Minnesotans want honest, efficient elections in which every vote counts. However, requiring photo IDs is not the right way to make Minnesota's good election process even better. There are less expensive, more inclusive methods to ensure that voting is free and fair. That's among the reasons why Minnesotans should vote no on the photo voter ID ballot question.
The proposed state constitutional amendment would require voters to present a government-issued photo ID card to vote. That requirement might seem reasonable -- after all, many of us need IDs for cashing checks, using credit cards or boarding a plane. So why not include voting on that list?
Answer: Because voting is a precious, hard-won right that should be accessible to all. According to state records, about 215,000 registered Minnesota voters lack a driver's license or other ID, or have addresses different from that on voter registration lists.
Restricting voting in this country can be an emotional issue. Many older Americans remember times in Southern states when blacks and others were prevented from voting through poll taxes and other trumped-up tests. And several court cases in other states have found that photo ID requirements can indeed disenfranchise voters. Given that history, government should strive to increase voter ranks, not limit them.
Amendment proponents say the state would provide IDs for free. Yet the mandate would not be simple or free. Local and state elections officials estimate a price tag from $30 million to more than $50 million, including costs for new equipment, additional election judges, training and infrastructure. That bill would likely be covered by local property tax increases or other service cuts.
In addition, it could be burdensome for many elderly voters to track down birth certificates -- or for students to demonstrate residency and eligibility.
Requiring picture ID cards also introduces provisional voting, yet another unnecessary complication. If a voter could not produce an ID, he or she could vote "provisionally" and come back later to provide documentation. But why put citizens through that additional step and run the risk that they won't return?
More than 540,000 Minnesota voters used election-day registration in 2008 -- about 18 percent of all voters. Some had neighbors vouch for them. But this amendment would eliminate vouching, which could reduce same-day voting -- a practice that contributes to Minnesota's high voter turnout.
