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State Representative Tony Cornish
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4240
For more information contact: Jason Wenisch 651-296-2317
NEWS RELEASE
CORNISH FAVORS VOTER IDENTIFICATION BILL
ST. PAUL - Should Minnesota voters be required to show photo identification before receiving their ballots at the polling place? State Representative Tony Cornish (R-Good Thunder) says yes, and joined the majority in the Minnesota House in approving a bill that would require voter identification.
“This bill helps rebuild some confidence in an election system that is in dire need of reform,” Cornish said. “Our current vouching system was fair 50 years ago when people actually knew each other. Now that we have five million residents, I have my doubts that all of our election results are 100 percent fair and accurate.”
Cornish pointed out that one publication recently estimated that more than 181,000 deceased individuals remained on the voter rolls in six states during the November 2004 elections.
The bill approved in the Minnesota House requires an election judge to confirm the voter’s name, address, and date of birth and must require the voter to provide a picture ID. The legislation also requires the Department of Public Safety to issue a photo ID at no cost to people who do not have a driver’s license or state issued ID card.
“You need a photo identification to write a check, buy a drink or get on an airplane,” Cornish noted. “It doesn’t seem unreasonable to prove that you are a legal Minnesota citizen before receiving you ballot. Most people expect to show identification in the first place, so why shouldn’t we make in mandatory and help ensure that our election results are legitimate.”
Twenty four states have laws asking voters to show identification before voting. Six states specify that voters must show a photo ID; the other 18 states accept additional forms of identification that do not necessarily include a photo.
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