A recent report by the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) has revealed that over 140,000 Wisconsin residents could potentially vote in the 2024 election without providing identification.
According to Breitbart News, this loophole in Wisconsin's election laws poses a significant risk to election integrity.
The report highlights an exception known as "Indefinitely Confined" status, which allows voters to receive absentee ballots indefinitely without showing ID. This exception has seen a dramatic increase in use since 2016, raising concerns about potential exploitation of the system.
In 2016, approximately 66,000 voters were registered under the "Indefinitely Confined" status. However, this number skyrocketed to 265,979 in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The surge was particularly notable in Democratic strongholds, where clerks reportedly encouraged voters to use this loophole to bypass Wisconsin's voter ID requirements.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court later unanimously rebuked this practice. Despite this, the number of voters using the exemption remains high at about 144,347, according to WILL's findings.
WILL Research Director Will Flanders stated:
Confidence in our elections continues to be dangerously low in Wisconsin and across the country. Voter ID is a popular and well-executed way to keep our elections secure and free of fraud. While the Governor refused to fix this loophole in the years since 2020, efforts must be made by local election clerks to resolve it as much as possible.
The "Indefinitely Confined" exception was originally designed to assist elderly, sick, or physically unable voters in casting their ballots. However, the current implementation of this system has raised concerns about potential misuse.
WILL Policy Director Kyle Koenen commented on the issue:
The indefinitely confined status was designed to provide those who are elderly, sick, or physically unable to get to the polls with an opportunity to vote. Although designed with good intentions, as our report shows, the system has a few key flaws that should be resolved.
State laws do provide mechanisms for removing voters from the indefinitely confined list under certain circumstances. These include non-return of absentee ballots, voter requests for removal, or reliable information indicating ineligibility.
The significance of this loophole becomes apparent when considering the narrow margins in recent Wisconsin elections. In the 2020 presidential race, Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump by just over 20,000 votes, representing a swing of around 48,000 votes to Democrats from the 2016 election.
With polls showing Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris in a tight race in Wisconsin less than two months from Election Day, the potential impact of this loophole on the 2024 election outcome cannot be overlooked.
The WILL report has brought attention to a critical issue in Wisconsin's election system. Over 140,000 voters may be able to cast ballots without ID in 2024 due to the "Indefinitely Confined" loophole. This exception has seen a significant increase in use since 2016, raising concerns about election integrity.
While originally intended to help certain voters, the current implementation of the system has flaws that need addressing. The potential impact on future elections, particularly in a swing state like Wisconsin, underscores the importance of resolving this issue.
