voter photo ID | The UpTake

Minnesota

Photo ID Backers Claim Early Minnesota Voting Unconstitutional

By Michael McIntee | February 21, 2013

A proposal to legally allow early voting in Minnesota is being called “unconstitutional” by those who led last year’s unsuccessful attempt to restrict voting through a “photo ID” constitutional amendment.

Minnesota

Proposed MN Voter Restrictions Hurts “Greatest Generation” Says Sen. Franken

By Michael McIntee | November 4, 2012

Senator Al Franken gives a prime example of why Minnesota’s proposed “Voter ID” or Voter Restriction constitutional amendment is a bad idea. Seniors who have given up their drivers license because they are too old to drive safely may have trouble voting.

Minnesota

MN Voter Restriction Amendment Faces Hurdles Beyond Ballot Box

By Bill Sorem | September 26, 2012

What could happen if the Voter Restriction Amendment passes? ACLU-Minnesota Executive Director Chuck Samuelson discusses some outcomes.

DC

Michelle Obama On Protecting Right To Vote

By Michael McIntee | September 23, 2012

First Lady pushes against Voter ID laws as a new MN poll shows support for such laws dropping drastically.

Education

Constitution Guarantees Right to Vote, Not Fly on Plane or Buy Beer

By Jacob Wheeler | August 31, 2012

“The Constitution doesn’t say anything about the right to fly in a plane, it doesn’t say anything about the right to buy a beer, but an awful lot of people did die for the right to vote. You have to have these conversations even with good, strong Democrats.”

Education

Voter Restriction Amendment Would Discourage College Students From Voting

By Jacob Wheeler | August 30, 2012

“Photo ID will make voting much more difficult for college students,” activist and Iraq War veteran Alex Erickson told a town hall meeting in St. Louis Park earlier this month. “College students rely on same-day registration.”

LGBT Issues

Humphrey Era Lacked Acrimony Prominent In Today’s Politics

By Allison Herrera | August 30, 2012

Bitterness and acrimony now looms over the American political debate. It didn’t in the 60s and 70s.

Minnesota

MN Voter Restriction Amendment Would be ‘Double Whammy’ for African-American Seniors

By Allison Herrera | August 29, 2012

Marchers against the controversial voter restriction amendment on the November ballot gathered for a demonstration. These opponents compare the amendment to voting restrictions in the civil rights era.

LGBT Issues

MN Supreme Court Rules For GOP On Constitutional Amendment Cases

By Michael McIntee | August 27, 2012

Minnesota’s Supreme Court rules on challenges to two proposed amendments scheduled to be on this November’s election ballot. Both rulings side with Republican backed challenges by a 4-2 margin.

Indian Affairs

Tribal IDs Might Not Be Valid If MN Voter Restriction Amendment Passes

By Allison Herrera | August 27, 2012

Former Minneapolis School Board member and citizen of the White Earth Nation Peggy Flanagan says her tribal ID may be invalid if Minnesota voter restriction constitutional amendment passes. She’s prepared to take legal action if it passes.

Minnesota

MN Voter Restriction Amendment Would Cause Headaches for Election Judges

By Jacob Wheeler | August 24, 2012

Several St. Louis Park residents who volunteer as election judges every other November said that if Minnesota’s voter restriction amendment passes, it would make their jobs as election judges more difficult.

Minnesota

Voting Rights Should Have Been Resolved During Civil Rights Era

By Jacob Wheeler | August 23, 2012

An attack on voting rights is an emotional issue for Dr. Josie Johnson, a veteran of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. Johnson spoke about the consequences of Voter Photo ID legislation during a town hall meeting sponsored by Congressman Keith Ellison.

LGBT Issues

MN Supreme Court Expected To Rule On Constitutional Amendments

By Michael McIntee | August 22, 2012

At issue is the title given to the amendments, which could influence how people vote on them, and whether one of them will appear on the ballot at all.

Immigration

Voter Photo ID Dissuades Rural Poor From Voting, Says Mexican-American

By Jacob Wheeler | August 21, 2012

Before she immigrated to the United States and became an American citizen, Julia Olson saw how Photo ID requirements dissuade many rural Mexicans from voting.

Afghanistan

Iraq War Vet Sees Voting Rights Under Fire at Home

By Jacob Wheeler | August 20, 2012

“To come home and see some of those (voting) rights under attack is something that I couldn’t stand for.”— Iraq war vet Alex Erickson

Transit

Voter Photo ID a “Huge Step Backwards” for Voting Rights of Disabled Minnesotans

By Jacob Wheeler | August 17, 2012

“People with disabilities have worked really hard to pass laws that make it easier for people with disabilities to vote. This would be a huge step backwards if this amendment is passed,” said Mai Thor.

Minnesota

MN Same Day Voter Registration Ruled Constitutional

By Michael McIntee | August 17, 2012

Forces trying to suppress voting in Minnesota were thwarted today when a U.S. District Court Judge ruled the state’s same day voter registration is constitutional.

Minnesota

Congressman Ellison: Photo ID Amendment Threatens Voter Rights

By Jacob Wheeler | August 6, 2012

Community forum with Rep. Ellison to inform Minnesotans about the photo ID amendment’s dangerous consequences and how they can take action to defeat it.

LGBT Issues

Franken: Humphrey Would Oppose Voter Photo ID, Anti-Gay Marriage Amendments

By Michael McIntee | August 4, 2012

Senator Al Franken at the dedication of a Hubert Humphrey memorial statue says the the former Vice President would be oppose discriminatory legislation such as the voter photo ID and anti-gay marriage constiutional amendments Minnesotans will be voting on this fall.

Minnesota

MN Supreme Court Could Rule Voter Photo ID Amendment Unconstitutional

By Michael McIntee | July 19, 2012

Opponents of a proposed “voter photo ID” Minnesota constitutional amendment argue it shouldn’t be on the fall ballot because the question put to voters is misleading. However it’s very possible that the Minnesota Supreme Court could instead just declare the entire amendment unconstitutional.

LGBT Issues

Truth In Advertising: MN Secretary Of State Changes Title For Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment

By Michael McIntee | June 28, 2012

Governor Mark Dayton’s veto of an anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment isn’t so meaningless after all. It and a voter photo ID constitutional amendment may get new titles on the November ballot.

Minnesota

MN Supreme Court Steps Into Voter Photo ID Battle

By Michael McIntee | June 6, 2012

Minnesota’s Supreme Court has agreed to hear a petition that could remove from the fall ballot an amendment requiring a government issued photo ID to vote.

Minnesota

Legal Challenge To MN Voter Photo ID Amendment

By Michael McIntee | May 30, 2012

The lawsuit isn’t a surprise. During the partisan battle over the amendment at the legislature Democrats argued that the ballot measure should include mention of the new provisional balloting system the amendment requires.

Minnesota

Voter Photo ID: The Civil Rights Implications

By Michael McIntee | May 19, 2012

What are the civil rights implications of a proposed Minnesota constitutional amendment requiring a photo ID to vote and creates a whole new provisional balloting system for Minnesota?

Immigration

May Day Solidarity March in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Immigration Issues, Voting Rights Draw Thousands To Milwaukee May Day March

By Tracey Pollock | May 3, 2012

Thousands marched in Milwaukee for immigrants rights and against voter suppression.