Greenfield State Senator Votes Against Voter ID Bill

Greenfield's State Sen. Tim Carpenter was one of five Democratic senators to vote against the proposal to require voters to show a photo ID at the polls.

The Republican-backed proposal, which Gov. Scott Walker will sign next week, passed the Senate on Thursday 19-5. Eight Democratic senators refused to vote on the proposal, accusing Republicans of shutting down debate too soon. 

The contentious bill brings end to Republicans long-sought effort to require voters to show photo IDs when getting a ballot. Democrats have fought the proposal, saying it would disenfranchise thousands of people who do not have a photo ID. 

According to Third Coast News, Carpenter said during debate over the bill that the proposal may restrict elderly voters from casting ballots. The site reports: 

Sen. Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee) expressed concerns over the restrictions on the elderly, and lent his support to an amendment that would exempt all voters 65 and older from the voter ID requirements, regardless of where they live.

“I don’t think this group is likely to commit voter fraud,” he said. “I would be interested to see evidence of voter fraud at elderly centers and nursing homes. At least not in Milwaukee County, maybe Waukesha County.”