Opinion: November constitutional amendment could harm women voters

This November, all Wisconsin voters will have a statewide constitutional amendment on their ballot. The League of Women Voters is urging voters to vote no, as this amendment is setting the stage for further barriers for groups of people, including women. 

I experienced difficulty attempting to transfer my driver’s license when I moved to Indiana. The requirement of a current license, birth certificate, proof of residence and Social Security card was not enough. I returned with divorce papers and was then asked to bring a marriage certificate. The DMV needed original documents to show the evidence of my existence: birth, marriage and divorce. It was demoralizing. As if I had to prove the chain of ownership from my father, to my husband and then freedom to choose my own last name.  Needless to say, I did not obtain a driver’s license there. 

Nearly 80 percent of women who marry men change their last name, and like me they have a burden when it comes to obtaining documents or proving citizenship. This anti-voter amendment would change the language of our state’s constitution. It could open the door to discriminatory practices, disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of eligible voters. 

What about older voters who were born at home and don’t have a birth certificate? Or student voters who leave important documents back at home with their parents? Most folks have dealt with bureaucracy and slow-moving DMV lines at one point or another. 

This amendment could harm the many, many eligible voters who don’t have hundreds of dollars and hours to spare to procure these documents if restrictions were implemented. 

All eligible Wisconsin voters are afforded the right to cast a ballot and make their voice heard. It’s been proven time and time again: Wisconsin has secure elections and safeguards in place to ensure only eligible voters are voting. This amendment will create a problem for another problem that doesn’t exist. 

Our elected officials should be fighting for our rights and empowering voters. Does the state legislature have an interest in suppressing the voting rights of women? I sure hope not. Don’t be misled this November. Vote no on the statewide constitutional amendment. 

Voters can preview their ballot at MyVote.Wi.Gov. You can learn more about the constitutional amendment at LWVWI.org.