Wisconsin Assembly passes limiting early voting
- Associated Press
- March 20, 2014 - 10:40 PM
MADISON, Wis. — In-person absentee voting would no longer be allowed past 7 p.m. or on weekends in Wisconsin under a bill that has passed the Legislature.
The Republican-controlled Assembly voted 56-38 to pass the measure Thursday night, with all Republicans in support and Democrats against. It now heads to Gov. Scott Walker.
Opponents say restricting the hours is an unconstitutional attempt to make it more difficult for minorities in Wisconsin's largest cities of Milwaukee and Madison to vote. But Democrats, who predicted courts would toss the law, didn't have the votes to stop it.
Republican supporters say limiting early voting is needed because it's not fair that large cities can offer it while voters who live in areas without the resources to hold extended hours don't get that opportunity.
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