Voting ID Requirement Could Land On Minn. Ballot

ST. PAUL (AP) - State House Republicans are proposing that Minnesota voters decide whether a photo ID should be necessary to cast a ballot.

Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer introduced a bill Wednesday calling for an amendment to the state constitution requiring a photo ID for voting. The bill has 33 Republican co-sponsors, including Speaker Kurt Zellers and Majority Leader Matt Dean.

Kiffmeyer, of Big Lake, already introduced a bill to put the requirement in state statute. But a constitutional amendment would bypass a possible veto of that bill from Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, who has expressed concerns about such a requirement. The governor cannot block state lawmakers from putting constitutional amendments on the ballot.

The Senate bill to put the requirement in statute could get a floor vote Thursday.