MN Panel Hears From Both Sides On Voter ID bill

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A House panel has listened to impassioned voices on both sides of a proposal to require photo identification for voters.

The Government Operations and Elections Committee spent almost two hours Thursday hearing testimony on two photo ID bills. The panel is slated to vote on the bills next Tuesday.

The proposals from Republican Reps. Mike Benson and Mary Kiffmeyer would require voters to show a photo ID before receiving a ballot at their polling place. Both bills include provisions for free government IDs for those who lack driver's licenses or other acceptable forms of identification.

Advocates for senior citizens, battered women, college students and disabled people say the requirement would disenfranchise voters.

Supporters of the bills say Minnesota's current system is too loose and could be abused.

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