University of Wisconsin Platteville students will need proper identification to vote April 3 in the local elections and presidential primaries, under the recently enacted Voter ID law; Wisconsin Act 23.

Acceptable documents for identification cards are Wisconsin state drivers licenses, Wisconsin state identification cards, US passports and UW-Platteville issued voter identification cards.

The Pioneer Passport is not an acceptable form of identification for students. School ID cards must have a signature, picture and expiration date of two years.

The first UW-Platteville voter ID card is free and can be issued at the Passport Office in the Markee Pioneer Student Center.  The campus ID card has an advantage over Wisconsin State ID cards. Voters who have been issued a state drivers license cannot receive a Wisconsin ID, according to Interim Assistant Chancellor for Student Affairs D. Joanne Wilson.

However, if students are using a campus issued voter ID card, a enrollment verification form will also be needed upon voting.  The form can be accessed on PASS. Before printing the form, students need to update their current address.

“The form was created to provide proof of residency for on-campus residents and off-campus residents who do not have utility bills in their name,” Registrar David Kieckhafer said.

Finding a way to allow non-local students the right to vote at UW-P has been a process for Student Affairs.

“Only four other states have a similar voting system,” Executive Director of Auxilary Services James Mueller said. “It’s been like reinventing the wheel to figure out how to deal with this new law.”

Proof of residency is needed to register for voting. University employees will not be able to register to vote in Wisconsin without proof of residency and a state ID.

There has been discussion throughout Wisconsin as to whether or not the voter ID law is constitutional. The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin filed a lawsuit in Dane Country back in October claiming that the new law violates the state constitution by creating a third class of ineligible voters- people without an ID.  Under the state constitution, only felons and people deemed incompetent cannot vote.

If a recall election is held for Gov. Walker in August, Student Affairs may have to make changes to the wording on the enrollment verification form for students staying in Platteville over summer recess.

The System will launch a website later this week to provide students more information on voting regulations. Access it at wisconsin.edu/vote.