Republican panel clears way for voter ID amendment

An all-Republican group drafted and passed a controversial bill that brings together the House and Senate proposals. The compromise plan now returns to the Legislature for a full and final vote, which would officially put it on the November ballot for voters to decide. The issue is highly partisan. It has been a key goal of the Republican majority but hasn't attracted any support from Democrats.

Author:: BMTN Staff
Publish date:: Apr 3, 2012

An all-Republican group drafted and passed a controversial bill that brings together the House and Senate proposals. The compromise plan now returns to the Legislature for a full and final vote, which would officially put it on the November ballot for voters to decide. The issue is highly partisan. It has been a key goal of the Republican majority but hasn't attracted any support from Democrats.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

A group of Republican senators have introduced a bill that would have voters decide a controversial election reform measure this fall. Introducing a voter ID requirement as an amendment to the state constitution means the measure would bypass a threatened veto from Democratic Gov. Dayton.

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.

Congressman Keith Ellison is circulating a resolution opposing a voter ID requirement and is urging Democrats to adopt it at their precinct caucuses Tuesday. Republicans in the Legislature hope to put the issue on Minnesota's ballot in November. Ellison says Americans who don't have photo IDs should still be allowed to vote.

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.