(VIDEO) Could Electronic Poll Books Bridge the Voter ID Divide?
Rep. Steve Simon (DFL-District 44A) supported the technology at a Tuesday committee hearing.
This legislative session, state Rep. Steve Simon (DFL-District 44A) has been an early advocate for using technology to overcome partisan divides over voter ID.
By the time February began, Simon was already suggesting the state could use electronic poll books—an electronic system that would store photos and information at the polling location. Voters would show up and be verified against the computer, but they wouldn’t necessarily have to bring their own ID.
On Tuesday, he again made the case for the technology when Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie discussed electronic poll books at a State Government Finance Committee meeting. After Edina Rep. Keith Downey (R-District 41A) questioned why Ritchie would back such technology before the state had a voter ID requirement, Simon spoke about the benefits he saw from electronic poll books.
Voter ID has become a flashpoint between Republicans and DFLers. Democrats argue it would disenfranchise the elderly, disabled, minorities and others who could have trouble obtaining an ID. Republicans say the state needs a better way to combat voter fraud.
(Video courtesy of UpTakeVideo.)
Bruce Rowan
12:03 pm on Wednesday, February 29, 2012
If you ask me (and no one has), the whole voter ID movement is intended to keep people away from the polls, not get them there. I'm for anything that encourages and allows people to decide, even on Election Day itself, that it is, indeed, important for them to vote. There should be no obstacles to that.