TUESDAY, Sept. 20, 2005, 12:12 p.m.<br />Photo ID veto override fails by one vote<br /><br />Madison - Without debate, the state Senate fell one vote short today of overriding Gov. Jim Doyle's veto of a bill that would have required voters to show a photo ID.<br /><br />The vote means Republicans will now push to amend the state Constitution to add that requirement.<br /><br />The override effort failed, 21-12, with two Democrats - Tim Carpenter of Milwaukee and Jeff Plale of South Milwaukee - joining all 19 Republicans. An override requires a two-thirds majority, or 22 votes, in the Senate.<br /><br />Republicans have fought for the photo ID requirement for years, saying it would halt what they say is a growing trend of Election Day problems and fraud.<br /><br />Doyle has repeatedly vetoed the photo ID requirement, saying that requirement would disenfranchise the old, elderly and some poor who do not have driver's licenses and would not be able to get state-issued ID cards. The governor has offered his own package of election-law changes that would better train poll workers and cut waiting times for voters.<br /><br />Republicans say they will begin the process of amending the Wisconsin Constitution to require voters to display a photo ID, although that could not become law until April 2007, at the earliest.<br /><br />State Assembly Speaker John Gard (R-Peshtigo) said today that amending the constitution does not require the governor's approval, so Republicans will go "straight to the people."<br /><br />Constitutional amendments must be approved by two consecutive sessions of the Legislature, and then by voters in a statewide referendum.<br /><br />-By Steven Walters
<br /><br />eeboater, you need ID to register but not to vote? Somebody (cough-governor-cough) must think you guys are really stupid.
