Voter Suppression

With Scott Walker leading the charge, Wisconsin Republicans have systematically sought to make voting more difficult and manipulate state law to give themselves a partisan political advantage.

These measures include implementing one of the harshest voter ID laws in the nation, restricting early voting hours, changing the laws regarding absentee ballots, changes to polling place regulations that inject partisanship into the polling place, and unprecedented partisan redistricting. Each of these changes is concerning on its own, but together, they represent a concerted effort to overhaul elections in Wisconsin, suppress voter turnout, and increase partisan advantage for Republicans.

In addition, as county executive, Walker directed his staff to assist an individual who was working to place billboards with a voter suppression message during Walker’s 2010 race for governor. The effort was funded by the rightwing Bradley Foundation, which is headed by Walker’s campaign co-chair.

Content
Three Year Anniversary of Victory for Voter Rights in Wisconsin In the three years since Judge Peterson’s ruling, Wisconsin voters have shown that they will vote when given the opportunity to vote. [One Wisconsin Institute, 07/29/2019]
Scott Walker Hired to Do What He Does Best, Rig Voting Rules to Get Unfair Partisan Advantage A right-wing group formed to help Republicans rig districts for an unfair electoral advantage announced it has retained Scott Walker. [One Wisconsin Institute, 03/21/2019]
Devil’s Advocates Radio: December 14, 2018 Will there be a lawsuit? Yeah, probably. Scott Walker signed the three #LameDuckCoup bills into law today and Scot Ross may sue as part of One Wisconsin Now. [WRRD-AM, 12/14/2018]
Scott Walker’s Legacy: Giving Taxpayer Funds to Corporations and Destroying Democracy Scott Walker’s going to have to tell the people of Wisconsin how restricting their right to vote is creating more transparency. [the Progressive, 12/14/2018]
UNSPUN: December 12, 2018 Tensions are running high in state politics as Governor Scott Walker considers a package of bills passed in a special legislative session. [WMTV-TV, 12/12/2018]
GOP Blames Voters Voting for Electoral Defeats, Proposes Plan to Limit Participation in 2020 State High Court Race Republicans appear to have settled on an explanation for why they lost every statewide race on the ballot in the November 6 elections: Too many voters voted. [One Wisconsin Now, 11/16/2018]
Scott Walker, lawmakers consider helping conservative justice before Tony Evers becomes governor Analiese Eicher noted Republicans fought plans to hold special elections this year and complained about the cost of past recall elections. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/15/2018]
Scott Walker claim of Eric Holder making Supreme Court race ‘highly partisan’ ignores GOP role Republican Gov. Scott Walker raised the issue six days after Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Rebecca Dallet, who was backed by liberals, won election to the high court. Her win in the officially nonpartisan race raised hopes among Democrats of a “blue wave” of election victories, including denying Walker a third term in November 2018. Walker […] [PolitiFact, 04/11/2018]
Why should it take a lawsuit and three judges to force Scott Walker to do the right thing? After an unprecedented three-month delay, Gov. Scott Walker finally called for special elections in two legislative districts that have lacked representation since December. Better late than never, but things should have never dragged out so long. Wisconsin law holds that a governor must call for special elections as quickly as possible to fill vacated seats. […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/30/2018]
Wisconsin GOP operative Mark Block details pivotal yacht meeting between Cambridge Analytica and billionaire backers This raises serious questions about the connections between Scott Walker’s [campaigns]... and this growing international scandal," said Analiese Eicher. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/29/2018]
Scott Walker Abandons Fight Against Special Elections Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has had quite the duel with his state’s judicial system in recent days. First he dragged his feet in calling general elections to fill two legislative vacancies that he created by appointments. When a state judge told him to do his job and call the elections, Walker then threatened to call […] [New York Magazine, 03/29/2018]
Third court rips Scott Walker after he calls elections ‘unnecessary’ “Two thirds of the offices Scott Walker has held came because he won a special election, including one for State Assembly and one held in an even year.” [Shareblue, 03/28/2018]
Scott Walker Was Elected in Special Election Scott Walker’s been in office for so long he seems to have forgotten it was a special election that got him into the government hammock 25 years ago. [One Wisconsin Now, 03/28/2018]
Are Wisconsin GOPers Blocking Elections To Protect Their Gerrymander? “The elections would create pressure points for people,” Scot Ross, executive director of the progressive group One Wisconsin Now, told TPM. [Talking Points Memo, 03/26/2018]
Court Rules Gov. Scott Walker Must Call Elections to Fill To State Legislative Vacancies A Dane County judge today ruled that Scott Walker cannot refuse to call special elections to fill vacancies in the 1st State Senate and 42nd Assembly Districts. [One Wisconsin Now, 03/22/2018]
Walker won’t say if he’ll call elections Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker isn’t saying whether he will immediately call special elections for a pair of legislative vacancies as ordered by a judge. Dane County Circuit Judge Josann Reynolds rejected all of Walker’s arguments against calling the elections Thursday. She gave him until March 29 to issue an order calling the elections. [Associated Press, 03/22/2018]
Wisconsin Democrats Demand Special Elections Mike Browne, deputy director of the progressive organization One Wisconsin Now, said the governor is stalling. [Public News Service, 03/07/2018]
Scott Walker Refusing To Hold Elections GOP Might Lose The fact that Scott Walker is afraid to hold elections when he’s on the ballot in nine months is not the worst story to have out there. [Talking Points Memo, 03/02/2018]
Democratic group sues Walker over not calling elections A national Democratic group led by former U.S. Attorney Eric Holder filed a lawsuit Monday attempting to force Republican Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to call two special elections to fill legislative vacancies. Walker has refused to call special elections for the seats that became open two weeks before a surprise Democratic victory in a state […] [Associated Press, 02/27/2018]
Wisconsin GOP votes to oust elections, ethics agency heads The Wisconsin Senate voted Tuesday to oust leaders of the bipartisan state agencies charged with running elections and overseeing ethics laws, the latest move by Republicans to exact revenge on anyone connected with a now-closed investigation into Gov. Scott Walker and other conservatives. The highly unusual Senate vote was designed to force out two former […] [Associated Press, 01/24/2018]
Gov. Scott Walker’s Refusal to Disavow Donald Trump Is Not Just Cowardice, It Is a Pattern of Behavior Scott Walker’s decades-long record of undermining social justice and attacking the rights of people of color is appalling. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/16/2017]
Scott Walker Silence on Donald Trump Racism Deafening, Walker Record Speaks Volumes Scott Walker’s record on attacking the voting rights of people of color for political gain is unconstitutional and the definition of racism. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/16/2017]
Report Suggests Wisconsin Voters Targeted by Collusion Between Trump Campaign, Russian Fake News Operation We’re owed answers about these serious allegation about meddling with the election in Wisconsin from the governor of Wisconsin. [One Wisconsin Now, 07/13/2017]
Scott Walker Wraps Himself in Hypocrisy With Latest Fundraising Solicitation If You Love American Democracy, What Scott Walker Has Done to Elections in Wisconsin Will Break Your Heart. [One Wisconsin Now, 07/12/2017]
Liberals, states push back on Trump commission’s request for voter data In Wisconsin, liberals were quick to pounce. One Wisconsin Now called on Gov. Scott Walker to, in their words, protect Wisconsin voters' privacy from Donald Trump. [Rhinelander Daily News, 07/06/2017]
Gov. Scott Walker Standing By Instead of Standing Up to Donald Trump on Request For Voter’s Personal Information As outrage over Donald Trump's gang's request for personal voting information spreads, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker continues to dodge the issue. [One Wisconsin Now, 07/05/2017]
One Wisconsin Now Calls on Gov. Scott Walker to Protect Wisconsin Voters’ Privacy From Donald Trump “There is no way Donald Trump and his cabal can be trusted with one single voter’s sensitive, personal information.” [One Wisconsin Now, 06/30/2017]
Former Scott Walker top aide Jodi Jensen named to Elections Commission following Don Millis’ resignation A former Republican legislative aide who worked as a top aide to Gov. Scott Walker during his first nine months in office was tapped Monday to serve on the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Jodi Jensen will replace original commission member Don Millis, who submitted his resignation letter on Friday. He said he could no longer serve […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 03/07/2017]
Gov. Walker budget proposes cuts to election administration agency The state agency tasked with overseeing state elections will have lost nearly a third of its staff in two years if a proposal from Gov. Scott Walker is approved by lawmakers later this year. The governor’s 2017-19 state budget proposal eliminates six positions within the state Elections Commission. Michael Haas, the commission’s administrator, said this […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 02/11/2017]
The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same: Gov. Scott Walker Promotes Election Falsehoods Scott Walker is defending his rigging of rules on voting to give himself and Republicans an unfair partisan advantage by making false assertions about voter ID. [One Wisconsin Now, 12/01/2016]
Why Does Scott Walker Get a Pass on Election Lie? Allowing Scott Walker to spread misinformation about the impact of the voter ID law undermines the integrity of our elections. [Scot Ross, 11/30/2016]
Groups challenging voter ID law contesting state plan "Even after being called out in federal court for its behavior, Gov. (Scott) Walker's administration continues to fail legal Wisconsin voters." [Associated Press, 10/25/2016]
Federal Judge Approves Expanded Voter ID Education Efforts "The question today is not can Gov. Walker's administration take more steps to try to prevent legal voters from being disenfranchised, but why won't it?" [Wisconsin Public Radio, 10/24/2016]
Donald Trump Is Scott Walker’s Apprentice on Phony Voter Fraud Claims The only fraud in our elections is partisan politicians like Scott Walker and Donald Trump trying to rig our laws for political gain. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/17/2016]
State Files Court Ordered Report on Failure to Properly Administer Voter ID Law It is clear that Gov. Scott Walker’s administration is either unable or unwilling to properly administer the state voter ID law. [One Wisconsin Institute, 10/07/2016]
Documents From Political Corruption Investigation Reveal Gov. Walker’s Allies Intentionally Made Baseless Claims of Voter Fraud to Question Election Results GOP insiders hatched a scheme to question the legitimacy of the election by enlisting the support of right-wing radio to spread allegations of fraudulent voting. [One Wisconsin Now, 09/15/2016]
As Madison expands early voting, Scott Walker says keeping voter ID in place is priority Gov. Scott Walker downplayed the significance of the city of Madison extending its early voting hours after a federal court ruling overturned restrictions he signed into law. “For me, my primary focus had been on making sure that it’s easy to vote but hard to cheat,” Walker said, adding that he was pleased the state’s […] [Racine Journal Times, 08/18/2016]
Federal judge strikes down Wisconsin election laws A federal judge on Friday threw out as unconstitutional a host of Wisconsin election laws passed in recent years, saying they unfairly benefited Republicans who had enacted them and made it more difficult for Democrats to vote. U.S. District Judge James Peterson’s ruling keeps in place the state’s voter identification law, unlike recent rulings in […] [Los Angeles Times, 07/29/2016]
Racial disparities seen in providing free IDs to vote, data show Among Wisconsinites who lack ID cards and other documents proving their identity, race is a key factor in who requests free IDs to vote and whose requests are approved, according to data cited Monday in a court trial of a challenge to the state’s voter ID requirement… On Monday, the plaintiffs highlighted DMV data showing […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 05/24/2016]
DMV official testifies in voter ID trial Some voters might not have been able to cast ballots this fall if not for a new state rule put in place on the eve of a trial over Wisconsin’s voter ID law, the official responsible for issuing ID cards testified Monday. Her testimony came as the federal judge hearing the trial expressed serious concern […] [Appleton Post-Crescent, 05/23/2016]
Gov. Walker eases state Voter ID restrictions The move comes just days before the state goes to trial over a challenge to Wisconsin's Voter ID law by the liberal group One Wisconsin Now, which claims that obtaining a state ID is so difficult some would-be eligible voters are simply giving up. [WKOW-TV, 05/11/2016]
Scott Walker administration tweaks voter ID rules Scot Ross, executive director of liberal group One Wisconsin Now, said OWN lawyers are reviewing the new rule. [Wisconsin State Journal, 05/11/2016]
Gov. Walker and Speaker Vos Make Stunningly Hypocritical Excuse for Lack of Voter ID Education Campaign Gov. Scott Walker and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos have in public comments both suggested the absence of an educational campaign on the state voter ID law is in part due to the lawsuits over the law. [One Wisconsin Now, 04/28/2016]
Wisconsin Voter ID Law Challenged The Wisconsin primary will be the first big test of the state's controversial voter ID law. Scot Ross, Executive Director of Wisconsin Now, joins Al Sharpton to discuss. [MSNBC, 04/03/2016]
One Wisconsin Now Demands Voting Hours Be Extended After Computer Crash The people of Wisconsin ought not have their right to vote endangered by the incompetence of Gov. Scott Walker and his administration. [One Wisconsin Now, 04/01/2016]
Voter ID law prevented WWII armed services vet from voting A state Supreme Court justice on Tuesday urged Gov. Scott Walker to allow people to use veterans ID cards to vote after her uncle who fought at Iwo Jima was unable to cast a ballot in last week’s primary election. “It makes no sense to me that this proud patriot with a veterans card displaying […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/23/2016]
Walker signs split of state’s GAB \| Campaign finance measure also approved Gov. Scott Walker privately signed a measure Wednesday loosening the state’s campaign finance laws and eliminating the state elections and ethics agency that investigated his campaign for teaming up with conservative groups. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/16/2015]
Scott Walker says state board failed for 16 elections to audit voter list to remove felons To rally support for a GOP bill to break apart Wisconsin’s agency that oversees elections and ethics matters, Gov. Scott Walker is casting the Government Accountability Board as incompetent. At one point, he stormed Twitter using the #ReformGAB hashtag. In one Oct. 13, 2015 tweet, he claimed the agency wanted to consider Mickey Mouse and […] [PolitiFact, 11/06/2015]
Lapdogs’ and ‘la-la land’: Wisconsin Assembly debates campaign finance laws, GAB overhaul A spokeswoman for Gov. Scott Walker said he supports overall reform of the GAB, and he “looks forward to working with lawmakers on a replacement for the GAB that is fair, transparent, and accountable to Wisconsinites.” [Capital Times, 10/21/2015]
The ‘Fix’ Is In: Gov. Walker and Legislative Republicans Introduce Latest Scheme to Manipulate the Rules to Gain Unfair, Partisan Advantage Republican leaders, with the support of Scott Walker, are unveiling their latest scheme to manipulate election & ethics laws to gain unfair, partisan advantage. [One Wisconsin Institute, 10/07/2015]
Wisconsin’s Battle Over Voter Photo ID Law Could Soon Reach an End Scot Ross says it’s harder to get a state ID in Wisconsin, in part because DMV offices don’t offer enough hours and locations for people to apply. [WUWM-FM, 03/11/2015]
Desperate Walker Republicans Roll RoJo Out to Shriek ‘Fraud’ Johnson’s comments were part of a consistent campaign by Republicans to suppress voter turnout through public statements and disenfranchisement legislation. [One Wisconsin Now, 11/02/2014]
Gov. Scott Walker defends voter ID law in first debate Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker defended his voter ID law Friday night during the first gubernatorial debate with Democratic challenger Mary Burke. Walker said that the voter ID law, which the U.S. Supreme Court just blocked from being enforced, is worthwhile if it stops one person from fraudulently casting a ballot. Burke pointed to studies that […] [Politico, 10/11/2014]
Women are disparately impacted by voter ID legislation “Data shows that women are more likely than men to lack the kind of identification needed to meet new voting requirements. Obtaining proper ID can require costly documents, and women are more likely than men to be poor. Women are also more likely to have to deal with name changes in the wake of marriages […] [MSNBC, 10/09/2014]
One Wisconsin Now Statements on U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Blocking Photo ID One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross released the following statements following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision blocking implementation of Wisconsin’s photo ID law. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/09/2014]
One Wisconsin Now Encourages Wisconsin Media to Donate Air Time and Ad Space for Photo ID Education Mere weeks before the November elections, Gov. Walker and election regulators have chosen to impose a photo ID requirement. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/07/2014]
Federal Court’s Split Decision Denies Hearing on Wisconsin Voter ID Law Today the Federal 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, by a 5-5 vote, decided it will not hear en banc a challenge to the Wisconsin voter ID law. [One Wisconsin Now, 09/26/2014]
One Wisconsin Institute Files in Ongoing Voter ID Federal Court Case In an amicus brief filed today, the Institute shared research with the court demonstrating Wisconsinites have significantly less access to DMVs to obtain a state ID than Indiana citizens. [One Wisconsin Institute, 09/22/2014]
Armed Services Veteran, UW Student Tells Gov. Walker Voter ID Law Will Not Keep Students From Polls in November The following are the statements of U.S. Army veteran and UW-Waukesha student Saul Newton delivered at a community event on the recent 7th Circuit Court decision lifting an injunction on the enforcement of a photo ID requirement. [One Wisconsin Now, 09/16/2014]
Walker talks up voter id, budget in visit to Lake Hallie Gov. Scott Walker praised a court ruling that requires voter identification at polls and offered details regarding new state budget proposals Tuesday during his visit to Lake Hallie. “The bottom line is we want it to be easy to vote and hard to cheat,” Walker said in remarks to the media after a grand opening […] [Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, 09/16/2014]
Scott Walker’s sinister “voter ID” lifeline: How a new ruling could save his hide Friday morning, a three-judge panel heard Walker’s appeal to the federal ruling that previously struck down his Photo ID voting restriction law. By afternoon, almost immediately following the hearing, the three GOP-appointed federal judges (a Reagan appointee, and two George W. Bush appointees) restored the restrictive voting measure [PDF] in advance of the November general […] [Salon, 09/15/2014]
Emails Show Walker Involved in 2010 Voter Intimidation Billboard Campaign Content This is the smoking gun that shows Scott Walker at the center of one of Wisconsin’s most notorious voter intimidation efforts. [One Wisconsin Now, 09/12/2014]
Executive behind voter fraud billboards sought Scott Walker advice A venture fund manager consulted with then-Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker about state and federal voting laws in 2010, just weeks before the businessman began posting controversial ads on billboards in Milwaukee that warned “Voter Fraud is a Felony.” “Scott, I need to know the rules for illegal voting in Wisconsin,” Stephen Einhorn wrote in […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 09/11/2014]
Workplace and Health Care Gender Inequality, Not Jobs, Making a ‘Wisconsin Comeback’ With the Regressive Policies of Gov. Scott Walker Gov. Scott Walker, who plunged the state to last in the Midwest in jobs on his watch, is touting a “Wisconsin comeback” in his stump speeches and TV ads. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/26/2014]
Scott Walker, J.B. Van Hollen again ask court to reinstate voter ID Gov. Scott Walker and Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen are asking a federal court to reinstate Wisconsin’s voter ID law, but they have not finalized a plan to comply with a different court’s decision requiring the state to provide IDs to people who don’t have birth certificates. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 08/24/2014]
A Supreme Truth: Voter ID Is Voter Suppression The Wisconsin State Supreme Court’s decision on Gov. Scott Walker’s discriminatory Voter Identification bill utterly ignores the inaccessibility of the DMV. [One Wisconsin Now, 07/31/2014]
Latest Poll in Governor’s Race Gives Clues to Walker, GOP Push to Make it Harder for Students and Young People to Vote Now we see why Gov. Walker and his lapdog Republican controlled legislature were so eager to erect new barriers to young people voting – they’re overwhelmingly opposed to his record of cronyism, corruption and incompetence. [One Wisconsin Now, 07/24/2014]
Where There’s a WILL, There’s a Way… to Promote Gov. Walker’s Best Interests For the years in which Federal IRS records are available for both the Bradley Foundation and WILL, 2011 and 2012, Bradley funds accounted for over 90 percent of the total money WILL reported raising. [One Wisconsin Now, 07/11/2014]
One Wisconsin Now Calls for Feds to Deploy Election Observers in Wisconsin for November 2014 Election In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, One Wisconsin Now is requesting the federal DOJ send observers to Wisconsin for the November 2014 General Election. [One Wisconsin Now, 05/06/2014]
Federal Judge Strikes Down Wisconsin Voter ID Law Federal Judge Lynn Adelman today issued a ruling striking down Wisconsin's voter ID law. In his opinion, Adelman cited the almost complete lack of voting impropriety. [One Wisconsin Now, 04/29/2014]
One Wisconsin Now on Al Jazeera to Talk Voter Suppression Mike Browne, Deputy Director of One Wisconsin Now and the Institute sat down with Al Jazeera to discuss Gov. Scott Walker’s and the GOP’s attacks on the right to vote in Wisconsin. [Al Jazeera, 04/10/2014]
National Progress Now ‘March Badness’ Tourney Reaches Finale Progress Now affiliates One Wisconsin Now and Pennsylvania’s Keystone Progress are wagering a selection of their state’s craft brews that their Governor will prevail as the worst of the worst. [One Wisconsin Now, 04/04/2014]
Barrett, One Wisconsin Now keep pressure on Walker over early voting The liberal group One Wisconsin Now, Mayor Tom Barrett, elected officials and community activists gathered at City Hall Thursday to urge Gov. Scott Walker to veto a bill that would limit early voting. Scot Ross, executive director of One Wisconsin Now, urged Walker to veto the measure, saying Wisconsin citizens want to have high and […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/27/2014]
Walker signs early-voting bill; partial veto slightly extended voting hours from legislative version Acting out of the public eye on controversial measures, Gov. Scott Walker signed asbestos liability legislation Thursday opposed by a number of veterans groups and used a partial veto to loosen new restrictions on early voting opposed by Democrats. Wielding his pen privately on a stack of 31 bills, Walker approved a number of elections […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/27/2014]
Walker Turns Back on Public, Voting Rights Despite widespread public opposition, Gov. Scott Walker quietly signed into law new restrictions on early voting today. [One Wisconsin Now, 03/27/2014]
Will Gov. Walker Stop The Fraud? Governor Walker has a choice. He can stand up for the right to vote enshrined in the Wisconsin Constitution and veto the bill or he can allow his political ambitions to trump doing what is right by Wisconsin voters. [One Wisconsin Now, 03/21/2014]
Hypocritical, Racist and Fraudulent: Assembly Republicans Approve Imposing New Restrictions on Early Voting The State Assembly has once again attacked the right to vote in Wisconsin as Republicans today rammed through controversial legislation to impose new restrictions on early voting. [One Wisconsin Now, 03/20/2014]
The GOP’s Electoral Equation: Early Voting Restrictions = Longer Lines and Less Voting An analysis of early voting patterns in Wisconsin in 2012 shows that longer waits for voters would have resulted had state Republican’s efforts to restrict the hours of early voting been in place. [One Wisconsin Now, 03/19/2014]
Wisconsin Republicans Add Hypocrisy to Early Vote Plan, Target Minorities, Seniors, Students and Persons With Disabilities With New Restrictions It seems that Republicans are all for equal access to the franchise, just so long as that voter is a likely Republican. [One Wisconsin Now, 03/17/2014]
This Week in Voter Suppression: Wisconsin Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is in a close race with his Democratic challenger Mary Burke. Yet his primary concern seems to be on voter ID requirements in the state. One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross joins the Melissa Harris-Perry panel to discuss why. [MSNBC, 03/15/2014]
Wisconsin is the latest swing state to target early voting Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin passed a bill Wednesday to scrap weekend voting—and the rationale they used to support the move may set a new standard for cynicism. A day earlier, Republican Gov. Scott Walker vowed to go to the mat for the state’s controversial voter ID law…As Senate Leader Scott Fitzgerald, a Republican, put it […] [MSNBC, 03/13/2014]
The politics of Voter ID in Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is putting the entire weight of the governorship behind Voter ID. Scot Ross, executive director of One Wisconsin Now, a liberal group that has been ferociously attacking Republicans on Voter ID for years, says that the opinion dynamics on the issue have changed dramatically in Wisconsin in recent years. “Now there’s unanimity against it […] [Capital Times, 03/12/2014]
The War on Voting Rights in Wisconsin Scot Ross, executive director of One Wisconsin Now, joins The Reid Report to discuss efforts in Wisconsin by Republicans to put a stop to early voting. [MSNBC, 03/11/2014]
Breaking Media Report: Walker Mulls Special Session if Racist Voter ID Law Overturned By Court A breaking media report indicates that Gov. Walker is mulling a special session of the legislature in the event his voter ID law is found unconstitutional. [One Wisconsin Now, 03/11/2014]
GOP Effort to Roll Back Early Voting Creates Additional Barriers to Franchise for Elderly, Persons With Disabilities and Urban Voters Legislation before the state Senate today to severely restrict early in-person voting and ban weekend voting in Wisconsin could create more hurdles for minorities, seniors and persons with disabilities. [One Wisconsin Now, 03/11/2014]
Will Scott Walker Run in 2016? Governor Walker has access to an ungodly amount of money. His campaign co-chair runs the $500 million right wing funding Bradley foundation. His largest donor is the wealthiest woman in Wisconsin. [MSNBC, 11/24/2013]
Assembly GOP Attempts to Resuscitate Voter ID Law The latest attempt by legislative Republicans to resuscitate a voter ID law that would potentially disenfranchise an estimated 300,000 legal Wisconsin voters. [One Wisconsin Now, 11/06/2013]
Scot Ross: Memo to Gov. Scott Walker and GOP legislators: Voters are not the enemy There’s fraud in Wisconsin elections — but the impropriety isn’t happening in polling places on Election Day. It’s being perpetrated in our state Capitol where Gov. Walker and his lapdog Republican Legislature continue to manipulate the rules on voting to gain a partisan political advantage. [Capital Times, 11/04/2013]
Could State Grant to GOP ‘Outdoor’ Group Be Used to Help Boost Republican Political Campaigns? Could a state grant slipped into the budget by the former Assembly Majority Leader, signed into law by Gov. Walker and rushed through the approval process by the Walker administration be used to help support partisan political activity? [One Wisconsin Now, 09/04/2013]
Questions for Gov. Walker and Assembly Majority Leader Mount as Committee Approves Grant for Politically Connected Special Interest Group Despite mounting questions and growing evidence that top Republican leaders went to great lengths to ensure a taxpayer funded grant went to a politically connected special interest group, the grant was approved on Thursday. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/29/2013]
The Struggle for Voting Rights is Still Real Scot Ross, Ohio State Sen. Nina Turner, and Judith Browne Dianis join Melissa Harris-Perry to discuss the continued need for the fight for voting rights, especially after seeing legislation pass. [MSNBC, 08/25/2013]
Will Gov. Walker Share Anti-Voter Tips on Alabama Visit? Jim Crow of the 1960s has nothing on Scott Walker when it comes to trying to keep legal voters from voting in free and fair elections. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/22/2013]
Wisconsin GOP Determined to Not be Outdone by North Carolina on Anti-Voter Efforts State Senator Mary Lazich has fired back, re-introducing a package of bills to make it easier to toss out the legally cast ballots of legal voters for minor clerical errors and injecting more partisanship into election administration. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/13/2013]
Top Scott Walker Aide Fired for Recent Racist Facebook Rant Had Earlier Directed Staff to Withhold Information About Free Photo ID to Low-Income Wisconsinites But this same aide was kept on for two years after it was revealed he took the initiative to try to make it harder for hundreds of thousands of legal Wisconsin voters, many of whom are minorities, to vote. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/08/2013]
#WalkerAt20: Bradley Foundation Errand Boy There's no bigger funder of the right-wing noise machine and radical agenda of unaccountable education privatization than the Bradley Foundation. [One Wisconsin Now, 06/12/2013]
#WalkerAt20: Failing Democracy The rights of voters to participate in free and fair elections, and have confidence that their vote will be counted is fundamental to our democracy. No one has failed them more than Gov. Walker. [One Wisconsin Now, 06/09/2013]
Protect Wisconsin Elections Coalition Exposes Omnibus Assault on Voting in Wisconsin An omnibus bill from Rep. Jeff Stone on the legislative fast-track would make a host of anti-voter changes to state election law according to voter rights advocates. [One Wisconsin Institute, 05/30/2013]
Is Wisconsin ‘Money Badger’ Michael Grebe Paying Fox News Head Big Bucks for Fawning Media Coverage of His Favorite Wisconsin Politicians? Fox News Chair and CEO Roger Ailes is in line for a big payday courtesy of Michael Grebe, head of the Bradley Foundation and co-chair of Gov. Scott Walker's campaign. [One Wisconsin Now, 05/13/2013]
Protecting the Right to Vote in Wisconsin Voting is not only our right; it is our duty. It is how we have a say in the direction of our community, our state and our country. Voting is the one time everyone is equal. Young or old, rich or poor, on Election Day everyone gets the same say. [One Wisconsin Institute, 05/12/2013]
Differing Views of Gov. Walker’s First Two years in Office The group, One Wisconsin Now harbors a different perspective to Walker’s tenure. Executive Director Scot Ross issued a release citing, what he calls, some of the governor’s low lights: “Looting the public treasury to dole out favors to big business. Slashing investments in education and health care to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy […] [Milwaukee Public Radio, 01/02/2013]
Walker Signed a Bill Allowing Partisan Election Observers Closer to Voters, Jeopardizing Their Private information and making polling places more contentious Signed a bill that allows election observers to be as close as three feet to voters and poll workers when they are registering to vote or giving their name and address when checking in at the polling place. The bill passed both houses and was approved by the Governor on April 2, 2014. [2013 AB 202, Senate Vote, 01/01/2013]
Walker Signed a Bill Making It Harder for Individuals in Residential Care Facilities to Vote Signed a bill which reduced the number of locations to which clerks are required to send special voting deputies to allow individuals to cast absentee ballots. The bill was passed by both houses and approved by the Governor on March 27, 2014. [2013 AB 396, Senate Vote, 01/01/2013]
Walker Signed a Bill Increasing Partisanship of Poll Workers Signed a bill that requires that whenever two or more poll workers are required to perform a function at polling place and both parties have submitted nominees, then the chief inspector must assign an equal number of poll workers from the nominees of each party. Prior law did not require that political party be considered […] [2013 SB 265, Senate Vote, 01/01/2013]
Walker Signed Bill Restricting Early Voting Hours and Limiting Local Clerks’ Control of Early Voting Hours Signed bill that limited clerk’s office hours and days available for early voting, eliminating weekend voting and severely restricting voting hours available outside the normal work day. The Assembly version of the bill (2013 AB 54) failed to pass, but a substantially similar bill (SB 324) was adopted. The Governor exercised a partial veto, striking […] [2013 SB 324, Senate Vote, 01/01/2013]
Einhorns Expand Their State Political Scandal Portfolio Authorities should immediately open an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Capital Midwest being granted management of $1 million of taxpayer funds through WHEDA. [One Wisconsin Now, 12/09/2012]
Wisconsin ‘Money Badger’s’ Paw Prints Uncovered In Attack on Worker Rights in Michigan Wisconsin's 'Money Badger', Michael Grebe, appears to have his paws in the attack on worker rights in Michigan according to One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross. [One Wisconsin Now, 12/06/2012]
Will Wisconsin ‘Money Badger’ Back Gov. Walker’s Quest for Presidential Super PAC Cash? Recent media report included Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker on a list of suitors seeking an audience with GOP mega-donor and Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. [One Wisconsin Now, 12/05/2012]
One Wisconsin Now Condemns Latest GOP Effort to Limit Voting as Citizens Continue to Rally to Protect Access to Ballot Box The effort to eliminate same day voter registration is built on lies and intended to serve a partisan political agenda, not the people of Wisconsin. [One Wisconsin Now, 12/04/2012]
One Wisconsin Now says it’s legal to sign Walker recall petitions more than once The liberal group One Wisconsin Now, worried about possible confusion over who can sign petitions to recall Gov. Scott Walker, issued a “recall petitioners’ rights” memo in late November 2011. We can’t predict whether all multiple signers will be found, but state law makes clear that one — and only one — signature is to […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/01/2012]
Groups Launch Preemptive Strike to Save Election Day Registration Gov. Scott Walker hinted a few weeks ago, that he favors doing away with same day voter registration. Now a liberal political advocacy group is launching a preemptive strike against any attempt to change the 36-year tradition. Scott Ross is Executive Director of the group One Wisconsin Now. It helped gather 15,000 signatures on petitions supporting […] [WUWM, 11/29/2012]
Group Fights to Save Same-Day Voter Registration Governor Scott Walker and GOP lawmakers have expressed support for ending the practice of allowing voters to register at the polls on Election Day. One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross says the option needs to remain though, since it provides a valuable service. Supporters of ending same day registration say the move would help […] [WTAQ, 11/29/2012]
Groups Want Same Day Registration Governor Scott Walker and GOP lawmakers have expressed support for ending the practice of allowing voters to register at the polls on Election Day. One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross says the option needs to remain though, since it provides a valuable service. Ross notes that over two million people took advantage of the […] [Wisconsin Radio Network, 11/29/2012]
Scott Walker’s Plan to Eliminate Same-Day Voter Registration Opposed By Wisconsin Poll Workers A coalition of advocacy groups, including the progressive One Wisconsin Now and United Wisconsin, delivered nearly 15,000 petition signatures to the governor’s office on Thursday from Wisconsinites who oppose changing same-day registration rules. [Huffington Post, 11/29/2012]
Petitions Delivered to Walker’s Office Three Wisconsin advocacy groups collected almost 15,000 signatures in objection to Governor Scott Walker’s comments about ending same-day voter registration. Walker recently made a one-hour speech in California outlining his achievements and policy proposals for next year. During the speech, he said he supports ending same-day voter registration, leading to the responses Thursday from We […] [Badger Herald, 11/28/2012]
On Politics: Groups Deliver Nearly 15k Signatures to Save Same Day Voter Registration A coalition of advocacy groups said Thursday that it was delivering nearly 15,000 signatures on a petition aimed at saving same day voter registration to the office of Gov. Scott Walker. The coalition included the liberal group One Wisconsin Now, We Are Wisconsin and United Wisconsin. Scot Ross, the executive director of OWN, accused Walker […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 11/28/2012]
Wisconsin Says ‘No Way to Ending Same Day’ A coalition of advocacy groups delivered nearly 15,000 signatures on a petition to save same day voter registration to the office of Gov. Scott Walker today. [One Wisconsin Now, 11/28/2012]
Should same-day voter registration end? Walker, clerks don’t agree Three liberal advocacy groups, One Wisconsin Now, We Are Wisconsin and United Wisconsin, at 10 a.m. today in Madison will discuss implications of elimination of same-day voter registration. They also will deliver petitions signed by 15,000 people to Gov. Scott Walker to express their [support for] same-day voter registration. [Green Bay Press-Gazette, 11/28/2012]
‘Motor voter’ system would happen if Wisconsin dumps same day voter registration Wisconsin is one of only eight states where people can register to vote on Election Day, and it will be 10 after new laws take effect in California and Connecticut. But if the Badger State trashes it – as Governor Scott Walker is talking about – the state must adopt a “motor voter” registration system, […] [WHBL, 11/19/2012]
One Wisconsin Institute Files Amicus Brief in Voter ID Case Citing Lack of Voter Fraud, Access to DMVs One Wisconsin Institute is today filing an amicus brief in support of the NAACP-Voces de la Frontera lawsuit against the state's voter identification law. [One Wisconsin Institute, 11/18/2012]
Walker Calls for Changes to Same Day Voter Registration Rules Gov. Scott Walker has joined one of the Legislature’s most powerful Republicans in saying he’s considering ending the state’s same-day voter registration law, drawing quick criticism from leading Democrats, including Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Wisconsin is one of nine states that allow voters to register at their polling place on the day of the election, […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/18/2012]
The Wisconsin ‘Money Badger’s’ Bad Night Last night proved that, in a fair fight, progressives win and the people of Wisconsin will reject right-wing policies that take their rights and favor the wealthy and corporations over the middle class and working families. [One Wisconsin Now, 11/06/2012]
Foundation Behind ‘Voter Fraud’ Billboards Exposed Thanks to reporting done by The Grio's Joy Reid and the advocacy organization One Wisconsin Now, Melissa Harris-Perry is able to name names for 'This Week In Voter Suppression” in exposing the foundation behind billboards that splashed false information on voter fraud. [MSNBC, 11/03/2012]
Commentary: Voter Intimidation and our Obligation to Fight Back Through investigative work by The Grio and One Wisconsin Now, it was discovered that the Einhorn Family Foundation was behind the ads. [BET, 10/31/2012]
Romney Campaign Touted Support of Foundation Head Behind Voter Suppression Effort Grebe's support for these voter suppression efforts was reprehensible and Romney's campaign will be no better if it fails to denounce them immediately. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/31/2012]
Bradley Foundation helped pay for 2010 voter fraud sign The liberal organization One Wisconsin Now was the first to disclose the role the Einhorn foundation had in footing the bill for the billboards. Scot Ross, head of the Madison-based group, called it “reprehensible” that private foundation money was spent on billboards that Ross said were intended to suppress the vote during the 2010 election in which Scott Walker was […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/30/2012]
Venture Capitalist behind fraud billboards TheGrio and One Wisconsin Now first reported Monday that the billboards were funded by the Einhorn Family Foundation. In a statement, the Einhorns confirmed that they were behind the ads. [Washington Post, 10/30/2012]
Venture capitalist Einhorn behind ‘voter fraud’ billboards Billboards warning communities of color in Ohio and Wisconsin that voter fraud can lead to jail time were put up by a group led by a Milwaukee-based venture capitalist and donor to Mitt Romney and the Tea Party movement, an investigation by NBC’s theGrio has found. The billboards—which carried the unnecessary (and some might say, […] [MSNBC, 10/30/2012]
Einhorns Confirm One Wisconsin Now/theGrio Investigation: Admit Purchase of Voter Suppression Billboards The Einhorn Family Foundation confirmed an investigation by theGrio and One WI Now and admitted it was the previously-anonymous funder of voter suppression billboards. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/29/2012]
Venture capitalist Einhorn paid for voter fraud billboards Stephen Einhorn – a Wisconsin venture capital fund manager and major GOP donor – acknowledged Monday that he and his wife Nancy paid for dozens of anonymous billboards in and around Milwaukee and two Ohio cities warning residents of the penalties for committing voter fraud. Democrats and civil rights groups complained that the signs – […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/29/2012]
Little known Wisconsin foundation behind ‘voter fraud’ billboards When Scot Ross heard about more than a dozen billboards going up in largely minority neighborhoods around Cleveland, Ohio, bearing ominous images of the legal penalties for voter fraud, the story had a familiar ring. [theGrio, 10/28/2012]
Revealed: Joint Investigation by One Wisconsin Now & theGrio Uncovers Anonymous Funder of Voter Suppression Billboards This was not an act of free speech, but an expression of racism as despicable as the 'whites only' signs of the Jim Crow South. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/28/2012]
Dark Money Fueled by Little-Known Organizations Scot Ross of "One Wisconsin Now" joins Melissa Harris-Perry and her guests to dig into the details on the Bradley Foundation, what is called the "big granddaddy of political money that no one knows about." [MSNBC, 10/27/2012]
One Wisconsin Now Statements on Voter ID Injunction Scott Walker and his allies have lied over and over again, spewing baseless claims of voter impropriety where there is none. Just this week, their claims in Racine were shown to be completely fraudulent. [One Wisconsin Now, 07/17/2012]
Tea Party Express Wins it for Scott Walker After the smoke cleared, Wisconsin’s historic venture to the recall polls in June ended as it had in November 2010: Gov. Scott Walker defeats Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, this time by six points. About 2.5 million voters wanted to get in on the fight, almost a half million more than the first bout in 2010. Still, […] [Baltimore Post Examiner, 06/05/2012]
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel didn’t endorse Gov. Walker’s agenda Here are some quick examples: Walker, GOP took eyes off the ball on job creation – April 28, 2012 Wisconsin lost nearly 24,000 jobs over the past 12 months – the only state in the union with “statistically significant” job losses over that period, according to a new federal government report. For a governor who promised thousands […] [Cody Oliphant, 05/29/2012]
One Wisconsin Now Statements on Judge Issuing Injunction Against GOP Voter Suppression Gov. Walker and Republicans in the legislature have spent the last 15 months taking away the rights of Wisconsinites to have a say in their workplace, hold their elected officials accountable in fair elections and, with voter ID, the right to vote. [One Wisconsin Now, 03/05/2012]
Gov. Walker Wants Outside Groups With History of Voter Suppression to Challenge Recall Petition Signatures His campaign is asking that allegations of improper signatures on recall petitions from an alliance of Texas and Wisconsin fringe political groups accused of voter suppression activities be considered by the GAB. [One Wisconsin Now, 02/27/2012]
Lawsuit Against Walker ‘Voter Suppression’ Bill to Continue Dane County Judge dismissed motions today that would have stopped the lawsuit against Gov. Scott Walker’s voter identification bill, that experts say is both not needed and could lead to legal voters being disenfranchised or subject to a de facto poll tax.“Gov. Scott Walker’s effort to keep legal voters from exercising their right to hold […] [Milwaukee Community Journal, 01/25/2012]
Case to Continue in Fight Against Poll Tax Scheme A Dane County Judge allowed to continue a lawsuit against Gov. Scott Walker’s voter identification bill, that experts say is both not needed and could lead to legal voters being disenfranchised or subject to a de facto poll tax. [One Wisconsin Now, 01/18/2012]
Wisconsin Recall Elections a Sure Thing, But New ID Law May Block Anti-Walker Vote Wisconsin will soon witness major election and legal battles to combat Walker-supported laws limiting the rights of public workers and restricting voting booth access. Laws passed in 2011 virtually eliminate public-employee bargaining rights and restrict voting to those with approved IDs, which could potentially disenfranchise tens of thousands of state residents. “First you take away […] [In These Times, 01/17/2012]
Recall Signatures Arrive in Madison “In just one year, Gov. Scott Walker has failed the people of Wisconsin as no other elected official in our state has. Continuing job loss, while nationally the rest of the country gains jobs. The largest cuts to public education of our students in our state’s history. More than 65,000 people including 29,000 children about […] [Milwaukee Small Business Times, 01/16/2012]
Judges again rule for Democratic group in redistricting case In a scathing ruling, a three-judge panel decided for the third time Tuesday that a Democratic group has a right to an array of information on how Republican lawmakers drew new legislative districts. Saying that GOP lawmakers and their attorneys have filed “frivolous” motions trying to keep their information private, the panel also required the […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 01/03/2012]
Republican National Committee got preview of legislative maps An aide to a top lawmaker gave sworn testimony last week that new legislative maps approved this year were not meant to increase the Republican majority in the Legislature but were nonetheless provided to the Republican National Committee in advance. The seemingly inconsistent testimony came in a deposition from Adam Foltz, an aide to Assembly […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/28/2011]
The Voter Caging Group Behind ‘VerifyTheRecall’ The announcement the notorious anti-voting rights, right wing group GrandSons of Liberty will be leading the Republican effort to disqualify signatures in the recall of Gov. Scott Walker raises serious questions. [One Wisconsin Now, 12/08/2011]
Latest GOP Deception Highlights Failure to Prove Need for Voter Suppression Laws Gov. Scott Walker and his allies have enacted new laws to keep people from voting and it's long past time their undemocratic scheme is called out for the voter suppression scheme it is. [One Wisconsin Now, 12/04/2011]
John Nichols: Cain, Koch, Walker and the smoking man Herman Cain’s smoking campaign manager, Mark Block, was the Koch brothers’ man in Wisconsin until two days before Gov. Scott Walker’s inauguration. That’s when he switched from controversy-plagued campaigning at the state level to controversy-plagued campaigning at the national level. The group One Wisconsin Now described the plan as “a coordinated plot by the Republican […] [Capital Times, 11/08/2011]
Lazich voted for to kill notary requirement she now wants for Walker recall When it comes to sheer partisan hackery, there is no substitute for GOP Sen. Mary Lazich of New Berlin. Lazich, an author of the Jim Crow-era voter suppression ID bill, has now dumped a slew of sleazy legislations to try and save Gov. Scott Walker and the razor-thin Republican Senate majority. And now it’s requiring […] [Scot Ross, 10/30/2011]
Scott Walker’s Raise in Compensation is Undeserved Gov. Scott Walker’s track record of pandering to corporate elites, instead of the wishes of Wisconsinites shows the hypocrisy in accepting a raise. [Brandon Weathersby, 10/30/2011]
One Wisconsin Now Statements on Latest Lazich Voting Rights Assault One Wisconsin Now released the following statements regarding Sen. Lazich’s latest attempt to thwart the recall of Gov. Walker — a never-before considered requirement for officially notarized recall signatures. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/26/2011]
One Wisconsin Now Statements on Latest GOP Assault on Democracy in Wisconsin MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross released the following statements regarding the Republican-controlled state legislature’s latest election-rigging schemes planned for a Senate hearing today. “Another day, another assault on Democracy in Wisconsin from Gov. Scott Walker and his lapdog Republicans running the state legislature. Instead of creating jobs, Gov. Walker is […] [One Wisconsin Now, 10/25/2011]
Bill would apportion electoral votes by congressional districts The liberal group One Wisconsin Now accused Republicans of trying to hijack presidential elections, despite the lack of support from GOP legislative leaders. The group’s executive director, Scot Ross, said the proposal would put an “essential end” to the Electoral College system of voting in presidential elections. [Lakeland Times, 10/17/2011]
Van Hollen’s Gun Bravery From Behind Locked Doors, Guarded Office Time and again, scion to a Republican fortune and our state’s Attorney General JB “John Noe” Van Hollen has proven he is a partisan hack instead of the state’s top cop. Van Hollen is the perfect Roscoe P. Coltrane to Scott Walker’s corrupt Boss Hogg. Van Hollen refused to join the John Doe investigation of […] [Scot Ross, 10/05/2011]
One Wisconsin Now Statements on GOP Assault on Voting, Recall Rights When legal voters are disenfranchised because of Walker and the Republicans, it will cost the taxpayers millions of dollars, but the price of losing our democracy is even higher. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/05/2011]
Cody Oliphant: GOP’s unaccountability proposal Wisconsin’s legislative right wing seems to have a serious problem with the rights of people in Wisconsin. With all the Gov. Scott Walker power grabs, Republican incumbent protection measures and anti-democratic voter disenfranchisement acts being rammed through the Capitol these days, it’s not surprising that a powerful state Senate Republican has hatched yet another unnecessary, […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 09/30/2011]
WRTL under investigation for recall GOTV bribery From Dan Bice at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Details of the secret investigation are sketchy, but it is clear the Milwaukee County district attorney’s office is investigating charges that Wisconsin Right to Life offered rewards for volunteers who signed up sympathetic voters in the recall races. Several people familiar with the investigation said subpoenas were […] [Cody Oliphant, 09/25/2011]
One WI Now filed open records request related to ‘Smoking Gun’ voter ID memo One Wisconsin Now has filed an open records request with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to obtain all communications and emails related to the issuance of state identification cards for the purposes of voting under the state’s voter identification bill. One Wisconsin Now made the request after a memo surfaced in which the top political […] [Cody Oliphant, 09/07/2011]
Dems and advocates blast Department of Transportation’s Don’t Tell if they Don’t Ask policy for free ID cards for voting Meanwhile, the progressive advocacy group One Wisconsin Now filed an open records request with the DOT asking for documents related to the memo, which a Wednesday press release calls a “smoking gun.” Says executive Scot Ross in an interview: “This is proof that they are actively trying to prevent people from knowing that those free […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 09/07/2011]
One Wisconsin Now Files Open Records Request Related to Department of Transportation ‘Smoking Gun’ Poll Tax Memo One Wisconsin Now filed an open records request with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to obtain all communications and emails related to the issuance of state ID cards for the purposes of voting. [One Wisconsin Now, 09/06/2011]
Legal fees soar for Wisconsin taxpayers over bargaining, redistricting \| GOP skips bids, pays up to $395 per hour The Capitol battles over union bargaining and political redistricting proposals have paid off for one group: politically connected GOP lawyers. So far this year, two firms with strong Republican connections have racked up more than $700,000 in invoices and payments authorized by Gov. Scott Walker and GOP lawmakers to help represent the state in cases […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 08/20/2011]
Walker signs legislation to redraw district boundaries As elections took place Tuesday in six state Senate districts, Gov. Scott Walker privately signed legislation to redraw their boundaries along with the remaining legislative districts. Walker waited until nearly the last possible moment to announce he had signed the legislation, which will give Republicans an advantage in the upcoming 2012 elections for both the […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 08/09/2011]
Americans For Prosperity Accused of Voter Suppression In Wisconsin Recall Elections One Wisconsin Now, a non-profit statewide progressive communications network, says the ad buy appears to be an effort to help the six Republican state Senators who were challenged by recall elections after supporting Governor Scott Walker’s anti-collective bargaining legislation in early 2011. [Huffington Post, 08/02/2011]
ALEC Exposed What do you do when you simply cannot win an election? Clearly the solution is to form an organization that links notable conservative lawmakers and corporate power to tilt the odds in your favor, and the American Legislative Exchange Council or ALEC has been doing just that for years. Spawned from a group of individuals […] [Brandon Weathersby, 07/26/2011]
Walker Makes it Harder to Obtain Voter ID And if so, Jorgensen is right. Voter fraud is virtually nonexistent in Wisconsin. As One Wisconsin Now reported, there were more UFO sightings (40) in Wisconsin in 2008 than reports of improper voting (14) out of the 3 million votes cast in the 2008 election. [AFL-CIO, 07/25/2011]
Did Scott Walker Win Votes In Favor of Budget Repair Bill Through Coercion Tactics? This morning The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published a story that raised a very interesting question: Was State Senator Robert Cowles threatened into voting for the Budget Repair Bill? [Brandon Weathersby, 07/10/2011]
Walker championed voter ID legislation for years, ultimately signing a voter ID measure in 2011 “Election officials across Wisconsin are bracing for a difficult transition as the state rushes into place new rules for voting signed into law by Gov. Scott Walker Wednesday — including a controversial measure requiring voters to use photo IDs…Walker signed the bill before a packed room Wednesday, reminding the crowd that he had authored a […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 05/26/2011]
Election officials wary as Walker signs voter ID bill into law Election officials across Wisconsin are bracing for a difficult transition as the state rushes into place new rules for voting signed into law by Gov. Scott Walker Wednesday — including a controversial measure requiring voters to use photo IDs. Passage of the controversial law, which has been discussed by Republicans for more than a decade, […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 05/26/2011]
Gov. Walker signs voter ID bill amid protests The new law would spend $7 million – most of which would make free ID’s for those who want them. But “One Wisconsin Now” director Scot Ross says people could only get them during business hours on weekdays – and many must travel long distances to get them at motor vehicle offices. [WTAQ, 05/25/2011]
Walker Signed Law Requiring Photo ID to Vote Walker signed into law Assembly Bill 7, requiring photo identification to vote at a polling place or obtain an absentee ballot. On February 12, 2011, the Senate passed an amendment to SB 6 that changes Wisconsin’s voting laws and requires each eligible elector who attempts to register or to vote at the polls on election […] [2011 WI Act 23, 05/25/2011]
One Wisconsin Now Statements on Walker Signing Voter Suppression Bill We believe Wisconsin’s law is overly burdensome on voters and that the state is simply unequipped to administer this law and ensure legal voters will not be disenfranchised or subject to a poll tax. [One Wisconsin Now, 05/24/2011]
Walker signs photo ID measure; legal challenge possible “We continue to confer with legal counsel about what potential legal challenges can be made against Gov. Walker’s voter suppression bill,” Scot Ross, executive director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now, said in a statement Wednesday. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 05/24/2011]
Legislature passes voter ID bill; Walker to sign it Wednesday “Ultimately, this will cost Wisconsin not only our fair and clean elections, but also millions of additional tax dollars when a court rules against them for damages for denying legal voters the right to vote,” said Scot Ross of One Wisconsin Now. [Wisconsin State Journal, 05/18/2011]
MJS: “Talk is cheap; don’t suppress state’s votes” We all know requiring folks to present a photo ID before they are allowed to vote is an expensive solution to a problem that doesn’t exist — not to mention, fairly undemocratic. Editorial boards across the state have been giving the GOP’s “21st Century Poll Tax” due criticism; the latest comes from the Milwaukee […] [Cody Oliphant, 01/30/2011]
GAB Complaint Filed Over RGA Mailing with Incorrect Voter Information; Van Hollen Asked to Investigate A formal complaint with the state Government Accountability Board was filed yesterday by the recipient of an absentee ballot application sent by the Washington, DC-based Republican Governors Association. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/26/2010]
Walker Continues Anti-Democratic Assault on Voters Like a moth to a bright light, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker is using the non-story about a Milwaukee County assistant DA with a history of questionable priorities on voter rights issues to make his tiresome case that Voter ID is a good idea. Walker fired off a typically deceptive campaign press release (as if […] [Scot Ross, 06/08/2010]
Walker Voted for Train Bidding Statute He’s Railing Against Scott Walker’s hollow criticism of the Talgo bidding process, which was not awarded to the company of his $13,000 donor and 2006 gubernatorial co-chair, is even more hypocritical given that Walker voted to create the no-bid statute in the 1997 state budget. [One Wisconsin Now, 03/17/2010]
Walker 2006 campaign 100 Day Agenda included attacks on voting rights First 100 Day Agenda: Jim Doyle and the Democrats have refused to protect the integrity of the ballot box in Wisconsin’s electoral system. Scott Walker will not allow this to continue. Scott will work with the state legislature and pass a law that requires a State of Wisconsin issued Photo ID to vote. Scott will work with […] [Scott Walker, 06/05/2006]
Walker Called Concerns Voter ID Might Disenfranchise Elderly & Poor Voters a “Lame Excuse” “This is the third time that Doyle vetoed the voter ID bill and it’s time to get him out of office…Doyle’s lame excuse? It might ‘disenfranchise elderly and poor voters. Apparently, this did not stop him from signing the Meth Bill that requires some cold medicines to be put behind the counter and requires customers […] [Scott Walker, 08/12/2005]
Bill would make photo ID requirement to vote A state representative has proposed a bill that would require Wisconsin voters to show photo identification before voting, but another lawmaker said the rule would disenfranchise minorities and other voters. State Rep. Scott Walker, R-Wauwatosa, asked an Assembly committee Thursday to recommend passing his bill because he said it could reduce voting irregularities like those […] [Beloit Daily News, 09/14/2001]
Walker Introduced Photo ID Requirement for Voting, Declares Only Supporters of Voter Fraud Would Oppose “There is no legitimate reason why eligible voters cannot bring a photo ID. Only people interested in perpetuating voter fraud need fear such a requirement.” (See also: 2001 Assembly Bill 259) [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 01/31/2001]