CITIZENS NEWS

Wisconsin voters overwhelmingly approve voter ID constitutional amendment, Trump celebrates “big win”

By isabelle // 2025-04-02

• Wisconsin voters approved a constitutional amendment requiring photo ID for voting, backed by 63.1% of voters.
• Republicans solidified the voter ID law to prevent future legal or legislative challenges.
• Democrats retained control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court as liberal Judge Susan Crawford won.
• Critics argue voter ID laws suppress turnout, but polls show broad public support.
• The results highlight Wisconsin’s political divide, with GOP election reforms and Democratic judicial wins.

Wisconsin voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment requiring photo identification for voting, with 63.1% backing the measure. The amendment, championed by Republicans and celebrated by President Donald Trump as a safeguard against fraud, solidifies Wisconsin’s existing voter ID law into the state’s foundational legal document—protecting it from future court challenges or legislative reversals. However, the conservative triumph was tempered by Democrats’ success in the pivotal Wisconsin Supreme Court race, where liberal Judge Susan Crawford defeated her conservative opponent, ensuring the court’s left-leaning majority remains intact.

A safeguard against election fraud

Wisconsin already mandates photo ID under state law, but by enshrining the requirement in the constitution, Republicans have effectively insulated it from political shifts. “This will help maintain integrity in the electoral process, no matter who controls the Legislature,” said Republican state Sen. Van Wanggaard, a co-author of the amendment. The move reflects a broader GOP push to tighten voting rules, which conservatives argue prevent fraud but liberals claim disproportionately disenfranchise minority and low-income voters. Trump wasted no time declaring victory on Truth Social, writing: “VOTER I.D. JUST APPROVED IN WISCONSIN ELECTION. Democrats fought hard against this, presumably so they can CHEAT. This is a BIG WIN FOR REPUBLICANS, MAYBE THE BIGGEST WIN OF THE NIGHT.” Elon Musk, who financially backed conservative judicial candidates, echoed the sentiment with a succinct “Yeah!” on X. Under the amendment, voters must present valid photo ID—such as a state-issued driver’s license, federal ID, tribal identification, or university card—before casting a ballot. Those without ID can still vote provisionally but must later verify their identity.

Democrats retain control of Wisconsin Supreme Court

Despite the GOP’s success on voter ID, Democrats scored a critical win in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, where Crawford, a Dane County judge endorsed by labor unions and Planned Parenthood, defeated former Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel by roughly 9 percentage points. The outcome preserves a 4-3 liberal majority on the court, which is poised to rule on high-stakes issues like redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterms. Schimel, backed by Trump and Musk—who poured over $25 million into the race—failed to flip the court, dealing a blow to conservative efforts to reshape Wisconsin’s judiciary. The loss underscores the state’s enduring political divide, where Republican-led election reforms coexist with Democratic judicial victories. Wisconsin joins eight other states with strict photo ID requirements, though critics argue such laws suppress turnout. “We should not be purposefully leaving eligible voters behind by setting up additional barriers to the ballot,” said Sam Liebert of the nonpartisan group All Voting is Local. Yet polls consistently show broad public support for voter ID. The amendment’s passage ensures Wisconsin’s voting rules will remain contentious. For now, Republicans can claim a hard-fought victory, even as Democrats counterbalance it with judicial control. Tuesday’s results underscore Wisconsin’s status as a microcosm of America’s polarized politics: a resounding conservative win on election security paired with a liberal judicial hold. While the voter ID amendment cements GOP priorities into the state’s constitution, the Supreme Court outcome ensures Democrats retain a check on conservative policies. As both parties gear up for future elections, Wisconsin remains a key battleground where every ballot and every court seat could tip the scales of power. Sources for this article include: NYPost.com Newsweek.com FoxNews.com

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