Black Voters In Milwaukee Cheer Voter ID Decision

Some African-American voters are cheering a federal judge’s ruling on voter ID, and trying to discourage Wisconsin’s attorney general from appealing the decision.

Federal Judge Lynn Adelman says the now-suspended law requiring a state-issued photo ID at the polls in part violated the federal Voting Rights Act for having a disproportionate impact on Latinos and African-Americans.

At the Washington Park library in Milwaukee, where people came to vote Tuesday in an aldermanic election, Harvey Johnson called Adelman’s ruling a very good thing. Johnson urged state Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen to drop plans to file an appeal, though Johnson said he was not surprised at Van Hollen’s promise.

“You know, he works for our governor, and he’s one of the boys, I guess, so why wouldn’t he?” Johnson said. “That’s not surprising at all.”

Van Hollen, who is actually elected by voters separately from Gov. Scott Walker, said he is “disappointed” with the federal court’s order, and continues to believe Wisconsin’s law is constitutional.