St. Louis County Board Chairman Steve O'Neil
St. Louis County commissioners will weigh in on the national battle of voter identification cards today when they consider a resolution opposing a proposed state law requiring photo voter ID cards. Legislation has advanced in St. Paul this session that would require anyone voting in Minnesota to have a special voter ID card if they don’t have a valid driver’s license with their current address.
The issue hits home for the County Board because counties, towns and cities could have to foot the bill under the state proposal, board chairman Steve O’Neil said. The Duluth City Council last month passed a similar resolution opposing the voter card legislation. O’Neil, who introduced the resolution, said the card requirement will disenfranchise poor voters and cost county property taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars “to solve an imaginary problem.”
“They keep talking about all this voter fraud. But if you talk to the people who run our elections,” O’Neil said, “we just don’t see it.”
County auditors would be required to provide the cards free of charge. HF89 and SF479, sponsored by Republican lawmakers, have passed government operations committees and await action by additional committees any day. The bill has strong support from the Tea Party and other groups, such as the Minnesota Majority and Minnesota Voters Alliance, which have alleged widespread voter fraud in Minnesota.
Full Article: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/195655/group/homepage/