House and Senate Republicans on Monday announced a renewed push for legislation that would require all Minnesota voters to have a photo ID before casting a ballot.
The bill's chief House sponsor, Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Delano, called the issue a "matter of integrity in our elections."
"This is not a partisan issue," he said at a State Capitol news conference, flanked by supporters with signs reading "Don't trash my vote" and "Restore trust." Emmer added that if someone needs an ID for everyday activities, voting shouldn't be any different.
But critics say the bill would only put up more hurdles for voters and increase the chances of disenfranchisement. They say that instances of voter fraud are virtually nonexistent and that legislation requiring a voter ID is unnecessary.
The bill would provide free voting-only ID cards for those who need them and a process for casting provisional ballots if a voter couldn't provide a photo ID on Election Day.
Republicans likened the measure to Indiana's voter ID law, which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld last April in a 6-3 ruling.
Unnecessary added burden?
Constitutional or not, Rep. Phyllis Kahn said she's opposed to requiring a voter to show a photo ID. She called it an "added burden" that's unnecessary, especially without evidence of fraud. "It's one of these things that's a solution searching for a problem," said Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis.