Division of Motor Vehicles
4802 Sheboygan Avenue, Room 225
Madison, WI 53707
Phone: (608) 261-8605
Pursuant to s. 227.17(3), Wis. Stats., a copy of the proposed permanent rule and fiscal estimate were hand-delivered to the legislative council staff, under s. 227.15(1), Wis. Stats., on June 27, 2016. Statutory Authority: WisDOT proposes to promulgate the proposed rules under sections 85.16(1), 343.02(1), 343.14 and 343.50, Wis. Stats.
Sections 343.14 and 343.50(4), Wis. Stats., specify the contents of applications for identification cards and authorize the Department to require such information as the Department considers appropriate to identify the applicant. Section 343.50, Wis. Stats., requires the Department to issue identification cards. Section 343.50 (5) (a) 3., Wis. Stats., prohibits the Department from charging a fee for an identification card requested by a qualified applicant who requests it for purposes of voting. Section 343.50 (1) (c), Wis. Stats., authorizes the Department to issue an identification card receipt as a temporary identification card while the Department processes the application. Section 343.02 (1), Wis. Stats., authorizes the Department to promulgate such rules concerning identification cards that the Secretary of the Department considers necessary. Section 85.16 (1), Wis. Stats., authorizes the Secretary of the Department to make rules deemed necessary to the discharge of the powers, duties and functions vested in the Department. Plain Language Analysis: In 2011, Wisconsin enacted a statute requiring voters to present photographic identification when voting, and listed identification cards issued by the Department’s Division of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”) among the types of acceptable photographic identification. The statute also prohibited DMV from charging a fee to an individual applying for the initial issuance, renewal, duplicate issuance, or reinstatement of an identification card if the individual is a U.S. citizen who will be at least 18 years of age on the date of the next election and he or she requests that the identification card be provided without charge for purposes of voting.
DMV amended its administrative rules in 2014 to establish a petition process by which an applicant could present extraordinary proof to document his or her name, date of birth and U.S. citizenship, which DMV verifies through the Wisconsin Department of Health Services or other states or units of government as needed, thereby eliminating the applicant’s responsibility to pay government fees for supporting documents. Specifically, Trans 102.15(5m) permits an individual who applies for an identification card without charge for purposes of voting to make a written petition to the DMV administrator for an exception to the requirements set forth in Trans 102.15(3)(a) if the individual is unable to provide the required documents and the documents are unavailable to the individual. If the initial petition process set forth in Trans 102.15(5m)(b) is unsuccessful in verifying an applicant’s name, date of birth and U.S. citizenship, the Department may issue an identification card if it receives other secondary documentation that is deemed acceptable to the DMV administrator to prove name, date of birth and U.S. citizenship.
Since the implementation of the extraordinary proof petition process, DMV has developed best practices, identified appropriate timelines and standards for action, and identified common-sense steps that must be followed in the application and petition process to ensure consistency in the processing of applications. This rule sets forth these best practices, timelines, standards and common-sense steps. In addition, this rule includes provisions that result in a more specific process and deadlines to verify an applicant’s name, date of birth and U.S. citizenship, thereby limiting the DMV administrator’s discretion by establishing and requiring a consistent application of standards and criteria throughout the petition process.
Copies May Be Obtained From WisDOT At No Charge: A copy of the emergency rule, EmR 1618, and proposed permanent rule are available at http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov. You may receive a paper copy of the emergency rule, EmR 1618, the proposed permanent rule or fiscal estimate by contacting Jennifer Peters, Administrative Rulemaking Coordinator at WisDOT Office of General Counsel, 4802 Sheboygan Avenue, Room 115B, Madison, Wisconsin, 53705, jennifer.peters@dot.wi.gov.
