Legislature's budget panel approves $461,000 for voter ID spending

MADISON (AP) — The leaders of the Legislature's budget committee have told Wisconsin's elections board to go ahead and spend about $461,000 to educate voters about the voter identification law before the Nov. 4 election.

State Sen. Alberta Darling and state Rep. John Nygren sent a letter Friday to GAB Director Kevin Kennedy, telling him to pay for the statewide television, radio and online education campaign out of the GAB's existing budget. Kennedy had asked for an additional appropriation for the campaign.

The letter says the budget committee will later consider an appropriation request based on the campaign's actual cost. The committee has set aside money to implement the voter ID law if the courts allowed.

A federal appeals court last month ordered the law into effect for the Nov. 4 election.