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CHICAGO — In a stunningly fast decision, a federal appeals court in Chicago reinstated Wisconsin’s voter photo identification law on Friday — just hours after three Republican-appointed judges heard arguments on reactivating the hotly debated law in time for the November election.

In a brief order, a three-judge panel of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago said, “The State of Wisconsin may, if it wishes ... enforce the photo ID requirement in this November’s elections.”

Wisconsin officials wasted no time in saying they would do just that.

“We are taking every step to fully implement the voter photo ID law for the November general election,” said Kevin Kennedy, the state’s top election official. “We are now focused on communicating with local election officials and voters, and will have more information about the details next week.”

﻿Republican Gov. ﻿Scott Walker heralded the court’s decision as a victory for his state.

“Voter ID is a common sense reform that protects the integrity of our voting process,” he said in a statement released by his office. “Today’s ruling makes it easier to vote and harder to cheat.”