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Politics & Government

Winkler Speaks Out Against Voter ID Proposal

Republicans plan to offer a proposed constitutional amendment next year.

St. Louis Park Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL-District 44B) on Tuesday challenged Republican representatives’ plan to propose a constitutional amendment next year that would make photo IDs mandatory at voting booths.

 “Older women, students, the disabled, battered women are just a few of the groups that would be harmed by the constitutional amendment that Republicans are proposing today,” Winkler said at a news conference Tuesday.

Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed a voter photo ID bill at the end of the session, but Republicans are hopeful they can bring the issue straight to voters and avoid the governor's veto pen, much like they did with the proposed .

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Republicans have argued that requiring photo ID on Election Day would reduce voter fraud, but Winkler said voter fraud is not an issue in Minnesota. He also said requiring a photo ID would not prevent felons from voting.

“It’s important to remember that voting is a fundamental right,” Winkler said. “And any time that you want to do anything that’s going to interfere with a fundamental right, you have to be very sure that there’s a problem that you’re going to solve.”

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But many Minnesotans disagree with Winkler’s position. A SurveyUSA poll published last month showed the proposal has overwhelming support in the state. Of those polled, 76 percent said they would vote for requiring photo ID if an amendment was on the ballot, and only 18 percent would not.

Winkler said the proposal would be putting a “limitation on civil rights into the Constitution.”

The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota came out against the proposed bill last month, saying it would create barriers for some voters and mean additional costs and burdens to election officials.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, eight states currently require voters to present a photo ID, and another five states—including Wisconsin—are set to initiate the requirement by 2012.

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