commentaries

I want to know - does the address on the photo ID have to be the person's current address? Who pays to get documents that might be in other states or counties?

I'm sorry, but a piece of plastic that someone walks in with is no better at checking eligibility than verifying someone through a utility bill. How is that going to stop non-citizens, felons, and people that have old addresses on their IDs that are having to vote outside of their district? Gov. Dayton and the Secretary of State have come up with a better solution with the Electronic Poll Book, and it's the only solution I've read about that could meet most if not all of these eligibility checks. Better yet, I'm pretty sure the DFL party would be glad to pass legislation on the Electronic Poll Books right now, avoiding the divisiveness across the state and the legal challenges that will come if the amendment passes. The main reason I'm for the Electronic Poll Books - everyone voting will either be verified against their state ID photo, or have their photo taken when they get their ballot. If we find someone's identity not checking out as legit, it actually gives prosecutors real evidence to go after voter fraud. "Minnesota Voters Alliance" - if you really wanted what's best for this state, then you'd quit the partisan politics and select the best solution for the fraud you claim which happens to be the Electronic Poll Books.

Amen. End the fraud, enact some Voter ID standards. When poll workers are literally offering Eric Holder's ballot to some white guy, only those who want illegal voting defend the status quo. 12 million illegals, sanctuary cities, it isnt hard to connect the dots, is it? Andy--> if you post on your own articles, how many of the 48000 nonverified 2008 voters came out of our sanctuary cities?

"Citizen groups such as Minnesota Majority have estimated that more than 1,500 ineligible felons voted in the 2008 election."

How would voter ID have stopped this? The ID only confirms who you are (in theory), not whether you're eligible to vote, right? Are felons not allowed to possess a photo ID?

I have a question for Voter I.D. supporters. For each potentially fraudulent vote that the I.D. amendment prevents, what is an acceptable number of otherwise eligible citizens having their vote suppressed. There is a number. There has to be. What is it? 10? 100? 1000?

Just not the reality. And if it were, then shall we null and void every election since 1973? The state already checks the eligibility of voters before accepting and counting votes. We have voter registration system as well as same day registration, both have a process that effectively assures us a person is eligible to vote. The only thing Cimik is saying is, in effect, that a photo ID is the only way to check for eligibility. A neighbor, a utility bill, what else we use now works and is Constitutional.

Wow, what large thinking, because I don't agree with the law that has been passed to meet a constitutional requirement the state is doing it consututional duty, But yet I support an initiative that will make voter ID part of the constitution although the proces is so undefined that it will be left to the next legislature to define.

As a referee for a men's soccer league which required two photo ID's to validate each participant, I can assure you that voter id is a complete waste of time and money.

I want to know - does the address on the photo "ID have to be the person's current address?" ----- By the language in the proposed amendment, no. The ID will establish identity. The amendment also requires verification of eligibility. Residence isn't mentioned. Statutes will deal with verification of residence. It will likely remain unchanged. An ID plus a recent utility bill, renters agreeent, student housing list, student fee statement, etc will establish residence in the precinct you are voting in - after you have established your identity.

look closely at the actual language of the state constitution and you will see how cleverly and dishonestly this is written. It has The Heritage Institute fingerprints. Point: The state constitution does not require the state to confirm the eligibility of each voter. Point: The state constitutionally protects the right to vote: "Every person 18 years of age or more who has been a citizen of the United States for three months and who has resided in the precinct for 30 days next preceding an election shall be entitled to vote in that precinct."