The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota is putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to voter fraud. The ACLU is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone who can find someone who has been charged or convicted with impersonating a Minnesota voter after January 1, 2002. "I'll bet you can't find (such a case)", said DFL Representative Tom Rukavina, peering over a stack of dollar bills. "There has been no proven case of anybody impersonating another voter. " DFL lawmakers and the ACLU oppose a Republican backed constitutional amendment requiring voters have a state-issued photo ID. Representative Mindy Greiling (DFL) noted that the right to vote is "protected by more amendments in our US constitution than any other right. " Representative Carly Melin (DFL), one of the youngest members of the legislature said the amendment would prevent many college students from voting. "There are tens of thousands of college students in Minnesota and they move often as they are getting their education. There's nothing criminal about that , unfortunately they will very unlikely be able to use their student ID in order to cast their ballot." The elderly who make up a lot of outstate voters would also find it harder to vote said Representative Tom Anzelc (DFL). " it just strikes me as odd that they would want to suppress turnout in rural Minnesota." Senator Jeff Hayden (DFL), who is black, said the amendment would "turn back history" and effect young people of color. Representative Rukavina added, "to see people putting in legislation that is attempting to stop people from voting is disheartening to me. I think it's un-American."

• published: 13 Feb 2012
• views: 228