Title
Opposing the proposed constitutional amendment to restrict the voting rights of Minnesotans by mandating government-issued documents as a condition for voting.
Body
Whereas the right to vote is fundamental to democracy in America; and
Whereas government has a duty to prevent unnecessary bureaucratic barriers that impair the voting rights of Americans; and
Whereas Minnesota has been the national leader in voter participation for the past four decades; and
Whereas Minnesota is widely acknowledged to have the best system for administering elections in the United States; and
Whereas the high level of accuracy and integrity of the election system in Minnesota has been confirmed by statewide recounts in 2008 and 2010; and
Whereas the Minnesota Legislature has nonetheless voted to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot to restrict the voting rights of all Minnesotans by mandating possession of a government-issued document to vote; and
Whereas the proposed constitutional amendment would deny the right to vote to any eligible voter who is not able to provide a mandated government-issued document; and
Whereas many eligible voters would find it difficult or impossible to obtain the necessary government-issued documents that would be required by the proposed amendment; and
Whereas the costs that many voters would be forced to bear to obtain the necessary government-issued documents would effectively constitute a poll tax on those voters; and
Whereas proven instances of violations of the Minnesota election law consist of isolated, infrequent acts committed by a handful of individuals who would not be deterred by the proposed amendment; and
Whereas the proposed amendment would impose a costly, unnecessary and ineffective system of provisional voting on Minnesota voters; and
Whereas the costs of implementing the provisions of the proposed amendment would fall almost exclusively on local government and would mandate an increase in prope...
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