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.

Instead of requiring voters to bring an ID to the polls, Secretary of State Mark Ritchie's suggestion would allow poll workers to look up an electronic version of the voter's driver's license or of a photo taken during registration. Ritchie says the "electronic poll book" would protect against fraud and would be cheaper than the proposal backed by many Republicans.

A coalition that includes Jewish, Muslim, and Christian leaders says it will encourage its 50,000 followers to oppose the voter ID amendment on Minnesota's ballot. Members of the group Prophetic Voices say requiring a government-issued photo ID would take votes away from poor people, the elderly, and students. Some say the push is tinged with racism. Supporters of the measure say it would guard against vote fraud.

The measure advanced through a House committee on a party-line vote Monday. If the House and Senate pass the proposal, then voters in the November election will decide whether to amend the state constitution to require that all would-be voters present a photo ID before they cast a ballot.

Proposals for a constitutional amendment requiring photo IDs at polls are just a step away from reaching the House and Senate floors, MinnPost reports. Constitutional amendments, if approved by the Legislature, go straight to voters. They do not require Gov. Dayton's signature, so he cannot veto them.

Some Minnesota seniors made a public display of cutting up their AARP membership cards. They're upset that the group is campaigning against a voter ID requirement. A spokeswoman says there's no way AARP can take a stand and still keep all of its members happy.

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.

A tribal advocacy group says new voter identification laws in a dozen states hinder the ability of some Native Americans to vote, the Associated Press reports. Among the issues is that some homes in tribal communities have no addresses, a new report says. The study cites other issues: "barriers of cost, logistics and distance to obtaining required IDs."