Judge upholds injunction in voter ID lawsuit

MADISON (AP) -- A Wisconsin judge has refused to lift his permanent injunction of the state's voter photo identification law.

The state Department of Justice asked Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Niess last week to lift the injunction. Niess refused the request Tuesday.

Niess granted the injunction March 12, less than a week after another Wisconsin judge filed a temporary injunction in a separate lawsuit challenging the law. DOJ has appealed both decisions.

Republicans want the injunctions erased before the April 3 presidential primary. They fear the court cases have created uncertainty over the law and will confuse voters.

The law's opponents say the measure will disenfranchise minority groups as well as the poor, students and senior citizens who lack photo identification.