Representatives Tom Emmer, R-Delano, and Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake, are spearheading the drive in the House for requiring voter photo ID a politically charged idea that has been debated for years.
by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter
Republican lawmakers today (Monday, Jan. 26) were pushing election reform initiatives at the Capitol, but indications in the House are they may face stiff odds.
Representatives Tom Emmer, R-Delano, and Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake, are spearheading the drive in the House for requiring voter photo ID a politically charged idea that has been debated for years.
Emmer insisted that poltics is not a driving factor behind the reform.
It's not Democrat or Republican issue not a political issue at all, said Emmer. "We're here talking about the integrity of elections, he said.
Twenty-four other states require photo ID, he said.
Under Emmer's proposed legislation, HF 57, a photo ID must be supplied to voters at no cost for those lacking other forms of photo IDs a driver's license, a pass port, others.
Voters showing up at the polls without a photo ID may cast provisional ballots under certain circumstances and have five days after the election to satisfy the requirements of the law.
Otherwise the provisional ballots will not be counted.
Kiffmeyer argued the best way to protect the election process was to put in place safeguards prior to the vote, not afterwards.
But doubters on the need for photo ID exist.
League of Women Voters opposes plan
The League of Women Voters opposes the plan, saying photo ID places unnecessary burdens onto voters and unnecessary costs onto the state.
Republican lawmakers today (Monday, Jan. 26) proposed a series of election reform initiatives. House Republicans, led by representatives Tom Emmer, R-Delano, and Mary Kiffmeyer (left), R-Big Lake, proposed photo ID legislation.
Voter fraud is Minnesota is nearly nonexistent as a problem, they argue.
Rep. Gene Pelowski Jr., DFL-Winona, House Governmental Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections Committee chairman is still working out bill a hearing schedule between the Senate and the House.
But Pelowski indicated that a on personal level, photo ID was not at the forefront of his mind.
His focus is on dealing with the state budget deficit, one he believes could hit $7 billion, said the chairman. "If you can tell me how this (photo ID) will help, I'm really interested. And if you can't, I'm not interested, said Pelowski Jr.
Jungbauer proposes election reform
In the Senate Sen. Mike Jungbauer, R-East Bethel, also proposed election reform legislation today, one that could have candidates in razor-thin statewide elections thrown into runoff elections.
Jungbauer's bill also addresses other election variables it tightens up the law, the senator argued.
For instance, under the bill an election recount is limited to the votes validly cast and counted on election day.
If a court orders that uncounted votes be counted, the legislation specifies that the review must use the same methods of review.
Jungbauer indicated that his bill was still a work in progress.
Sen. Mike Jungbauer, R-East Bethel, presented a bill that could provide for runoff elections for statewide contests in which the vote count is razor thin.
A time frame for the runoff election, for example, has not yet been determined but idea is to avoid a situation such as in the U.S. Senate race where a seat stands empty, Jungbauer explained.
Jungbauer, a former mayor, said he lost his first run for mayor by a single vote.
Under current state law, he might have challenged ballots and wound up winning the election, he mused.
But he doesn't believe challenges and lawyers are what the public wants to see an in election contest, Jungbauer opined.
(Photos by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)
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