MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee County Clerk's Office is removing the voter ID requirement when it comes to those looking to request an absentee ballot.
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The office says based on Gov. Tony Evers' "Safer at Home" order, as well as guidance from the Wisconsin Election Commission, voters looking to request an absentee ballot may declare themselves as "indefinitely confined to their homes." That will make it easier for Milwaukee County voters to participate in the election by mail.
The process makes it easier for a voter looking to request a ballot that does not have the ability or equipment to upload a valid ID.
"Voters should not be reluctant to check the box that says they are indefinitely confined because this is a pandemic and this option exists in state law to help preserve everyone's right to vote," Milwaukee County Clerk George Christenson says.
Click here to request a ballot. Once there, select the box that reads "I certify that I am indefinitely confined due to age, illness, infirmity, or disability and request ballots to be sent to me for every election until I am no longer confined or fail to return a ballot." The voter is then able to skip the step of uploading an ID to receive a ballot for the April 7th election.
When the "Safer at Home" order by the governor is lifted, voters can change the designation back by contacting their municipal clerk or by updating their information online.
The Republican Party of Wisconsin says municipal clerks in Madison and Milwaukee are willfully ignoring and breaking state election law when it comes to voter ID requirements. Chairman Andrew Hitt issued the following statement:
"Reports of clerks willfully ignoring state statutes is an outrageous assault on our democratic process and Wisconsin’s election laws. It represents a blatant disregard of the rule of law by those elected to protect and apply them. The Republican Party of Wisconsin will aggressively pursue any legal remedy available to put a stop to clerks unilaterally and illegally rigging an election in their favor."