforcement of said statute. Instant statute was similar to Indiana photo ID statute that U.S. Supreme Ct. upheld in Crawford, 553 US 181, and Dist. Ct.’s disagreement with Crawford Ct.’s holding, that goals of prevention of voter impersonation on election day and preservation of public confidence in integrity of elections justified photo ID requirement, was insufficient to support issuance of instant injunction. Ct. also rejected Dist. Ct.’s finding that instant statute violated Voting Rights Act and observed that: (1) it was easier in Wisconsin to obtain photo ID than in Indiana; and (2) any inconvenience in gathering required documents to obtain photo ID did not qualify as substantial burden on right to vote.