That drumbeat has since faded. But the idea of requiring a photo ID card for voting persists. Right now in Wisconsin, residents must show some sort of identification, with or without a mug shot, to register to vote. All they need to do to vote is to announce who they are. And that procedure is working just fine, thank you.
Clean elections remain a hallmark of Wisconsin.
Still, the Assembly voted to direct the state Elections Board to examine requiring a photo ID for voting - a proposal the Senate should nix. But it's not OK to deny such people the right to vote. Sure, for most of us, the requirement would be no sweat. But for a small minority of voters, it would be a hassle - and would thereby run counter to the laudable Wisconsin tradition of removing all unnecessary obstacles to voting. Mind you, I'm no absolutist on this matter.