Harmful Election Proposals Would Create Barriers to Voting

MCN and the nonprofit sector understand that our democratic processes must work well for all citizens. But Minnesota's nationally-lauded election system is at risk of moving backward as legislators propose that voters must possess a state-issued photo ID before having their ballot counted.

What is simple and easy for the majority of people will be a barrier for others. Measures that making voting more difficult move in the wrong direction of where we should be heading, which is finding ways to increase participation among eligible voters.  Election law must find a balance between election integrity and ballot access: narrowing participation to those who can provide a photo ID misses that mark.

There are several proposals (HF89/SF479 and HF210/SF509), that would institute these changes. They have passed through several stages of the legislative process and must be taken seriously. 

Here's what you can do to preserve opportunities for voter participation:

• Sign-on in opposition to photo ID proposals. We are collecting the names of organizations that oppose requiring all voters to posess a photo ID in order to vote, and will share those names with Governor Dayton and the Legislature. Send us an email with an affirmation and your name and organization.
• Distribute a citizen petition to your staff and community. Sign and distribute this this petition to others who agree. 

Thank you for protecting our democracy!