Minnesota Senate Approves Photo ID For Voting

ST. PAUL  (AP) - The Minnesota Senate has passed a bill requiring all Minnesotans to present a photo ID in order to vote.

The bill passed Thursday on a vote of 37-26. Republicans who sponsored the bill say it will boost confidence in state elections after two recent statewide recounts.

But there's no evidence of widespread voter fraud problems in Minnesota, and Democrats say the stricter requirement will make it harder to vote for the elderly, disabled and low-income people.

The bill provides free picture IDs to all voters, but to get one requires a birth certificate or other form of identification that bill critics say may carry a cost or be tough to obtain.

Democrats say they doubt Gov. Mark Dayton will support the bill, but Republican sponsors are preparing to put it on the 2012 ballot if Dayton vetoes it.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)