Minnesota: Minnesota House sends Voter ID bill to Governor | StarTribune.com

The Minnesota House gave final approval to a bill requiring voters to show photo IDs at the polls Saturday afternoon, sending it to Gov. Mark Dayton’s desk. The bill passed 74-58 on a largely party line vote over the objections of DFL lawmakers, who said the bill will hinder some groups from voting. The vote was originally slated for Friday, but it was delayed amid transparency complaints.

In addition to requiring photo identification, the bill eliminates vouching for Election Day registration and creates an entirely new system of provisional balloting. After a slight dustup on Friday, Sponsor Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer said Saturday she was informed the conference committee was held within the rules.

South Carolina: Governor Nikki Haley signs South Carolina Voter ID bill into law | TheState.com

With music pumping, Gov. Nikki Haley signed into law Wednesday a bill requiring S.C. voters to show a photo ID, such as a driver’s license, to cast a ballot. Currently, voters only must show a voter registration card, which does not have a photo.

“If you can show a picture to buy Sudafed, if you can show a picture to get on an airplane, you should be able to show a picture ID to (vote),” Haley said during the signing ceremony, surrounded by supporters and lawmakers who pushed the bill. Joe Dugan, chairman of the Myrtle Beach Tea Party, made the drive to see the signing and celebrate. “If we don’t have integrity at the ballot box, we don’t have it anywhere.”

Florida: Miami Mayoral Candidates sprint on last day of early voting | MiamiHerald.com

Perfect beach weather may have kept crowds from the polls Saturday — but not so political candidates, who made their final pitches to voters across Miami-Dade County before Tuesday’s special election.

…With early voting canceled Sunday, the contenders for Miami-Dade mayor, two county commission posts and a Florida House seat on Saturday tried to fit in back-to-back phone calls to supporters, campaign rallies and visits early voting sites to create momentum for Tuesday.

The elections department doubled voting hours on Saturday after canceling Sunday early voting to comply with a new state law.

Florida: Judge: No early voting Sunday in Miami-Dade election | MiamiHerald.com

A Miami-Dade judge on Friday backed the county elections department’s decision to cancel a day of early voting for Tuesday’s special election. Circuit Judge Barbara Areces dismissed a lawsuit filed by county mayoral candidate Marcelo Llorente, who argued the elections department acted unconstitutionally when it did away with early voting scheduled for Sunday.

Lester Sola, the Miami-Dade supervisor of elections, changed the schedule earlier this week to comply with a new elections law Gov. Rick Scott signed on Thursday. The law requires early voting to end three days before Election Day.

Kentucky: Recanvass scheduled in Kentucky GOP Secretary of State race | Kentucky.com

A recanvass of votes cast in Tuesday’s Republican primary election for secretary of state between Bill Johnson and Hilda Legg will be held May 26.

Legg, a consultant former executive director of the Center for Rural Development in Somerset, requested the recanvass by county boards of election in the closest race of Tuesday’s primary. Johnson, a Todd County businessman and teacher, defeated Legg by 1,097 votes with 100 percent of precincts reporting, according to the Associated Press.

Taiwan: Legislators mull lowering voting age in Taiwan | Taipei Times

As presidential candidates increase their efforts to canvass support from first-time voters, lawmakers from across party lines are mulling whether to amend the law to lower the legal voting age to 18 years.

However, some academics cast doubt on the idea, saying that lowering the legal voting age would require a constitutional amendment.

Texas: Port Arthur Texas explains election night results delay | PAnews.com

One of the largest elections in the city’s recent history could have played a part in slow elections results coming from Port Arthur on May 14, city officials said. The city of Port Arthur’s election night performance has been a source of concern for some, and prompted city officials to issue a statement of explanation.

Acting City Secretary Sherri Bellard and Acting Assistant City Secretary Kelly Moore issued a press release Friday in response to concerns that election results were not made available until about 11 p.m., an hour or longer than other area cities on May 14.

National: Gingrich Walks Back Support For Poll Tests Just A Day After Reiterating Support For Them | ThinkProgress

Former GOP House Speaker and current presidential candidate Newt Gingrich walked back his support for poll tests Friday, just a day after reiterating support for making young Americans pass an American history test in order to gain voting rights.

In a brief interview at a campaign stop, ThinkProgress asked Gingrich about his comments the day before when he said, “it wouldn’t be bad to have a test for young Americans before they can vote.”