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State House passes photo ID amendment proposal

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Mar 21, 2012 at 6:49 am

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A proposal to make Minnesota voters show a photo ID at the polls is now halfway to a spot on the November ballot.

The full Minnesota House passed the proposed constitutional amendment in a 72-62 vote after a nine-hour floor debate.

VOTER ID BILL: Read HF2738, the House-passed bill requiring photo identification for any Minnesota voter

Much of the debate sprang from Democrats worried that the amendment would change how same-day registration works and create barriers to voting for certain groups without access to proper photo IDs, including minorities, students and the elderly.

Democrats offered 15 amendments to the proposal, most of which aimed to make the photo ID requirement more specific. Before Tuesday's debate House Democrats had said the amendment is vaguely worded and predicted it could lead to lawsuits if passed.

The full Senate may take action on the companion bill this week.