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| Date: | January 26, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Susan Closmore | | Contact Phone: | 651-329-9923 | | Contact Email: | susan.closmore@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| KIFFMEYER/LIMMER INTRODUCE VOTER ID BILL |
St. Paul– Representative Mary Kiffmeyer (R-Big Lake) was joined by State Senator Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove), Chairman of the Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee, and other state legislators today to introduce legislation to make voting quicker and easier as well as increase public confidence in the process using 21st century voting technology.
The bill requires a form of photo identification from a list of more than a half dozen including a driver’s license or state identification card, tribal identification card. The bill also includes provisions for electronic roster equipment, which was demoed at a press conference.
“This bill will bring Minnesota Election Day technology into the 21st century,” Kiffmeyer, who was responsible for overseeing Minnesota elections for 8 years as Secretary of State, said. “By using this system, we can cut down the time people wait in line and increase turn-out by making it easier and quicker to vote.”
“There is a growing chorus of concern from citizens who are growing suspicious of our election process. The integrity of the entire election process hinges on two critical issues. A photo ID presented at time of voting would satisfy the verification that an individual casting a ballot is in fact the person claiming to be eligible to vote,” said Limmer. “The second, is to also verify that the individual is voting in the precinct where one lives.”
A similar photo ID requirement was established in Indiana in 2005 and upheld by the Supreme Court on a 6-3 vote in 2008. Since the requirement was established, voter turnout in Indiana has increased.
Kiffmeyer said, “This system is simple to use – swipe, sign, and vote.”
Kiffmeyer said there are few drawbacks to using an electronic system. She said it is a “cost-neutral” system. While there is an upfront cost for the equipment, it is offset by money saved by counties in postal verification and data entry costs.
The city of Minnetonka used this kind of system in the 2010 election in a pilot program that was hailed as success.
“Election workers at all levels responded favorably... It truly made everyone’s job easier — and it resulted in improved voter satisfaction,” said David Maeda, city clerk for Minnetonka, said at the time. “This pilot proved to us that we can process voters easily and accurately on Election Day.”
"If there is a cost-neutral system to make voting faster and easier while increasing public confidence in the system, why wouldn't we do it?," Kiffmeyer said. "At the end of the day, requiring a photo ID to vote is something that 80 percent of Minnesotans support."
Kiffmeyer can be reached by phone at (651) 296-4237. She can also be contacted via e-mail at rep.mary.kiffmeyer@house.mn, or via U.S. Mail at 501 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155.
Limmer is the Chair of the Judiciary Committee. He encourages and appreciates constituent input, and can be reached at (651)296-2159 and by e-mail at sen.warren.limmer@senate.mn.
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