(Photo by Heather Ronaldson)

The Rev. Michael Bertram of St. Francis of Assisi Church, 1927 N. 4^th St., asked members of his congregation to hold up an accepted form of voter identification at church Sunday. The ID check was in response to a call from Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH) to make sure parishioners will not be disenfranchised because they lack proper identification when they go to the polls.

The state’s new Voter ID law requires voters to show a state-issued ID to cast a ballot in special and recall elections. Gov. Scott Walker signed the law on May 25 to take effect this year. He says it will help crack down on voter fraud. Critics say it discourages voting, especially among the poor and elderly.

“Because of the legislation we currently have, it excludes some people—primarily those who are poor,” Bertram said. “The church is always going to advocate on behalf of the poor.”

Wisconsin citizens can obtain a voter identification card at no cost by checking the “ID for free” box when completing the application for a Wisconsin Identification Card. Other valid forms of ID at the polling place include a Wisconsin’s driver’s license, a state-issued photo ID card, a military ID card or passport.