Liberal groups appeal voter ID ruling

MADISON — Two liberal groups are appealing a legal ruling that loosens Wisconsin's voter photo identification requirement.

One Wisconsin Institute and Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund, Inc., challenged the voter ID law and other Republican-imposed election restrictions.

U.S. District Judge James Peterson on Friday upheld the voter ID requirement but the ruling was still a win for the groups. Peterson ordered the state to allow people struggling to obtain IDs to vote in November and reinstated early voting on weekends and shorter residency requirements.

The groups filed a notice of appeal Tuesday. It's unclear what they're appealing. Their attorneys didn't immediately respond to an email. One Wisconsin Institute issued a news release complaining about the voter ID requirement but it didn't say the groups were appealing the decision upholding it.