state + local

I am heartened to see that the majority of Minnesota's voters have seen this amendment for what it is: nothing more than a cynical attempt by the Republican party, as currently constituted, to make voting more difficult for the segments of society who normally don't vote for them. Special thanks to Republican former Gov. Arne Carlson who shed the mantle of partisanship, spoke out on his conscience, and urged us all to defeat the amendment.

Look at the voter demographics (Ramsey and Hennepin Ctys) who voted this down, says it all.

The end run around the Dayton administration didn't work. Now, can we do this the right way and sponsor a bill that we can see, study, change, improve, and debate until most people are happy? And if we pass it into a law, and find out we left something out or put something in that does not belong, we can change it easy enough. I voted no for this, but I do favor an I.D. be used by MOST voters, but we do need to make provisions for people in certain situations. It's only fair.

"Look at the voter demographics (Ramsey and Hennepin Ctys) who voted this down, says it all."

Yup. Those are two high education counties (among the most educated in the country, in fact). That tells you all you need to know.

"McGrath's own polls showed that once-strong support among the elderly was 'plummeting' in the last few weeks, as was support among women. He blamed what he called a 'fear-mongering message' promoted by opponents."

That is too rich. You could not make a more ironic statement on the Voter ID subject than this.

Voter fraud is and has always been a crime. How many cases of voter fraud were uncovered yesterday? Is this really a problem or a not so well disguised plan by the right to suppress the voter that do not align with them politically. We wasted a TON of money on a problem I am not convinced we have. Same with the marriage amendment. The Right sure likes to spend money on stupid causes. Wish they would view education the same way.

comment229 Nov. 7, 12 1:00 PM - I guarantee you that in no more than 6 years, 2 1/2 election cycles, polling stations will be a thing of the past. Credit cards will no longer exist; your driver's license, auto insurance policy, birth certificate, death certificate, medical records, felony records, citizenship records, and all other important information will exist on the Ethernet and be retrievable on your telephone, iPod, or computer (most of it is today). Today we can scan a telephone to pay our bill in a restaurant; the police officer who pulls you over has your driver's license, photo, and criminal record on a screen in his car before he even exits the car to talk to you. The need to carry a piece of plastic will no longer exist; wallets and purses will go the way of the buggy whip. You will be able to register to vote by computer, iPod, or telephone and voting will start 30 days prior to Election Day. Milliseconds after the polls close the results will be available and you can vote from anywhere in the world, no more absentee ballots. This is a prediction, but I'm willing to bet a donut against a dollar that I'm right.

Congratulations to Take Action Minnesota, Our Vote Our Future and all organizations making up that coalition, and all the ordinary Minnesotans who worked so hard to inform the public, neighbor to neigbor, about the true repercussions of this harmful amendment. Thank you!!

The major problem (other than a constitutional amendment) with this was that it specified "Photo ID" - this would negate any technological progress, and we would be constitutionaly locked-in to PHOTO. • When's the last time you looked at Kodak stock? • When's the last time you bought film?

I guess the Voter ID isn't all that important now, it's about working together to come up with a reasonable solution. Perhaps we need the Democrats to create a law to do that simple check against registered voters and ineligible felons/immigrants, I don't care who does it but I just want to see it happen. Can we at least agree on that?