The Voter Restriction Amendment
(the restrictive constitutional amendment requiring a photo ID to vote)
What it Means
· A “yes” vote on the Voter Restriction Amendment would insert a requirement into the Minnesota Constitution that all people provide valid government-issued photo identification before they are allowed to vote.
o Absentee voters would be subject to “substantially equivalent identity and eligibility verification”.
o All voters unable to provide identification would only be able to cast provisional ballots, which would not be counted until after the initial ballot count.
o Voters trying to register on Election Day would only be able to cast provisional ballots, which would not be counted until after the initial ballot count.
· A “no” vote on the Voter Restriction Amendment would maintain current law. These laws have resulted in Minnesota having the nation’s best election system.
o Absentee voting would remain the same, with voters able to register and send in their vote before the election.
o Voters without government-issued identification would be able to cast normal ballots that would be counted during the main ballot count.
o Voters registering on Election Day would be able to cast normal ballots that would be counted during the main ballot count.
For More Information
Our Vote our Future is the official campaign organized to defeat the Marriage Amendment. You can reach them atwww.ourvoteourfuture.org.
Secretary of State Mark Ritchie wrote this commentary explaining the many unintended and costly consequences of the amendment
You can watch a new video explaining how the Voter Restriction Amendment isn’t nearly as simple as it seems.
Why Planned Parenthood opposes the Voter Restriction Amendment
- We support people’s ability to make their voices heard in the electoral process by encouraging people to fully participate in elections, including exercising their right to vote
- We believe that all people, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, race, or economic status have rights that must be respected and protected as well as responsibilities that must be exercised.
- We work to strengthen democracy by supporting a system for exercising the right to vote that has integrity and provides equal access for all.
For these reasons, and many others, we hope that you will vote “No” on the Voter Restriction Amendment.
