What are we voting on anyway?
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Minnesota’s proposed voter ID amendment is a complicated affair. Given the intricacies of our voting system, we should not be surprised. The ballot question reads as such:
Erosion of voters’ rights – a slow rising tsunami
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The elective franchise, if guarded as the ark of our safety, will peaceably dissipate all combinations to subvert a Constitution, dictated by the wisdom, and resting on the will of the people. (Thomas Jefferson)
Lawsuit claims that Photo ID Amendment language is misleading
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Several groups have joined together to file a lawsuit with the Minnesota Supreme Court over the language of the Photo ID Amendment on the 2012 ballot. The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, the League of Women Voters Minnesota, Jewish Community Action and Common Cause Minnesota filed the lawsuit.
Coalition forms to oppose voter ID amendment
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A Republican proposal that would require that all Minnesota voters present a valid photo ID to cast their votes has already stirred up many media stories and much debate and controversy — and promises to continue doing so in the months ahead. Although the latest power move was made by Governor Mark Dayton, who on April 9 vetoed the voter-identification bill that the Republican-controlled legislature sent him, his veto will not prevent the proposed constitutional amendment from appearing on the Minnesota state ballot on November 6 this year.If a majority of Minnesotans decide to vote for it, everyone in the state would be required to show a current photo ID to vote. The governor used his veto message to urge Minnesotans to vote against the measure in November, calling it “unwise and unnecessary.”On April 17, 6-8 pm, a panel discussion on “Voter ID: The Civil Rights Implications” was held at the William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul. The discussion was identified as the first of a series to be held on the topic. Continue Reading
Voting without a home
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Now that the voter ID amendment is headed for the ballot, the effort is on to educate the public about the harms of this costly and unnecessary proposal. Continue Reading
Coalition opposes Voter ID
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A group of organizations opposed to the Voter ID Amendment gathered at the State Capitol yesterday to announce the launch of “Our Vote, Our Future” a coordinated campaign to defeat the measure.The Coalition includes 80 organizations from across the state representing a wide spectrum of interests.KFAI’s Susan Gray has more. [Audio below] Continue Reading
Dayton vetos photo ID amendment
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Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton has expressed his disapproval with the Republican’s photo ID constitutional amendment. He’s promised to campaign against it. He kicked off his effort by symbolically vetoing it.
Supreme Court ruling on strip searches reveals conservative thinking behind photo ID
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In introducing a segment on the 5-4 decision by the US Supreme Court that strip searches can be conducted with no suspicion of the person being searched being required, Kerry Miller mentioned a phrase used by a critic, that “All risk be eliminated at the expense of those who pose little r Continue Reading
Senate passage means voter ID amendment heads to November ballot
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The Minnesota state Senate passed the contentious voter ID amendment Wednesday 35-29, ensuring that the question will go before voters in November.The House repassed the bill early Wednesday morning after both chambers passed their respective versions of the bill late last month. A conference committee cleared up language differences between the two bills Monday.On Nov. 6, voters will weigh in on the question: “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to require all voters to present valid photo identification to vote and to require the state to provide free identification to eligible voters, effective July 1, 2013?”Because the amendment leaves some technical questions out, it will be up to the next Legislature to determine how to implement the change if it should pass.One Republican senator, Jeremy Miller of Winona, joined all Democratic-Farmer-Labor party members in voting “no.”Pennsylvania became the 16th state to pass a law requiring a photo ID at the polls when Gov. Tom Corbett signed a bill March 14. Besides Minnesota and Pennsylvania, 12 other states this year tried or are trying to pass a similar requirement, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.During about three hours of floor debate Wednesday, DFLers echoed many of the same arguments they’ve brought up through the committee process. Several said that students, along with soldiers overseas, the elderly, homeless and disabled would be disenfranchised.Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, said students who move from their dorm mid-semester or list their permanent address as their parent’s would have a difficult time voting.“I think the bottom line is that we all know that this bill will disenfranchise people,” he said.Most Republicans support the amendment as a means to ensure election integrity.“[Voting] is a right people take very seriously,” said Sen. Michael Jungbauer, R-East Bethel. Continue Reading
OPINION | Protect your right to vote: Proposed photo ID amendment is a woman’s issue
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The photo ID amendment (HF2738), which at press time is pending in the Minnesota Legislature and may be placed on the Nov. 6 ballot, would require a government-issued photo ID with a current address. The implications for Election Day registration, vouching and absentee ballot issues are unknown. The League of Women Voters believes that the impact of the photo ID issue disproportionately affects women in a negative way.Who will be affected and how?Elderly women-Women are the majority of the elder population. Some have never had a driver’s license and many who no longer drive do not have a current license. Continue Reading