Top DOT official tells staff not to mention free voter ID cards to the public- unless they ask

[undeterred]

JESSICA VANEGEREN and SHAWN DOHERTY | The Capital Times | September 7, 2011

An internal memo from a top Department of Transportation official instructs workers at Division of Motor Vehicles service centers not to tell members of the public that they can obtain voter identification cards free of charge -- unless they know to ask for it. The memo, recently obtained by The Capital Times, was written by Steve Krieser and sent to all state Department of Transportation and Department of Motor Vehicles employees on July 1, the same day employees were to begin issuing photo IDs in accordance with a controversial new voter photo ID law adopted earlier in the year.

As laid out in the memo, failure to check a box when applying for photo ID with the Division of Motor Vehicles will result in the payment of $28. Interviews conducted about the memo suggest the state is more interested in continuing to charge the fee, which is required for a photo ID used for non-voting purposes, than it is in removing all barriers and providing easy access to a free, photo ID.

"While you should certainly help customers who come in asking for a free ID to check the appropriate box, you should refrain from offering the free version to customers who do not ask for it," Krieser writes to employees. Krieser, who was recently promoted to executive assistant to the DOT secretary, instructs staff that customers should "self certify" their eligibility for the free ID. They can do that, he writes, if they meet the documentation requirements; if they are at least 17 years old; if they have checked the correct certification box on the new forms; and, most significantly, if they are "asking for a product that is available for free issuance."

The law, passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed by Gov. Scott Walker on May 25, requires Wisconsin residents to present identification before they can vote. Republicans said it was necessary to combat voter fraud. Acceptable forms of identification under the law include Wisconsin driver's licenses, certain student identification cards, passports, and voter identification cards for the thousands of residents who may not have any of those documents. Democrats fought hard against the law, and the internal memo will likely provide further ammunition to charges that it is a modern-day version of the poll taxes once used to disenfranchise voters in the South, most of them African-American. Typically under those laws, citizens were required to pay to vote unless they had a father or grandfather who had voted prior to the abolition of slavery. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1966 that such laws were unconstitutional.

Read more: http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/capitol-report/article_335f59fa-d8fe-11e0-8a23-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1XZL2Dqj7


Wis. Employee Fired For E-Mail Defying Voter-ID Policy

Updated: September 8, 2011, 4:40 PM

Chris Larsen, a low-level Wisconsin state employee, was fired for the apparent cause of using his work e-mail to mock and disparage state policy to his co-workers, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. The policy in question: The state's decision for DMV employees to not tell citizens about the availability of free photo identification to satisfy the state's new Voter-ID law, unless they ask first.

Larsen, a limited-term employee at the state Department of Safety and Professional Services, sent this e-mail Thursday morning to colleagues, encouraging them to tell all their friends about the free ID cards:

"Do you know someone who votes that does not have a State ID that meets requirements to vote? Tell them they can go to the DMV/DOT and get a free ID card. However they must ask for the free ID. a memo was sent out by the 3rd in command of the DMV/DOT. The memo specifically told the employees at the DMV/DOT not to inform individuals that the ID's are free. So if the individuals seeking to get the free ID does not ask for a free ID, they will have to pay for it!!

"Just wanted everyone to be informed!! REMEMBER TO TELL ANYONE YOU KNOW!! ANYONE!! EVEN IF THEY DON'T NEED THE FREE ID, THEY MAY KNOW SOMEONE THAT DOES!! SO TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!"He was subsequently fired for misuse of e-mail.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/09/wis_employee_fired_for_e-mail_defying_voter-id_pol.php


Rep. Taylor: Calls for immediate reinstatement of state employee fired for informing people about the voter ID Law
9/9/2011

Contact: Rep. Taylor (266-5342)

Madison-According to news reports, the Walker Administration fired a state employee for emailing information to fellow employees about the provisions of the Voter ID law that requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to give out free photo IDs for voting purposes. This firing comes on the heels of news reports yesterday that DMV employees were instructed not provide information on free photo IDs to the public unless specifically asked.

“Not only am I outraged by the conduct of this administration, but I am confused that Republicans are firing state employees for providing factual information about a bill they all so strongly support,” said Representative Chris Taylor (D-Madison) who added “the department must immediately reinstate the fired employee.”

The Voter ID Bill disenfranchises elderly, minority, low-income, homeless, and students in Wisconsin who, studies show, disproportionately are lacking state ID cards. Not surprising many of these voters tend to support Democrats. Along with the Republicans controversial partisan redistricting plan it is part of their two pronged attack on democracy in Wisconsin.

Yesterday, Representative Wynn (R-Whitewater) called on the DOT to “remove all barriers from obtaining that identification (photo ID) – including the price tag” and stated that “providing free identification to those who seek to vote is the very foundation of the premise of Voter ID. Placing unnecessary barriers undermines our elections and undermines the intent of the law.”

“This is a bipartisan issue and I urge the Walker Administration to reinstate the employee and the Republican majority to act immediately on Assembly Bill 226, which requires the DMV to advise any person inquiring about issuance of an identification card that identification cards may be available without charge for purposes of voting,” concluded Taylor.

http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=247032