Some legislators sponsoring a voter identification bill appear to be promoting a solution that is looking for a problem, as well as attempting to create another expensive state mandate.
Republican legislators have introduced a bill that would require Minnesotans to show a driver’s photo ID, state-issued photo ID or a tribal-issued ID that would be instantly scanned to determine if the voter was eligible to vote and was attempting to vote in the correct precinct.
This proposal is simply an attempt to manipulate the voting process for political purposes to address an issue which is not a major problem in Minnesota.
In addition, this proposal would simply make it harder for Minnesotans to vote, especially elderly, disabled, young and minority voters.
Minnesota should be encouraging voters to participate in the voting process, not making it harder and more difficult to vote.
In making the case for this voter ID, Limmer spoke of his suspicions of the Minnesota voting process, citing the example of an election judge driving around with election ballots in the car trunk. This story is an election myth that has been disproven. In addition, there is no way this voter ID bill would address that type of violation.
Vogel could not cite any voter problem in west central Minnesota in justifying his support for the bill. Yet he claims that the significant cost of this proposed voter ID bill is justified.
The bill sponsors on Wednesday would not estimate the cost of this bill. Some media reports indicate the cost would be between $20 million and $40 million. After the 2008 election, there were 38 individuals identified and convicted of voter fraud. Using the low estimate of $20 million, this voter identification plan would cost local government in Minnesota $530,000 per conviction.
A $530,000 per case solution to solve a minimal problem in Minnesota? That is not a very good cost justification for another state mandate.
This bill is simply a costly bad idea.
— West Central Tribune
Comments (20)
Add commentGOP
I thought their campaign theme was JOBS JOBS JOBS and now we have a load of time wasting bills (that add to the deficit.) Get to work and quit pandering to the special interest groups that helped you get elected.
Quote
Those who cast the vote decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything. Joseph Stalin....
The author is obviously blind by choice.
To say that ensuring our elections are valid is not worth setting up these guidelines shows the author's bias. A true democratic republic will only be as good as its elections are trustworthy.
Setting up a photo ID system would not discourage voting, it would only discourage voting fraud. Perhaps that is why the author is against it?
voter id cost
where do they come up with these millions in extra cost? every county has voter registration and to make a card is a small task that the current employees can do easily! i think it is more liberal b---s---!
military vote?
Requiring a voter ID would do away with a voters ability to vote absentee, such as our military personnel overseas.
If an exception is made for absentee voters....the photo ID requirement is then meaningless and only people who vote in person are penalized.
Voting is a constitutional right.
$530,000 per case solution
I doubt I'd support an ID bill, but....
The author of this article is a liar.
If $20m were wasted on this program it would not cover only one election cycle nor are 100% fraudulent voters convicted. A little bit of honesty would have resulted in actual answers to actual questions. What is the annual cost to prosecute people who would have been prevented from voting with this ID in place? Would investigations, and the time and money involved, be reduced with the ID Law in place?
This is a hack article written by a hack. I regret reading it.
May have merit in some locations
I can see using some form of voter ID in some locations but I would feel a little silly showing my ID to one of our election judges that I have known for 30 or 40 years in my community.
election judges
Requiring election judges to request and compare photos and signatures would place an additional burden on the judges --they would also have to provide provisional ballots (the feds would require this) to those who did not have the proper ID, one more layer of ballots to sort through, creating more of a mess....and increased cost$.
MN is facing a $ 6.2 billion deficit, we would need to provide ID cards to those that needed them and hire more election judges...bad idea.......
get to work on our real problems please!
is that your best argument barnet?
give me some facts about voter fraud and why it's a problem in MN - not some whiney thing like you just posted, but FACTS!
Indiana - After Indiana enacted a law requiring photo ID some people who were registered to vote and had voted for DECADES were turned away because they did not have the proper ID. More Indiana citizens were disenfranchised by Indiana's photo ID law in two years than the number of reported cases of impersonation at the polls cited to the Supreme Court -- from anywhere in the country -- in the last TWO DECADES.
Levitt, Justin "Fast Facts on the Impact of Photo ID: The Data Brennan Center (April 2008)
Voting is a Constitutional Right. Let's not restrict it for our citizens.
really?
I dont think opposition to this has anything to do with the so called "liberal" agenda. I think its plain and simple. Dont our legislators have more important issues to deal with. The unemployement rate in Minnesota. How about the state deficit. Voter ID's may be a good idea, but is this the time to address this issue when more important topics are at hand.
If the Republicans truly were
If the Republicans truly were concerned about our votes counting they wouldn't embrace the recent Supreme Court decision to allow corporations to purchase election results.
Yes barnett even the unions
Yes barnett even the unions should be prevented from buying elections. That's why we need 100% public financing of elections so there is no buying by anyone.
damn Canadians
coming over the border and voting...
Seriously : A 2010 report on voter fraud in MN's 2008 election found that the only convictions for fraud were due to a few felons voting. A person's criminal status is not on their driver's license, or any other government issued ID.
The MN report echoes the Brennan Center for Justice/NY School of Law and the opinion of Norm Coleman's lead attorney in the 2008 election recount. Fritz Knaak said his team was looking for fraud, but found none.
When asked about illegal voting in MN and if there was a need for further action by law enforcement or the legislature, Knaak said NO. He said, "If you learn anything about the system, it's transparent, it's remarkably thorough."
just using facts, sorry
barnet69 let's see some facts vs. rhetoric
the truth is MN does not need a voter ID law,
it is a waste of time and money.
voting rights
What is wrong with showing a driver's license to vote? It is not going to cost anything to the voter, if there are a legal resident and driver in the state. Everyone should have a drivers license or something to show they are a citizen to vote in any election.