Friday, March 28, 2014

State Senators Weigh in on new Voting Restrictions, by Bryan Hall

Sixth District Wisconsin Senator Nikiya Harris and 32nd District Senator Jennifer Shilling are expressing disappointment in new restrictions on Wisconsin voters.  Gov. Scott Walker has signed into law a bill to limit in-person absentee voting to no later than 7 p.m. during the week and no weekend hours.

According to Harris, “Bill 324 wages a battle against the hard-working men and women of this state by making it harder for these individuals to have their voices heard. This bill will deter early voting among Wisconsin’s most vulnerable populations—the elderly, low-wage workers, and the sick.”

The bill would restrict voting with absentee ballots to Monday to Friday between the normal office hours. .  The so-called “early” voting has been particularly popular in university cities like Madison and LaCrosse.

"We should be working to strengthen voting rights, not make it harder for our seniors and working families to vote," Shilling adds.

The bill was introduced on March 11th by  Senator Glenn Grothman.


Harris adds, “The hard-working men and women of this state are the casualties of the battle that Republicans have waged on the constitutionally protected right to vote. Republicans should be ashamed at the role they are playing in attacking the freedom to vote in Wisconsin.”