ACLU: Photo ID bounty contest turned up no sign of fraud

The American Civil Liberties Union says no one will collect the $1,000 it posted as a "bounty" for evidence of voter fraud that photo ID legislation would have prevented. The ACLU says no one offered evidence that met the criteria, but Minnesota Majority, a pro-photo ID group, says they had a valid claim.

Author:
BMTN Staff
Updated:
Mar 8, 2018
Original:
Apr 2, 2012

The American Civil Liberties Union says no one will collect the $1,000 it posted as a "bounty" for evidence of voter fraud that photo ID legislation would have prevented. The ACLU says no one offered evidence that met the criteria, but Minnesota Majority, a pro-photo ID group, says they had a valid claim.

Screen Shot 2022-05-21 at 5.46.37 PM

The crash occurred when the driver fled police during an attempted traffic stop in Coon Rapids.

Eli Hart

The kindergartner's father was trying to get full custody of his son.

"It is horrifying and difficult to process a tragedy of this magnitude, especially in our close-knit community," the superintendent wrote.

Minneapolis police

The shooting occurred on the 800 block of Elwood Avenue North at around 9:15 p.m.

Screen Shot 2022-05-21 at 9.56.21 AM

“MPS requires schools to follow protocols in times like that and I did not,” Friestleben said.

Kris Richard Severin

The inmate escaped Wednesday morning.

crime scene tape - police tape

Police say two people are in custody.

Brave New Comedy Workshop in downtown Minneapolis.

TV, Movies and The Arts

The shows were scheduled for Friday and Saturday at the Brave New Workshop Comedy Theatre.

Austin Retterath

Austin Retterath was last seen alive in the morning hours of May 8.

"Love" mural seen in St. Paul.

TV, Movies and The Arts

The 2022 Chroma Zone Mural & Art Festival will take place this weekend in St. Paul's Creative Enterprise Zone, with ensuing events happening this summer.

14869-Manitou-Road-NE-Prior-Lake-MN-55372-6110268-image37

It offers privacy at the end of a dead-end road fronting onto Lower Prior Lake.

golden valley police department

Golden Valley PD confirmed it received a report of a carjacking Monday evening.

The Minnesota Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday afternoon in a lawsuit aimed at keeping the voter ID constitutional amendment off of the statewide ballot. The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, League of Women Voters Minnesota and other anti-amendment groups are asking the court to strike down the ballot question. They claim its wording is too vague and misleading.

Minnesota's reputation as a squeaky-clean state is under attack. The Minnesota Majority, a conservative group that has campaigned for a strict photo ID requirement, put up a billboard near Elk River that says Minnesota is "number one" in voting fraud. Meanwhile, groups on both sides of the issue are plotting strategy in the run-up to the vote.

The Minnesota chapter of the ACLU last month offered a $1,000 bounty to anyone who can show proof of voter impersonation. Now a government watchdog group claims it has court documents that show someone voted fraudulently in the 2008 election.

The league has come out as one of the most vocal opponents to a proposal to require photo IDs at the polls, which has pitted the group against Republicans, some of whom say the advocacy group has become more partisan.

In a shocking upset, the voter ID amendment has failed, and by a sizable margin. With 98 percent of precincts reporting, the "no" votes led by nearly 8 percentage points, MPR says. The measure would have amended the state constitution to require voters to bring photo IDs to the polls.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone who can find a case of voter impersonation in the state during the last ten years. The group opposes the effort to put a voter ID requirement on Minnesota's ballot. Backers of the idea say it will reduce voter fraud. But the ACLU argues fraud is not a problem here.

Passage of the voter ID constitutional amendment next month would require Minnesotans to bring a government-issued photo identification to the polls when they vote, beginning in 2013. But the devil is in the details. The Pioneer Press reports that critics say the specifics still aren't clear – what kind of ID, what happens if you don’t have one, how much it would cost and who pays? The 2013 Legislature could be left to sort it out.

If the Republican Senate also passes it, voters in the general election this November will decide whether to amend the state's constitution to require that voters present a valid photo ID before they can cast a ballot.

DONTCHA KNOW?

You Can Get BMTN Special Offers!

Get Our Newsletter

CLOSE

CLOSE

CLOSE

CLOSE