Why aren’t they asking registered voters for photo ID?
Posted on November 4th, 2008 – 1:54 PMBy James Shiffer
Several voters have questioned why they weren’t asked for photo ID to confirm their identity when they went to pick up their ballots. Beth Fraser of the Secretary of State’s office responds that for registered voters, Minnesota law does not permit election officials to demand a photo ID. Voters do have to sign an oath, and potentially face a perjury charge if they do so falsely. If election officials are suspicious that a voter might be lying about his or her identity, they may ask the voter to confirm date of birth, Fraser said.
Despite the law, several voters are reporting that the election officials are asking for IDs anyway. Barbara Zell said that’s what happened at her precinct, Cross of Peace Church in Shakopee. Zell has been voting in the precinct for nine years, and questioned the election official. The answer she got: they were instructed to do so. “I thought, this is absolutely stupid.”
Whether to require photo IDs for voting has been a divisive political issue. Opponents saying it suppresses the vote of the elderly and others less likely to have the IDs, while supporters say it’s a safeguard against voter fraud.
52 Responses to “Why aren’t they asking registered voters for photo ID?”
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November 4th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Erin, thanks for showing me the light. I’m going to demand that I be granted access to everything without an ID from now on on the grounds that I am being discriminated against. Wish me luck.
November 4th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Asking registered voters to show ID is against the law. Debate about it all you want, but thats the fact. I don’t care if it holds up the line, I refuse to show ID. I’m not letting an election judge violate my rights just because its easier for them.
November 4th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Don’t worry everyone, I made sure to cast ballots for everyone who didn’t have their name signed yet. It is a lot of work going through the line that many times!
November 4th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
This should be law. This would cut down on voter fraud as well as immigration issues. If you have a state ID or divers license, you should vote. If the address is incorrect, you should not be allowed to vote, since it is against the law to have an old address on your drivers license and outdated information. Make it federal law and be done. You could even use the strip on the back. Swipe it and vote. If you try it again, it would not work. Find a good solution to the old problem that keeps on coming up year after year. Voter Fraud!
November 4th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
“Minnesota law does not permit election officials to demand a photo ID.”
The difference is between ‘demand’ and ‘ask’. If they think it speeds things up to get correct name, etc., they can ask you to see an ID. But, if they demand it, then that’s against current law. Having your ID and not showing ‘because it is your right’ is just being a pain in the backside.
November 4th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
hilarious Jay.
November 4th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I too voted at Zachary Elementary in Plymouth this morning and was asked for my ID. I didn’t protest it because we were having trouble finding me on the rolls — I have a double last name (ie Davis Williams — no hyphen) and the rolls had me listed as only with the second part of the last name. If I hadn’t been having that issue, I would have said something.
November 4th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
You know the old adage - vote early, vote often! Just because it’s illegal to vote more than once, do you really think it will stop people? Remember, people do lie under oath…and get away with it. At least with checking ID’s, you have to go to a little more trouble to vote more than once. “A standard right that allows many people to partake in the election process” - yes, whether you are dead, alive, a dog, Mickey Mouse, etc.
November 4th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I took my friend to the polls this morning at Zachary Elementary in Plymouth. They are asking to see photo i.d. there. My friend had to go home to get her drivers license.
November 4th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Deoad- I don’t think anyone is saying that the election judges should be making up new laws as they go here, but rather that we should change the existing laws to prevent fraud. No rules against debating things that aren’t law and should be, is there? If so, let’s not debate the current tax laws either then.