Yes, you can vote with an expired photo ID, with one caveat

Can you vote in Wisconsin using an expired photo ID?

That was the claim from U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, speaking at a virtual get-out-the-vote rally with Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris and other Wisconsin politicians.

Urging people to head to the polls, Moore said in the Oct. 20, 2020 call that voters can use an ID “even if that ID is expired or you’ve moved.”

Anyone voting in person Nov. 3 will have to show a photo ID in Wisconsin. Typically voters use a driver’s license, state-issued identification card, military ID or passport. Some kinds of school IDs are also allowed, but employee IDs or membership IDs are not, according to the Wisconsin Election Commission.

With Election Day fast approaching, let’s see what the commission says about Moore’s address and expiration claims.

ID’s can be expired

Photo IDs can indeed be expired, but with a key caveat.

The commission says expired IDs are allowed as long as they were valid as of the last general election — that is, Nov. 6, 2018. An ID that expired before that date would not be acceptable to vote.

Address can be wrong, if you’re registered

On the address side, we again have a largely accurate claim with one caveat.

Here’s what the commission says: “An acceptable Photo ID for voting does not have to include a current address. You only prove your address when registering.”

So previously registered voters only need to worry about whether the ID is active, and didn’t expire before November 2018 — not the address.

But voters who haven’t yet registered need to provide documentation with a current address as proof of residence. That could be the same as the ID card — using a state driver’s license or ID card — or a separate document such as a real estate tax bill, utility bill, bank statement or paycheck.

Our ruling

Moore said you can vote in Wisconsin with an ID “even if that ID is expired or you’ve moved.”

There’s a caveat for both halves of that claim.

The ID can be expired, but for the Nov. 3 election it can’t have expired before Nov. 6, 2018. And it’s OK if the address is wrong, as long as the voter is already registered or provides some other document as proof of residence.

So this statement is accurate but needs clarification or additional information. That’s our definition of Mostly True.

By

Eric Litke

PolitiFact Wisconsin reporter

October 21, 2020

Truth-o-meter Ruling

Mostly True

IF YOUR TIME IS SHORT

• A photo ID can be expired, but for the Nov. 3 election it can’t have expired before Nov. 6, 2018. 

• The address on that ID can be wrong, as long as the voter is already registered or provides some other document as proof of residence.

Statement

You can vote in Wisconsin with a photo ID "even if that ID is expired or you've moved."

Context

a virtual rally

Speaker/Target

Speaker: Gwen Moore

Statement Date

October 20, 2020