The Trail

VERIFYING VOTER IDENTITY

Lawsuit Thrown Out in Wisconsin

A Wisconsin judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit that threatened the registrations of thousands of state voters before the Nov. 4 general election. The state attorney general, who brought the case, said he will appeal that decision.

The dispute turns on whether elections officials should be required to verify voters' identities using a new statewide computer database that is known to produce errors. Federal law requires states to have the databases, but a series of problems with a private contractor delayed Wisconsin's ability to meet federal deadlines. Its current system contains flaws in the process that compares voter registration information against state driver's license and Social Security records, and incorrectly brands many voters as ineligible.

Discrepancies as minor as an initial and mistakes in dates of birth have caused mismatches, prompting state election officials to refuse to use the system to compel voters to verify their identities.

The case was brought by Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, a Republican and co-chair in Wisconsin for John McCain's presidential campaign.

"I am disappointed with today's decision and respectfully disagree," Van Hollen said in a statement. "When a lower court gets the law wrong, parties appeal to a higher court, and that's what I will do."

Van Hollen has said publicly that he was concerned about possible voting fraud. In its filings, the state GOP said it wanted checks, especially in parts of Wisconsin "where there is knowledge that criminal activity has taken place."

In her ruling, Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi said, "That's something for which there is no competent evidence before the court at this time."

-- Mary Pat Flaherty

FORMER PRESS SECRETARY'S VOTE