Letter - Electoral system needs safeguards

To the editor:

Our Minnesota Constitution establishes qualifications for voters: must be 18 years old; must be U.S. citizen; must have resided in precinct 30 days before election; if residence changes within that 30-day period, statutes determine how residency established.

Our Constitution establishes who cannot vote: not meeting above requirements; if convicted of treason or felony, unless civil rights restored; if under guardianship, if insane or mentally incompetent.

Minnesota statutes currently contain voter identification procedures, including a valid Minnesota driver’s license or other state identification card. Also included is a vouching procedure where a registered voter in a precinct can vouch for up to 15 people on Election Day if they claim they have no proper identification. Minnesota is one of two states allowing vouching without having to provide identification. The vouching procedure on Election Day treats these voters differently than pre-registered voters due to differing legal qualifications and can lead to voter fraud.

U.S. Supreme Court in Crawford v. Marion Co. Election Board said: “The electoral system cannot inspire public confidence if no safeguards exist to deter or detect fraud or to confirm the identity of voters.”

Vote yes for the Voter ID Amendment.

Carol J. Cassell

Alexandria, MN

(A paid political letter)

Tags: opinion, letters