A recent report from the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) has sparked concerns over a legal loophole allowing thousands of voters to cast ballots without showing a photo ID, despite Wisconsin’s strict voter ID laws. 

According to the report, more than 144,000 voters have registered as “indefinitely confined,” a status that exempts them from the ID requirement. This marks a 116% increase since 2016, with the loophole becoming particularly prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic when Milwaukee and Madison officials encouraged its use, according to the New York Post.

The indefinitely confined status was initially intended for elderly, disabled, or ill voters but has since become a point of contention. Although the Wisconsin Supreme Court intervened in 2020 to prevent further expansion of the status, the number of indefinitely confined voters remains more than double what it was in 2016. The majority of these voters reside in Democratic strongholds like Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay.

WILL’s research director, Will Flanders, noted that while there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud tied to this status, the situation raises concerns about election integrity. The group has recommended tightening the criteria for claiming indefinitely confined status, potentially requiring a doctor’s note or photo ID to qualify. Republican lawmakers passed such measures in 2022, but Governor Tony Evers vetoed the bill. Despite ongoing voter roll cleanups, the high number of indefinitely confined voters remains a focal point ahead of the 2024 election.