In a decisive victory for supporters of secure elections, Wisconsin voters approved a constitutional amendment on Tuesday that enshrines the state’s voter ID law into its founding legal document. The amendment passed with over 60% of the vote, reinforcing a 2011 law that requires identification at the polls. By placing the requirement in the state constitution, voters made it significantly more difficult for future legislators or the state’s increasingly progressive judiciary to weaken or overturn the rule.
The vote comes amid growing concern over election integrity, a topic that has energized debates in recent years. While Wisconsin already has one of the strictest voter ID laws in the country, supporters argued that the existing law could be vulnerable to judicial activism or legislative rollback. By adding it to the constitution, they hope to secure the measure against shifting political tides.
Former President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to celebrate the win, calling it “a BIG WIN FOR REPUBLICANS” and suggesting it would help his party retain an edge in the key battleground state for years to come. “VOTER I.D. JUST APPROVED IN WISCONSIN ELECTION,” Trump wrote. “Democrats fought hard against this, presumably so they can CHEAT.”
Trump wasn’t the only high-profile figure focused on Wisconsin’s elections. Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk also weighed in on the significance of the vote. While Musk had endorsed conservative judge Brad Schimel in a concurrent state Supreme Court race, he publicly stated that the voter ID amendment was “even more important than the Wisconsin Supreme Court race.” After the amendment passed, Musk wrote, “This was the most important thing.”
Despite the win on voter ID, conservatives were handed a setback in the Supreme Court contest, where liberal candidate Susan Crawford defeated Schimel. Musk had framed the race in dramatic terms, saying it could influence national politics and even “the entire destiny of humanity.” Still, he and others viewed the passage of the voter ID amendment as the night’s most consequential outcome.
Voter ID laws remain widely popular among Americans. A recent Gallup poll found that 84% of respondents supported requiring photo identification to vote, with only 15% opposing it. That level of support crosses partisan lines, suggesting that many view such measures as common-sense protections rather than partisan maneuvers.
Nevertheless, Democratic leaders and left-wing advocacy groups have opposed voter ID laws for years, arguing they disproportionately affect minority and low-income voters. They also claim such laws suppress turnout, despite evidence to the contrary in states where similar laws have been enacted. Critics have largely dismissed concerns about illegal voting, but there have been instances across the country of non-citizens appearing on voter rolls or being indicted for voting unlawfully.
The push for stronger ID requirements has been fueled in part by broader concerns over illegal immigration and the security of U.S. elections. Many proponents argue that, given the documented lapses in voter registration systems, the minimum standard should include verifying that each vote is tied to a valid citizen.
By securing voter ID requirements in the state constitution, Wisconsin voters sent a clear message: safeguarding elections is not up for debate. Amid rising concerns about manipulation, fraud, and illegal voting, the people took action to cement a law that enjoys overwhelming public support.
