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ST. PAUL – State Representative Bob Gunther (R-Fairmont) said he is pleased that a bill allowing Minnesotans to decide if voters need to provide photo identification before securing a ballot has been approved by the Minnesota House.
“Showing identification has become an everyday ritual,” Gunther said. “You have to show ID before you write a check, and in some cases before you swipe your credit card at a store, and legal Minnesotans should have no problem showing identification to an election judge every two years.”
Gunther said the legislation would ask voters if they want to amend Minnesota’s Constitution in order to require all voters to show valid photo identification on Election Day. Valid identification consists of a driver’s license or state issued identification card. Those who do not have valid photo identification would be issued one by the State of Minnesota free of charge.
If approved by the voters, an election judge would simply prove that a Minnesotan can legally vote by visually identifying him and matching his name and address with those listed on the eligible voter rolls.
“We’ve had a number of close elections in Minnesota over the past few years, and it’s important to remember that if voter fraud is found after Election Day, the vote still counts,” Gunther said. “This legislation would ensure that every election is legitimate, because only verified legal voters would cast a ballot.”