First Capitol hearing on voter ID measure brings out critics

Students and an employee of the Secretary of State's office were among the opponents of an idea to require an identification card to vote. Critics say it would deter some voters. The Legislature's Republican majority likes the idea and hopes to put it on the November ballot as a Constitutional amendment.

Author:: BMTN Staff
Updated:: Mar 8, 2018
Original:: Feb 1, 2012

Students and an employee of the Secretary of State's office were among the opponents of an idea to require an identification card to vote. Critics say it would deter some voters. The Legislature's Republican majority likes the idea and hopes to put it on the November ballot as a Constitutional amendment.

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The Senate Local Government and Elections Committee passed the voter ID bill on a party-line vote, with DFLers opposing it. The measure has several more stops before it would appear on the November ballot as a proposed Constitutional amendment.

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.

Groups that are challenging the proposed Constitutional amendment that would require an ID to vote filed paperwork with the Minnesota Supreme Court in advance of the hearing later this month. They say if the court approves the ballot question as is, it will send the message that the Legislature is free to mislead or deceive voters.

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.

Opponents of proposed Constitutional amendment requiring that voters show a photo ID have filed a lawsuit asking the Minnesota Supreme Court to take the question off the November ballot. Now a group supporting voter ID wants to intervene in the suit. Members of Minnesota Majority are not confident state officials will vigorously defend the amendment question at next month's hearing.

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie tells the Minnesota Supreme Court that election officials need to know by August 27th whether the voter ID question will be on the November ballot. The Legislature voted to put the Constitutional amendment before voters. But a lawsuit claims the question is misleading and should be changed or left off the ballot. Justices will hear arguments in the case on July 17th.

A legislative commission voted to hire a private law firm to defend the voter ID question lawmakers put on this fall's ballot. Next month the Minnesota Supreme Court will hear arguments in a lawsuit that claims the ballot question does not accurately describe the Constitutional amendment that would require an ID to vote.

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.

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