Federal appeals court wants a state response to a request, that the full court reconsider the status of Wisconsin's Voter ID law.
Three of the 10 appeals court judges ruled late Friday, that the state could require people to present a government-issued ID card in order to vote this fall. The panel said it would rule later on the constitutionality of the law, but that it appears similar to one the U.S. Supreme Court upheld. The three judges lifted the injunction that had been blocking the law.
Ever since Friday's decision, elections officials have been hustling to change procedures, because the election takes place in seven weeks.
This week, opponents of Wisconsin's law, including the American Civil Liberties Union, asked the full appeals court to take up the case. The groups say voting has already begun for the November election - thousands of absentee ballots have been mailed, and that thousands of people would not be able to get the proper identification in time to vote this year.
The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago has now given state officials until Tuesday to respond to the request for a review of the case. The court has rarely granted such requests.
Gov. Walker says the full appeals court would likely reach the same conclusion as the three judges. He and fellow Republicans passed the Voter ID law in 2011, claiming it's a reasonable demand for voting and would deter fraud. Opponents contend fraud seldom occurs and the law would discourage larger numbers from voting.
In a related development, the UW System campuses will provide free Voter ID cards to students who need and request one. Most regular student IDs won't work at the polls because they don't contain the person's signature and an appropriate expiration date.
Even if Wisconsin students use the new system-issued ID to vote in November, the student must also bring to the polls, proof of enrollment.