On Thursday, the state Senate of Wisconsin approved a bill pushed by Republicans to require photo identification in order to vote. The Republican governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker, is expected to sign the bill into a law.

Based on a report by the National Conference of State Legislatures, ten states are now requiring photo identification in order to vote. Just this year, Kansas also added photo identification as a voting requirement; but it will only take effect on January 1 next year. To present, a total of 33 states are considering strengthening or adding identification requirements of voters within the year.

The Wisconsin Senators voted 19 to 5 to concur in a state Assembly bill that was approved earlier this month. Most Democrats from the Senate did not cast their votes regarding the proposal.

Walker said that requiring photo identification from voters will definitely help them remove the risks of voter fraud. If identification is necessary just to purchase medicines for colds, he said it is only reasonable that it also be required to vote.

Democrats, however, sees otherwise. They think that the measure only aims to discourage their constituents; especially those who are college students and are poor residents. Furthermore, Democrats said that voter fraud has never been a problem in Wisconsin in the first place.

Senator Jon Erpenbach, a Democrat, said that what the Republicans are doing is clear and simple – they want to take away taxpayers’ rights and they should be ashamed.

The measure is expected to be in full effect in time for the 2012 general election.