Blacks and Latinos Were Overwhelmingly Denied Voter IDs in Wisconsin

In Vote Now, we aim to address some of the systematic failures that have led to a flawed democracy in America and drive support for grassroots efforts that aim to expand the basic right to vote to more people.

Currently, 34 states require some form of ID and seven states require photo IDs. According to a report by Mother Jones, in 2016, in Wisconsin— a key swing state — 85 percent of people denied voter IDs by the state DMV were black or Latino. Voter ID laws at the state level require a person to provide some form of official identification in order to register to vote and ultimately cast a ballot in an election. Proponents of voter ID laws, who are mostly right-leaning, say they’re necessary to prevent voter fraud. But critics, like the American Civil Liberties Union, see them as “part of an ongoing strategy to roll back decades of progress on voting rights.”

Other forms of voter suppression, such as felony disenfranchisement, limiting early voting, and gerrymandering lower voter turnout and disproportionately affect people of color at the polls.

If you have a strong opinion on how the government should be run, don't just talk about it— take action. Make sure you're registered to vote so that you can have your voice heard. Then show up on Election Day in local and federal races to make your vote count. VICE Impact has partnered with TurboVote to get people registered, sign up today to have an effect on tomorrow.