Mark Dayton vetoes Republican voter ID bill!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

:woohoo:

The Republican-controlled legislature passed a bill that would require photo IDs at the polls - even though Minnesota has a history of squeaky-clean elections with *no* evidence, ever, of voter fraud. But, of course, requiring IDs would disenfranchise the poor, the elderly, and students, who mostly vote for Democrats. Fortunately, the governor vetoed this piece of crap.

http://www.kare11.com/news/article/924616/396/Dayton-vetoes-photo-ID-bill

[Proud Liberal Dem]

1. Why should voting have to be this complicated?

We should have a Canadian-like system IMHO where everybody is registered AT BIRTH and can vote the second they turn 18. I don't think that the founding fathers intended for the citizenry to have to jump through a bunch of hoops to vote nor I imagine did they think that vast numbers of people would lose their constitutional right to vote simply because they committed a crime. Our country's electoral system is seriously *%$%*$&%*$ up IMHO. Good for somebody standing up to these stupid Voter ID bills! In a country where there are actually TOO FEW people whom vote it's really difficult for me to believe that there are that many people whom are able-let alone willing- to invest the time, money, and resources to actually commit voter fraud.

[northoftheborder]

3. Totally agree with Proud Liberal Dem on voting opinions

[pscot]

6. Because otherwise people might vote for Democrats?

[northoftheborder]

2. Be thankful you have a Dem. governor. No such luck here in Tx.

[elocs]

4. Having a Democratic governor really helps to regulate a Republican controlled legislature.

I wish we had one here in Wisconsin right now.

[Mister Ed]

5. Next Battle: MN Republicans are aiming to make voter suppresion part of the MN Constitution

(from the article)

The bill from Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer would make all voters show photo IDs before getting a ballot. Provisional ballots cast by those who couldn't show IDs would be counted only if the voter personally went to a local election office to prove his or her identity.

Kiffmeyer is also pursuing the bill as a constitutional amendment that would bypass Dayton and go directly to 2012 voters if approved by the Legislature.

They've already made a ballot initiative of a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, in order to get around the governor's potential veto.

This infuriates me. Basic civil rights - to vote, to marry - should not be subject to the popular whim. The constitution is the fortress in which those rights must be harbored.