Group Fighting Voter ID Plan Enlists Big Names

ST. PAUL  (AP) - Former Democratic Vice President Walter Mondale and former Republican Gov. Arne Carlson are offering themselves as the public face of a fight against a Minnesota constitutional amendment requiring voters to present photo IDs at the polls.

The pair was introduced Tuesday as two of four co-chairs of the Our Vote Our Future coalition's campaign against the ballot measure. Voters will decide in November whether to make government-issued photo identification essential to election participation.

The advisory committee is decidedly heavy with former Democratic officeholders. But Carlson says he thinks moderate Republicans will turn against the proposed amendment when they delve into uncertainties over implementation costs and logistics.

Mondale told a news conference that he believes the requirement is intended to discourage voting. Supporters argue it's a guard against voter fraud.

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