Posted on 04/04/2016 5:40:07 PM PDT by Kaslin
On the eve of Wisconsin's primary, MSNBC misled viewers with a story about how the Badger State's new voter ID law goes into effect tomorrow on primary election day. Correspondent Tony Dokoupil used the plight of two new residents to the state to complain about the cost – $34 each – of an in-state driver's license. What Dokoupil failed to mention, however, was that the couple in question could easily have obtained FREE identification from the state.
"Last month, Matt and Jessica Hegdahl (sp?) moved to Wisconsin in search of a job, and found themselves at the center of a crucial primary," Dokoupil noted, following the Hegdahls as they visited a local DMV because "While their Montana driver's license will get them on a plane, it won't get them into the voting booth."
"Valid out-of-state drivers licenses and student IDs" don't count as valid for voting purposes in Wisconsin, Dokoupil explained, lamenting that, "for the Hegdahls, the main hurdle was money, $68 for a pair of Wisconsin drivers licenses."
MSNBC Misleads Viewers with Wisconsin Voter ID; Fails to Mention State Issues FREE Identification
Of course, this is a couple with two kids who had the financial wherewithal to move from Montana to Wisconsin in the first place, and, under state law, they have 60 days after establishing Wisconsin residency anyway to trade in their Montana licenses for Wisconsin ones.
But regardless, and left unmentioned by Dokoupil, Wisconsin provides FREE voter ID to residents, provided they produce documents showing name and date of birth, proving U.S. citizenship, and proving that Wisconsin residency has been established. Cell phone bills, utility bills (water, gas, electricity, cable TV, landline telephone), mortgage documents, valid insurance policies, and a current pay stub are among the many documents applicants can produce to prove residency has been established.
[In fairness, perhaps in the case of the Hegdahls they have not YET procured any of those things because they only moved to the state a month ago and haven't yet obtained jobs or signed up for any utility services as they live with relatives and haven't any utility accounts in their names. This seems unlikely but possible. Even so, Dokoupil should have mentioned that free ID is an option when the criteria are met.]
"I, having come from states where state where there's, you know, nothing like this, think it's just archaic and terrible," Jessica Hegdahl whined in response to Dokoupil's question as to whether the voter ID policy was an unnecessary "extra burden."
But, again, keep in mind the Hegdahls just moved from Montana, which DOES have a voter ID law, just not one as strict as Wisconsin. From the Montana Secretary of State's official website:
Before you will be permitted to receive a ballot, you will need to present a current ID. If you do not have a photo ID, you can provide a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, voter confirmation notice, government check or other government document that shows your name and current address.
So, in point of fact, Mrs. Hegdahl is just plain wrong. Had she and her husband not moved and were in Montana to vote in the primary later this spring (June 7), she would be asked at such time for her photo ID and readily been able to produce her Montana one (which, by the way, costs $40 for an 8-year license,six dollars more than a Wisconsin license of the same term).
Fortunately for the Hegdahls, Dokoupil noted, they "got the extra cash from VoteRiders, a non-profit that gets people to the ballot box or, at least, to the line outside," but, the MSNBC correspondent worried, there are some "300,000, that is, the estimated number of Wisconsin voters who will be unable to go to the polls unless they get that ID problem solved," prompting both Democratic primary candidates Clinton and Sanders "have taken real issue with this law saying that it disproportionately affects poor and minority voters and those voters, not coincidentally, happen to vote Democratic by and large."
Sure, Tony, that's why, in a state that an estimated 360,000 African-Americans*, you went and found two white millennials for your story.
*corrected from earlier, when I accidentally used national Census figures.
Update (8:10 p.m. Eastern): In a Twitter exchange, Dokoupil noted that the couple in the story would have had to surrender their Montana driver licenses in order to get the free voter ID, which is why they elected to pay the $68 for their licenses. Dokoupil also promised that in a future broadcast on the Badger State's voter ID law that he would mention the free-ID option Wisconsinites have.
And of course no Republican of any stature will step up and correct the record.
Wonder if it’s legal to vote in the earlier Montana primary the vote in the later WI primary?
Does anyone actually expect an MSNBC reporter to report something accurately and honestly?
If so, I’ve got some waterfront land to sell you in Oklahoma.
Well.if these people moved so close to election day, maybe they are out of luck. In many places, voter registration closes about a month before election day.
I once missed an election in a new town I had just moved to. And was so focused on getting unpacked settled in, etc. Just didn’t care about that election.
Interesting that their poster children for this are someone who has a lot on their plate as they relocate to another state.
Voter ID was required in Wisconsin in a February primary election and, to my knowledge, there were no complaints statewide.
It doesn’t matter if they are free, women and minorities are still to stupid and helpless to he able to obtain one.
Well, well...... if I want to buy any liquor in Wisconsin at a local grocery store chain “Pick and Save” no matter my age I must show ID. Beer, Wine, Liquor. You can be gray haired and 99 and still MUST show ID to purchase.
So...... get over yourselves. Voter ID is awesome. Keeps busloads of Illinois “visitors” from going to the Milwaukee City Hall in droves to illegally vote.
Spot On with this Voter ID. Bout Time!
They came from MT. A top yahoo story today says the US Census Bureau does polls and finds that MT, OR, UT are the most difficult states in which to register... in the opinion of those not registered to vote.
Obama’s administration rates WI one of the easiest in which to register... in the opinion of those not registered.
This whole story is just plain stupid. Protestors say my GA makes it difficult to register. But my 35 year old daughter was able to register on nothing but her IL Drivers License and a pleasant demeanor.
Well of CUSS. What else do mediots do today?
That pleasant demeanor? That’s discrimination against grouches! Grouch rights forever!
I think in Wisc. you must have lived in the area for 28 days before the election with no intent of moving.
Article doesn’t say “when” last month they moved to Wisc.
If so, they may still not be eligible.
I’m shocked. /s
You have to show your ID in some places to make a CC purchase.
You have to show your ID to sign up for WELFARE.
There’s no disenfranchisement here. Just astroturf from the left. It stops the dead from voting.
Vote Trump.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.