It was a ceremonial gesture only, but this morning Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed the Voter ID bill approved last week by the Republican-led Legislature. The bill calls for a statewide vote in November on a proposed constitutional amendment that, if approved, will require all voters to show state-approved photo IDs. But the measure will be on the November ballot anyway. The governor’s veto can’t keep amendments passed by the Legislature off the ballot, which is why the Republican majority went that route.
Polls show that Minnesotans like the Voter ID idea, because, hey, who doesn’t want elections decided by legal voters. But opponents say it will make voting more difficult for those who don’t have the right ID, such as seniors who no longer drive, college students, soldiers overseas and homeless people. And they argue that there’s no evidence that voter fraud is a big problem, and that there are laws in place already. In a press conference where he announced the veto, Dayton said the measure was not passed with bipartisan support, as he believes voting measures should be.
Full Article: Gov. Dayton vetoes Voter ID bill, but it goes on November ballot anyway | MinnPost.