The Senate Rules committee on Wednesday approved a bill proposing a constitutional amendment that would require voters show a photo ID at the polls. “There was a long debate about the fact that it’s going from the legislator directly to being an amendment and going before the voters,” Rep. Jeanne Poppe, DFL-Austin, said. The measure will come up on the Senate floor Friday, said Majority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester. A companion measure was passed 72-62 by the House early Wednesday morning.
Senjem said if the Senate bill passes, a conference committee will likely be needed to resolve the Senate and House versions. If both chambers approve, a proposed amendment would be added to the ballot this November asking voters whether to amend the state constitution to require voters to present a photo ID. The state would provide eligible voters with an ID for free.
Full Article: Voter ID law makes it to Senate floor | The Austin Daily Herald.