There are a lot of myths being propagated to fuel the voter-fraud scare that got the voter ID amendment onto the November ballot in Minnesota.
One myth is illegal voting, like voter impersonation. This is something voter ID is said to prevent. That's nice, except Minnesota elections have no evidence that this has happened in the past or is a problem. In fact, Minnesota is nationally recognized for the integrity of our election system.
We have had two recounts, in 2008 and 2010, and no problems were found.
That everyone already has a photo ID that would meet the new law's requirements is also a myth. The amendment allows only three kinds of photo ID: a Minnesota driver's license, a Minnesota-issued photo ID card or a new voter photo ID. Passports, student IDs or an ID without a current address would not be valid. Say goodbye to 11 percent of the voting population which has an ID that does not meet these requirements.
The percentage of people affected by this proposed legislation is higher among certain groups, according to the League of Women Voters: the elderly, 18 percent; African Americans, 25 percent; and people who are low-income, 15 percent. You have to raise an eyebrow at those numbers!
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Luxuries enjoyed by voters before, like absentee ballots, could be eliminated, since your ID has to have your current Minnesota address. An excuse like, "I'm living in Ireland for the semester," wouldn't meet the requirement.
There is also a myth that voting is a privilege to be won or lost. Wrong! Voting is your constitutional right to be exercised as a United States citizen. Vote "no" to Voter ID on Nov. 4.
Bridget Ideker
Duluth
