Lawmakers roll out photo ID legislation

A Senate committee Monday engaged in the rare practice of allowing a state representative to testify.

Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake, talked to the committee about requiring voters to show a photo identification at the polls. She is a former secretary of state.

The bill she and Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, promoted would require a special state-funded photo ID.

Sen. John Howe, R-Red Wing, introduced his own photo ID bill, which would allow existing cards such as driver’s license, tribal ID or other state- and -tribal-issued ID.

“My bill embraces the concept that less is more,” Howe said. “This is a low cost way of making sure we don’t have disenfranchised voters.”

The committee will further consider the issue later this week.

Tags: news, legislature, government, minnesota, updates