Minnesota High Court Sets July 17 Photo ID Hearing

ST. PAUL  (AP) - The Minnesota Supreme Court has set oral arguments for July 17 on a petition to remove a constitutional amendment from the November ballot that would require voters to present photo IDs at the polls.

The challenge was filed last week by four groups and five individual Minnesota voters. They say the ballot language doesn't accurately describe the amendment.

One of them, Common Cause of Minnesota, said in a statement Wednesday that the expedited schedule gives the court sufficient time to decide whether to strike the question before ballots are printed in August.

The Legislature approved the ballot question this spring. Supporters say photo IDs would block voter fraud. Opponents say there's little voter fraud in Minnesota, and that requiring photo IDs would discourage citizens who don't have them from voting.

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