Voter ID Amendment Clears Final Hurdles in Minnesota Legislature

It looks like another question for Minnesota voters, this one pertaining speficallly to the election process, has cleared its final hurdle in the Minnesota Legislature.

A Republican-led conference committee hammered out the final details between the Senate and House approved versions of the so-called Voter ID amendment, which would require Minnesotans to have a government-issued, photo identification at the polls when they arrive to cast a ballot.

More than a dozen states have passes laws or will have amendments on the ballot asking for voters to enforce the ID requirement at the poll. Last year, 33 states had bills on the isssue, though only a handful of those bills passed. Minnesota's passed in 2011, but was vetoed by Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat.

Republican Mary Kiffmeyer of Big Lake, who is running to represent St. Michael, Albertville and Otsego this fall as District 30 senator, authored the House version of the bill.

The expressed concern about the legislation because it believes items such as ID checks and "provisional ballots"–or those issued to people who don't have ID at the time–could increase the cost of conducting elections for cities in Minnesota.

Recent amendments to the bills are addressing many of the issues/concerns cities have had, including those of St. Michael staff.  

The ID requirement has overwhelming support among Minnesotans, according to polls conducted by various media outlets.

*This article has been clarified to show the City of St. Michael has not taken an official stand on one side of the Voter ID issue, but to show its concerns for any unfunded mandate tied to the change.