Amendment Will Make it Harder for Minnesotans to Vote
In response to the Legislature's passage of a constitutional amendment imposing strict photo ID rules for citizens to vote, Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson issued the following statement:
"Plain and simple, this amendment will do more to prevent law-abiding Minnesotans from voting than actually stopping any fraud at the ballot box.
"This amendment puts an undue burden on seniors, members of the military, students, people of color, the disabled, and absentee voters who may not have the specific kind of identification this unnecessary amendment requires.
"This amendment all but eliminates election-day registration and prevents the use of newer technologies to improve our now nationally-recognized election system.
"If voters approve this amendment, it will be harder to legally vote in Minnesota than it is in nearly every other state.
"It's unfortunate that this is amendment marks the first time in state history that an amendment is put before Minnesotans without even a shred of bipartisan support.
"The Minnesota AFL-CIO joins with organizations such as the League of Women Voters, AARP, and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits in actively opposing this amendment.
"Going forward, Minnesota's unions will educate our members and the general public about why this amendment should not be part of our state's constitution."
