Opponents of Wisconsin's voter photo identification law asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday to take emergency action and block the requirement ahead of the Nov. 4 election, arguing there isn't enough time to implement the new rules.
The request to put the law on hold comes less than five weeks before the election, including the closely watched race between Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Democratic challenger Mary Burke. State elections officials have been scrambling to prepare for the photo ID requirement since the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Sept. 12 to allow the law to be in effect while it considers a legal challenge.
The groups behind the lawsuit, The American Civil Liberties Union and the Advancement Project, argue that the law is unconstitutional, in part because it unfairly burdens poor and minority voters who may not have valid IDs. Opponents also argue that implementing the requirement with such short notice will create chaos at the polls and disenfranchise an estimated 300,000 voters.
