Sun Sep 23, 2012, 02:47 PM

Brickbat (14,423 posts)

Minnesota Poll: More than half of those polled back voter ID, but support is down

Last edited Sun Sep 23, 2012, 02:47 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/170857591.html?refer=y

Minnesotans favor a constitutional change that would require voters to show government-issued photo ID before casting ballots, but their support has weakened dramatically over the past year, the Star Tribune Minnesota Poll has found.

Slightly more than half of likely voters polled -- 52 percent -- want the changes built around a photo ID requirement, while 44 percent oppose them and 4 percent are undecided.

That is a far cry from the 80 percent support for photo ID in a May 2011 Minnesota Poll, when the issue was debated as a change in state law. Support among Democrats has cratered during a year marked by court battles, all-night legislative debates and charges that the GOP is attempting to suppress Democratic votes.

Keep it up, Minnesotans! Talk about it! Write letters! Check out some easy-to-share Facebook stuff!

https://www.facebook.com/VoteNoTwice

https://www.facebook.com/OurVoteOurFuture?ref=stream

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7 replies	Author	Time	Post
Minnesota Poll: More than half of those polled back voter ID, but support is down (Original post)	Brickbat	Sep 2012	OP
It's easy to poll 'yes' when you already have an acceptable ID.	PSPS	Sep 2012	#1
Yeah it's down a bit	Mnpaul	Sep 2012	#2
That's good news.	geardaddy	Sep 2012	#3
The tricky thing about this amendment is that is sounds so reasonable -	dflprincess	Sep 2012	#4
And what constitutes valid photo ID isn't defined	Mnpaul	Sep 2012	#7
I think it's hard for rural and suburban (especially suburban) voters to understand	Lydia Leftcoast	Sep 2012	#5
Excellent points.	geardaddy	Sep 2012	#6

Response to Brickbat (Original post)

Sun Sep 23, 2012, 03:59 PM

PSPS (4,196 posts)

1. It's easy to poll 'yes' when you already have an acceptable ID.

Public policy, especially the right to vote, shouldn't be subject to the whims of polls. It's not a matter for a plebiscite. What next? Polling the south and then enacting laws to ban mixed-race marriages? Legalize slavery? Each could easily be "backed" in some polls.

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Response to Brickbat (Original post)

Sun Sep 23, 2012, 10:12 PM

Mnpaul (1,417 posts)

2. Yeah it's down a bit

from that 80% number they like to quote.

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Response to Brickbat (Original post)

Mon Sep 24, 2012, 11:54 AM

geardaddy (14,313 posts)

3. That's good news.

I've talked to a few liberal-leaning folks who don't see a problem with voter ID. I've set them straight now though.

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Response to geardaddy (Reply #3)

Mon Sep 24, 2012, 10:11 PM

dflprincess (19,526 posts)

4. The tricky thing about this amendment is that is sounds so reasonable -

especially to those who have a drivers license or state ID. Fortunately, there are people who can understand that it's not so benign when the problems are explained to them.

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Response to dflprincess (Reply #4)

Wed Sep 26, 2012, 03:03 PM

Mnpaul (1,417 posts)

7. And what constitutes valid photo ID isn't defined

other than "government issued" and that will be their next problem if it would pass. They have to come up with something Dayton will sign with little time to do it.

"Government issued" is pretty damn vague. Tribal ID could be considered government issued. ID's from the "U" could be considered government issued.

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Response to geardaddy (Reply #3)

Wed Sep 26, 2012, 10:55 AM

Lydia Leftcoast (46,807 posts)

5. I think it's hard for rural and suburban (especially suburban) voters to understand

that not everyone has a driver's license, but it does help to remind them that a driver's license 1) Proves current address only if the holder has gotten around to getting the address changed within two weeks of the election, 2) Says nothing about citizenship, since legal immigrants and temporary residents are allowed to get driver's licenses, and 3) Says nothing about one's prison record, if any. In fact, there is no ID in existence that proves that one has never been a felon.

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Response to Lydia Leftcoast (Reply #5)

Wed Sep 26, 2012, 02:13 PM

geardaddy (14,313 posts)

6. Excellent points.

I'm going to use those the next time I talk to someone who thinks Voter ID is a good idea. Thanks!

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