Wisconsin
A dated list of changes to how Americans vote: district maps, polling places and drop boxes, voting laws and rules, and courts and election officials. Each entry says who did what and when, shows what became of it, and links to the page it rests on. Attempts that failed are listed as failed. Entries that rest on a news report name the outlet.
This is the state view: events recorded for Wisconsin, then national events that apply here. See the national timeline.
In Wisconsin
2019
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Wisconsin Supreme Court rules for lawmakers in the lame-duck session case
On June 21, 2019, in League of Women Voters of Wisconsin v. Evers (No. 2019AP559), the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that "extraordinary sessions do not violate the Wisconsin Constitution because the text of our constitution directs the Legislature to meet at times as 'provided by law,' and Wis. Stat. § 13.02(3) provides the law giving the Wisconsin Legislature the discretion to construct its work schedule." It vacated the Dane County circuit court's order, which had declared the three acts of the December 2018 extraordinary session (2017 Wisconsin Acts 368, 369 and 370) unconstitutional and vacated 82 appointments, and remanded for dismissal. WPR reported that the circuit court ruled for the plaintiffs on March 21, 2019 and that an appeals court stayed that ruling on March 27.
- Wisconsin's lame duck lawsuits: where are they now? ↗ News report, Wisconsin Public Radio
- League of Women Voters of Wisconsin v. Evers, 2019 WI 75 (Wis. June 21, 2019) ↗
Source last checked Oct 22, 2026
2018
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Governor signs 2017 Wisconsin Act 369, limiting early voting to two weeks
2017 Wisconsin Act 369 (Senate Bill 884) was enacted December 14, 2018. Section 1k of the Act amends Wis. Stat. 6.86(1)(b), which changes the window for applying in person for an absentee ballot to begin 14 days before the election and end on the Sunday before it, in place of a start on the third Monday before the election and an end on the Friday before it. Section 1j creates Wis. Stat. 6.855(5): "A governing body may designate more than one alternate site under sub. (1)." The Seventh Circuit later described the rule as allowing in-person absentee voting "from 14 days before the election through the Sunday preceding it." Courthouse News reported that the Act limits early voting to two weeks statewide, where Milwaukee and Madison had been able to offer up to six weeks, and bars expired university and college IDs. One Wisconsin Institute asked Judge Peterson on December 18, 2018 to enforce his 2016 injunction.
- 2017 Wisconsin Act 369 (archived copy of the Wisconsin Legislature page) ↗
- Wisconsin Liberals Fight Lame-Duck Voting Laws ↗ News report, Courthouse News Service
- 2017 Wisconsin Act 369, enrolled act text (Wisconsin Legislature) ↗
- Frank v. Evers, Nos. 16-3003 et al. (7th Cir. June 29, 2020), opinion (describes the rule under 2017 Wis. Act 369) ↗
Source last checked Oct 22, 2026
2016
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Federal judge rules on challenges to early voting limits, student IDs and residency rules
On July 29, 2016, in One Wisconsin Institute v. Thomsen (W.D. Wis., No. 15-cv-324), Chief Judge James Peterson found several constitutional and statutory violations. The court held that Wisconsin's one-location rule for in-person absentee voting violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, that the limits on days and times for in-person absentee voting in Act 146 violated the Fifteenth Amendment, that the requirement that dormitory lists include proof of citizenship and the increase in the residency requirement from 10 to 28 days violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments, and ordered the state to issue a credential valid as a voting ID to anyone who enters the ID petition process. One Wisconsin Institute announced the ruling the same day.
- Judge rules in favor of One Wisconsin Institute voter rights claims (press release) ↗ News report, Urban Milwaukee (press release from One Wisconsin Institute)
- One Wisconsin Institute, Inc. v. Thomsen, 198 F. Supp. 3d 896 (W.D. Wis. July 29, 2016) ↗
Source last checked Oct 21, 2026
2015
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Governor signs Act 118 abolishing the Government Accountability Board
2015 Wisconsin Act 118 (Assembly Bill 388) was enacted December 16, 2015, with a partial veto. Fox 6 reported that it eliminates the Government Accountability Board and creates an Elections Commission and an Ethics Commission with members serving five-year terms.
- 2015 Wisconsin Act 118 (archived copy of the Wisconsin Legislature page) ↗
- Governor Walker signs 10 bills, including one that eliminates the Government Accountability Board ↗ News report, FOX6 Milwaukee
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
2014
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Supreme Court stays a Seventh Circuit order that had let the voter ID law take effect
On October 9, 2014 the Supreme Court granted the application in Frank v. Walker (No. 14A352), vacating the Seventh Circuit's September 12, 2014 stay of the district court's permanent injunction, without ruling on the merits, according to the Court's docket and the ACLU of Wisconsin. Justice Alito, joined by Justices Scalia and Thomas, dissented. A federal judge had declared the law unconstitutional in April 2014.
- Supreme Court of the United States, docket No. 14A352, Frank v. Walker: application granted October 9, 2014 ↗
- ACLU comment on U.S. Supreme Court action on Wisconsin voter ID law ↗ News report, ACLU of Wisconsin
Source last checked Oct 21, 2026
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Seventh Circuit reverses the injunction against Wisconsin's photo ID law
On October 6, 2014, in Frank v. Walker (Nos. 14-2058 and 14-2059), a Seventh Circuit panel of Judges Easterbrook, Sykes and Tinder reversed the district court's injunction against 2011 Wis. Act 23. The opinion says the court had stayed the injunction on September 12, 2014, denied reconsideration on September 26 and issued opinions on September 30, and that "We now reverse the injunction." It rests on Crawford v. Marion County Election Board, in which the Supreme Court held Indiana's photo ID statute compatible with the Constitution. On October 10, 2014 the court denied rehearing en banc by an equally divided vote, with Chief Judge Wood and Judges Posner, Rovner, Williams and Hamilton voting to rehear the case, and Judge Posner, joined by those judges, dissenting from the denial.
- Frank v. Walker, 768 F.3d 744 (7th Cir. Oct. 6, 2014) ↗
- Frank v. Walker, 773 F.3d 783 (7th Cir. Oct. 10, 2014), order denying rehearing en banc ↗
Source last checked Oct 22, 2026
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Wisconsin Supreme Court upholds the voter identification law
On July 31, 2014 the Wisconsin Supreme Court decided two challenges to 2011 Wis. Act 23, the voter photo identification law. In League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Education Network v. Walker, 2014 WI 97, it modified and, as modified, affirmed the Court of Appeals, vacated the injunction and remanded the case to the circuit court to dismiss the complaint. In Milwaukee Branch of the NAACP v. Walker, 2014 WI 98, it reversed the Dane County judgment and vacated the permanent and temporary injunctions that had rested on the Wisconsin Constitution. Ohio State University's election law case page also records the ruling.
- League of Women Voters of Wisconsin v. Walker, Ohio State University Election Law @ Moritz ↗ News report, Ohio State University Election Law @ Moritz
- League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Education Network v. Walker, 2014 WI 97 (Wis. July 31, 2014) ↗
- Milwaukee Branch of the NAACP v. Walker, 2014 WI 98 (Wis. July 31, 2014) ↗
Source last checked Oct 21, 2026
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Federal judge permanently enjoins Wisconsin's photo ID requirement in Frank v. Walker
On April 29, 2014, in Frank v. Walker and the companion LULAC case (E.D. Wis., Nos. 11-CV-1128 and 12-CV-185), Judge Lynn Adelman, after a two-week trial in November 2013, held that "all of the plaintiffs are entitled to permanent injunctive relief against enforcement of the photo ID requirement on the ground that the requirement violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act." The order permanently enjoined the defendants "from conditioning a person's access to a ballot, either in-person or absentee, on that person's presenting a form of photo identification." The court also considered the Frank plaintiffs' claim that Act 23 places an unjustified burden on the right to vote.
Source last checked Oct 24, 2026
2012
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Three-judge federal court finds two Milwaukee Assembly districts violate the Voting Rights Act
On March 22, 2012, in Baldus v. Members of the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (E.D. Wis., Nos. 11-CV-562 and 11-CV-1011), a three-judge federal court concluded "that Act 43 violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ... by improperly diluting the citizen voting age population of Latinos across Assembly Districts 8 and 9," found no judicially redressable injury in the plaintiffs' other claims, and enjoined the Government Accountability Board "from implementing Act 43 in its current form." Courthouse News reported on March 26, 2012 that the panel unanimously found that new maps for two Milwaukee south side districts dilute Latino voting power and called Republican claims that partisan factors did not influence the maps "almost laughable." The other districts were expected to stay the same.
- Judges Demand New Districts for Milwaukee Latinos ↗ News report, Courthouse News Service
- Baldus v. Members of Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, 849 F. Supp. 2d 840 (E.D. Wis. Mar. 22, 2012) ↗
Source last checked Oct 22, 2026
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Dane County judge permanently enjoins the voter identification law
In League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Education Network v. Walker (No. 2011CV4669), Dane County Circuit Judge Richard G. Niess declared portions of Wisconsin's voter identification law, 2011 Wis. Act 23, unconstitutional and permanently enjoined its enforcement, with a summary declaratory judgment dated March 12, 2012 according to Ohio State University's election law case page. The Court of Appeals reversed on May 30, 2013, in a decision the Wisconsin Supreme Court reviewed on July 31, 2014.
- League of Women Voters of Wisconsin v. Walker, Ohio State University Election Law @ Moritz ↗ News report, Ohio State University Election Law @ Moritz
- League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Education Network v. Walker, 2014 WI 97 (Wis. July 31, 2014), describing the circuit court order and appeal ↗
Source last checked Oct 21, 2026
2011
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Legislature enacts new state legislative and congressional districts
2011 Wisconsin Act 43 (Senate Bill 148), redrawing legislative districts, and 2011 Wisconsin Act 44 (Senate Bill 149), congressional redistricting, were both enacted August 9, 2011 and published August 23, 2011.
- 2011 Wisconsin Act 43 (archived copy of the Wisconsin Legislature page) ↗
- 2011 Wisconsin Act 44 (archived copy of the Wisconsin Legislature page) ↗
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
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2011 Wisconsin Act 23 requires identification to vote
2011 Wisconsin Act 23 (2011 Assembly Bill 7) was enacted May 25, 2011. Its title describes it as "requiring certain identification in order to vote at a polling place or obtain an absentee ballot," and it also covers absentee voting, late voter registration and proof of residence. Its definition of acceptable identification includes a photograph of the individual, with stated exceptions.
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
Nationwide
2019
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House passes Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019; no Senate vote follows
On December 6, 2019, the House passed H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019, by 228 to 187 (Roll no. 654). It was received in the Senate on December 9, 2019 and referred to the Judiciary Committee; the bill record lists no Senate vote, and it did not become law.
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
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Supreme Court decides Department of Commerce v. New York, on a census citizenship question
On June 27, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court decided a challenge to the Commerce Secretary's decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census. The syllabus says "The Enumeration Clause permits Congress, and by extension the Secretary, to inquire about citizenship on the census questionnaire," and the judgment was "affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded."
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
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Supreme Court decides Rucho v. Common Cause
On June 27, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court decided cases from North Carolina and Maryland in which voters challenged congressional maps as partisan. The Court held that such claims present "political questions beyond the reach of the federal courts."
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
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House passes For the People Act of 2019; no Senate vote follows
On March 8, 2019, the House passed H.R. 1, the For the People Act of 2019, by 234 to 193 (Roll no. 118). The bill was received in the Senate on March 12, 2019 and placed on the Senate calendar; the bill record lists no Senate vote on passage, and it did not become law.
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
2018
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President signs Executive Order 13848 on foreign interference in U.S. elections
Executive Order 13848, dated September 12, 2018, imposes sanctions authority in the event of foreign interference in a U.S. election. The order says "there has been no evidence of a foreign power altering the outcome or vote tabulation in any United States election" and declares a national emergency over the threat of interference.
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
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Supreme Court decides Gill v. Whitford
On June 18, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court reviewed a challenge to Wisconsin's state legislative map as a partisan one. The Court held that "The plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate Article III standing."
Source last checked Oct 23, 2026
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Supreme Court decides Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute
On June 11, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court held that "The process that Ohio uses to remove voters on change-of-residence grounds does not violate the Failure-to-Vote Clause or any other part of the NVRA."
- Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute, 584 U.S. 756 (2018), U.S. Reports, Volume 584 (Supreme Court) ↗
- Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute, No. 16-980 (U.S. June 11, 2018), syllabus and opinions (Cornell Legal Information Institute copy) ↗
Source last checked Oct 22, 2026
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President terminates the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity
Executive Order 13820, dated January 3, 2018 and published January 8, 2018, revoked Executive Order 13799 and states that "the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity is accordingly terminated."
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
2017
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Supreme Court decides Cooper v. Harris
On May 22, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court reviewed North Carolina's congressional Districts 1 and 12. The syllabus says the lower court "did not err in concluding that race furnished the predominant rationale for District 1's redesign and that the State's interest in complying with the VRA could not justify that consideration of race."
Source last checked Oct 23, 2026
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President establishes the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity
Executive Order 13799, dated May 11, 2017 and published May 16, 2017, established the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, chaired by the Vice President, to "study the registration and voting processes used in Federal elections."
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
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Homeland Security designates election infrastructure as critical infrastructure
On January 6, 2017, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said he had determined "that election infrastructure in this country should be designated as a subsector of the existing Government Facilities critical infrastructure sector." The statement defines election infrastructure as including "storage facilities, polling places, and centralized vote tabulations locations" and voter registration databases and voting machines.
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
2016
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Supreme Court decides Evenwel v. Abbott
On April 4, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court held that "a State or locality may draw its legislative districts based on total population," according to its syllabus.
Source last checked Oct 23, 2026
2013
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Supreme Court decides Shelby County v. Holder
On June 25, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court held that Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional and that its formula can no longer be used as a basis for requiring places to get federal approval ("preclearance") before changing voting procedures.
Source last checked Oct 23, 2026
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Supreme Court decides Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona
On June 17, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court held that "Arizona's evidence-of-citizenship requirement, as applied to Federal Form applicants, is pre-empted by the NVRA's mandate that States 'accept and use' the Federal Form."
Source last checked Oct 23, 2026
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President establishes the Presidential Commission on Election Administration
Executive Order 13639, dated March 28, 2013 and published April 3, 2013, established the Presidential Commission on Election Administration. The order says the commission "shall identify best practices and otherwise make recommendations to promote the efficient administration of elections."
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
How this timeline is built
Every entry rests on at least one source that was opened and read, and that source states the date and the fact. Courts, legislatures, election offices, the Justice Department, the Census Bureau, the Federal Register and Congress.gov come first. A news report is used only when no official page states the fact, and it is labeled with the outlet's name. Encyclopedias are not used as sources. History starts in 1965 with the Voting Rights Act. County names come from the Census Bureau's 2024 Gazetteer. Congressional district numbers are those in use for the 2026 election; an event is tagged to a district only when its source names that congressional district.
When a later event changes an earlier one, such as a law later struck down, both entries are listed and point to each other. This page does not predict outcomes or say which party a change helps. U.S. House maps for 2026 · Back to the 2026 voting center.