Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party

Severson pledges to support "all efforts" to disenfranchise voters with photo ID requirements, takes his show on the road

St. Paul (June 17, 2010) - GOP candidate for Secretary of State, Dan Severson, held his most recent political stunt earlier this week, pledging to support extreme measures that would disenfranchise voters around the state, then kicked off a state-wide tour to promote photo ID requirements for voting.

"Minnesota has one of the best systems of voting in the country - as evidenced by last year's recount which was blessed by 12 judges and nationally recognized as an example of democracy at work," said DFL spokesperson Kristin Sosanie. "Dan Severson once again is simply trying to drum up controversy where three is none in an effort to make himself seem relevant."

Minnesota has several requirements for proving residence when registering to vote, but because not everyone has a credit card or driver's license, a government-issued photo ID is not currently required. Instead of focusing on how include people into Minnesota's voting system, Severson pledged to support all efforts to disenfranchise voters by requiring photo identification at the polls.

Background:

Severson touring state trying to make himself seem relevant. "Stopping in Mankato and three other towns Tuesday, Severson promoted legislation requiring photo IDs for voters and signed up legislative candidates to take a "voter protection pledge." [Mankato Free Press, 6/15/10]

Photo ID requirement is a solution in search of a problem. Minnesota has one of the best systems of voting in the nation. There are security measures in place to make sure that the people voting are eligible to vote. Even Senator Coleman's lawyers, who had every motivation in the world to find voter fraud in 2008's election, commented "we were looking for fraud, and we didn't see it." [Almanac, 2/5/10]

Photo ID requirement will disenfranchise tens of thousands of eligible voters.

• Not everyone who is eligible to vote has a credit card or a valid photo ID. There are plenty of requirements for proving residence when registering to vote. Requiring a valid government issued photo ID is just too restrictive. Senior citizens who no longer drive, families who have recently moved, students and young voters without a license, as well as those who cannot afford the fees associated with government issued IDs would all be negatively affected by the ID requirement.

• "Repeated Republican attempts to make the change have been defeated by Democrats in the Legislature, who say the requirement would disproportionately reduce participation in elections by the poor, disabled and minorities. It would also make it harder for college students who don't have an up-to-date address on their drivers license to vote in their college town." [Mankato Free Press, 6/15/10]