Before its regular session ended, the Minnesota Legislature passed critical Voting Rights legislation that will make it easier for certain populations to register on Election Day. However, it appears that the Secretary of State's Office hasn't done enough to make sure that election officials around the state are aware of the changes, a group that advocated for the legislation says.
A Duluth News-Tribune story that appeared in Thursday's paper did not have the correct information about what it takes to register at the polls. The outdated information was attributed to the Duluth city clerk, who should have gotten updated information from the Secretary of State, the Minnesota Alliance for Progressive Action reported.
"The changes in the Voting Rights bill, which was pushed by the Minnesota Alliance for Progressive Action, Education Minnesota, the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and other members of the Voting Rights Coalition, were seen as critical, which is why they were passed before the regular legislative session adjourned," explained Senator John Hottinger, DFL - St. Peter, one of the chief authors of the bill.
"I'm severely disappointed that the Secretary of State, as the chief elections official, hasn't done the work needed to ensure that election judges are ready to implement them in Tuesday's primary. I would hate to think that she didn't do more because she's afraid that these traditionally underrepresented populations are going to vote for Democrats."
The Voting Rights bill, authored by Representative Morrie Lanning, R - Moorhead, in the House, included three changes that will impact same-day registration. The first is that members of federally recognized Indian Tribes will be able to use Tribal Identifications to register in the same way that one could use a driver's license.
If the Tribal ID has one's name and correct address, it can be used alone to establish one's residency in the precinct. If the Tribal ID has either an incorrect address or doesn't have an address, it can be used in combination with a utility bill dated within 30 days of the election. These changes comply with a court ruling issued just prior to the 2004 general election.
The second change to same-day registration affects residents of residential facilities, including battered women's shelters, homeless shelters and nursing homes. Employees of these facilities will now be able to vouch that the residents live in the precinct, even if the employee is not registered to vote in that precinct.
This change was needed because the residents of these facilities frequently do not have ID with that address, and almost never hang out with the neighbors or others who could vouch for them. In order to be eligible, residential facilities will have had to submit a list of employees to the county 20 days prior to the election.
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The final change to same-day registration is that there will now be a limit on the number of people for whom one can vouch. Registered voters will be able to vouch for up to 15 people. This limit does not apply to employees of residential facilities.
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In addition, challenges of a voter's eligibility to vote will be handled differently. Last fall there were several incidents in which challengers were brought in from out of state and randomly challenged voters, based on nothing more than their appearance. From now on, challenges will have to be made by Minnesota residents, in writing, based upon personal knowledge that the individual is not eligible to vote.
Other changes that voters may notice on Tuesday, Primary Election Day, is that the voter registration cards are new. They now clarify that people under guardianship still have the right to vote unless the judge has specifically taken it away. Also they make clear that a person who has committed a felony but has completed their sentence (including probation and parole) has the right to vote.
Here is the complete list of ways to register on Election Day:
- MN Driver's license, learner's permit, identification card, or receipt for any of these, with your current address
- Tribal ID from a federally recognized Indian Tribe located in Minnesota, which has a photo, your name and current address
- For students, a Registration or Fee statement with the student's name and address, along with a photo ID
- "Notice of Late Registration" postcard from the Secretary of State
- Original utility bill dated within 30 days of the election with voter's name and current address, along with a photo ID (including Military ID, U.S. Passport, Student ID, MN ID, or Tribal ID)
- Someone who is registered in the precinct who has personal knowledge that you live in the district and will vouch for you
- Student ID with a photo for students who live on campus, if your college provided the county with a certified list of students
- If you live at a residential facility, an employee at the facility can vouch that you live in the district, if the facility provided the county with a list of employees 20 days before the election.
When Workday Minnesota checked the Secretary of State's website, www.sos.state.mn.us, none of the new registration information could be found.
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Before its regular session ended, the Minnesota Legislature passed critical Voting Rights legislation that will make it easier for certain populations to register on Election Day. However, it appears that the Secretary of State’s Office hasn’t done enough to make sure that election officials around the state are aware of the changes, a group that advocated for the legislation says.
A Duluth News-Tribune story that appeared in Thursday’s paper did not have the correct information about what it takes to register at the polls. The outdated information was attributed to the Duluth city clerk, who should have gotten updated information from the Secretary of State, the Minnesota Alliance for Progressive Action reported.
“The changes in the Voting Rights bill, which was pushed by the Minnesota Alliance for Progressive Action, Education Minnesota, the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and other members of the Voting Rights Coalition, were seen as critical, which is why they were passed before the regular legislative session adjourned,” explained Senator John Hottinger, DFL – St. Peter, one of the chief authors of the bill.
“I’m severely disappointed that the Secretary of State, as the chief elections official, hasn’t done the work needed to ensure that election judges are ready to implement them in Tuesday’s primary. I would hate to think that she didn’t do more because she’s afraid that these traditionally underrepresented populations are going to vote for Democrats.”
The Voting Rights bill, authored by Representative Morrie Lanning, R – Moorhead, in the House, included three changes that will impact same-day registration. The first is that members of federally recognized Indian Tribes will be able to use Tribal Identifications to register in the same way that one could use a driver’s license.
If the Tribal ID has one’s name and correct address, it can be used alone to establish one’s residency in the precinct. If the Tribal ID has either an incorrect address or doesn’t have an address, it can be used in combination with a utility bill dated within 30 days of the election. These changes comply with a court ruling issued just prior to the 2004 general election.
The second change to same-day registration affects residents of residential facilities, including battered women’s shelters, homeless shelters and nursing homes. Employees of these facilities will now be able to vouch that the residents live in the precinct, even if the employee is not registered to vote in that precinct.
This change was needed because the residents of these facilities frequently do not have ID with that address, and almost never hang out with the neighbors or others who could vouch for them. In order to be eligible, residential facilities will have had to submit a list of employees to the county 20 days prior to the election.
online pharmacy albenza for sale no prescription pharmacy
The final change to same-day registration is that there will now be a limit on the number of people for whom one can vouch. Registered voters will be able to vouch for up to 15 people. This limit does not apply to employees of residential facilities.
buy aciphex online buy aciphex online no prescription
In addition, challenges of a voter’s eligibility to vote will be handled differently. Last fall there were several incidents in which challengers were brought in from out of state and randomly challenged voters, based on nothing more than their appearance. From now on, challenges will have to be made by Minnesota residents, in writing, based upon personal knowledge that the individual is not eligible to vote.
Other changes that voters may notice on Tuesday, Primary Election Day, is that the voter registration cards are new. They now clarify that people under guardianship still have the right to vote unless the judge has specifically taken it away. Also they make clear that a person who has committed a felony but has completed their sentence (including probation and parole) has the right to vote.
Here is the complete list of ways to register on Election Day:
– MN Driver’s license, learner’s permit, identification card, or receipt for any of these, with your current address
– Tribal ID from a federally recognized Indian Tribe located in Minnesota, which has a photo, your name and current address
– For students, a Registration or Fee statement with the student’s name and address, along with a photo ID
– “Notice of Late Registration” postcard from the Secretary of State
– Original utility bill dated within 30 days of the election with voter’s name and current address, along with a photo ID (including Military ID, U.S. Passport, Student ID, MN ID, or Tribal ID)
– Someone who is registered in the precinct who has personal knowledge that you live in the district and will vouch for you
– Student ID with a photo for students who live on campus, if your college provided the county with a certified list of students
– If you live at a residential facility, an employee at the facility can vouch that you live in the district, if the facility provided the county with a list of employees 20 days before the election.
When Workday Minnesota checked the Secretary of State’s website, www.sos.state.mn.us, none of the new registration information could be found.