(ST. PAUL, MN) – This Thursday, a bill to require photo identification for voting passed through the Transportation Finance and Policy Committee. Senator Scott Newman (R- Hutchinson) chief authored the legislation. It holds widespread support in the Senate Republican majority and requires identification for both absentee and in-person voting.

Minnesota has some of the loosest voting laws in the country.  As many are aware, registration is available at the polls and can be done with proof of residence (such as a piece of mail) or with someone to vouch for the registering individual. No proof of citizenship is currently required, causing concern in the legislature over election security.

“Voting laws are necessary for the strength of our elections, but we aren’t even upholding what few we already have,” said Senator Jason Rarick (R- Pine City).  “Voter ID legislation will remedy that, as it is simply a way to verify that an individual at the polls is voting legally.  This bill would have no negative effect on anyone who wants to exercise their rights as a citizen. Our end goal will always be to give each vote the equal weight it deserves, and without this bill, some ballots will be negated by those that are illegally cast.”

The legislation requires voters to produce valid, government-issued photo identification when voting in person or by absentee ballot. In addition, the legislation establishes a new voter identification card to be provided free-of-charge to individuals who currently lack proper identification. Individuals unable to provide valid proof of identity or residence would be able to cast a provisional ballot, affording the voter a period of time in which they could obtain valid identification. Same-day voter registration would also remain intact. 

Those opposing the Voter ID bill in last Thursday’s hearing expressed concern that it would marginalize minorities and the disabled by making it too difficult to exercise their constitutional rights. This concern has been echoed in other states considering similar legislation, one example being the U.S. Supreme Court case Crawford v. Marion County. The Court held that an Indiana law requiring a photo ID to vote did not violate the U.S. Constitution. Additionally, the Court specified there are “legitimate state interests” in voting laws requiring photo ID, including deterring, detecting, and preventing voter fraud, improving and modernizing election procedures, and safeguarding voter confidence in elections. Finally, the Supreme Court understood that federal law authorizes states to use a photo identification requirement to determine an individual’s eligibility to vote.