Voter ID headed to the courts

The Minnesota Supreme Court will soon decide if a November ballot question that would require ID at the polls needs to be changed or removed.

The contentious ballot question that Republicans in the state Legislature decided to put before Minnesotans would require a government-approved photo ID in order to vote. The state’s high court has ordered oral arguments for July 17, according to a Star Tribune article.

As it is set to appear in November, the court must decide soon if the question will be altered or deleted entirely.

Opponents of the measure argue that the question as it will appear on the ballot is vague and does not make clear broader ramifications that would result from its passage, but proponents simplifying ballot questions is regular practice.

The American Civil Liberties Union and Common Cause are among the groups opposing the amendment. They say, if approved, the constitutional amendment could end same-day registration, limit absentee voting and force the state to adopt provisional balloting.

In the Strib’s article, Dan McGrath said, “The heart and soul of the constitutional amendment is photographic identification.”