Truth In Advertising: New Title For MN Provisional Ballot Amendment

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie today announced that the approved title for the proposed elections amendment that will appear on the ballot in the general election held on November 6, 2012, will be: “CHANGES TO IN-PERSON & ABSENTEE VOTING & VOTER REGISTRATION; PROVISIONAL BALLOTS”.

The change comes less than two weeks before the Minnesota Supreme Court hears arguments that the language in the ballot question is misleading. Those petitioning the court want the question stricken from the ballot.

Late last month, Secretary of State Ritchie changed the title on the proposed anti-gay marriage amendment to more accurately reflect what it does… prevent marriage between same-sex couples.

The Secretary of State is allowed to give the constitutional amendments new titles because they were vetoed by Governor Mark Dayton. However, the ballot language question remains the same. Republican authors of the “marriage” amendment this morning announced they plan to challenge Ritiche’s change on the “marriage” amendment title in court in court.