Emmer for Governor

Tom Emmer Has Fought for Voter Integrity for Years

July 15, 2010
2:46 PM
Minnetonka

Tags: election integrity, elections, photo ID, voters

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With new questions being raised about the integrity of the Franken/Coleman election contest in 2008, Tom Emmer renewed his call for a photo ID system for Minnesota’s elections.

Tom Emmer has long been an advocate of legislation to require photo identification in order to vote. On February 25 of this year Emmer proposed an amendment to require a photo ID to vote, and to issue voter ID cards for those without other appropriate photo ID cards such as drivers’ licenses or Minnesota ID cards. The amendment was voted down by opponents of common-sense election reform.

Photo identification requirements gained new visibility due to the investigation of voter fraud in the 2008 election. Both Ramsey and Hennepin County are investigating hundreds of cases of possible voter fraud, and Ramsey County has charged 28 people so far with felonies related to voter fraud, and Hennepin County is investigating allegations that 899 suspected felons and 289 confirmed felons who were ineligible to vote had indeed voted in the 2008 election.

“Voter fraud is a very serious issue. Every legal vote should be counted, and every illegal vote cancels out the legal vote of a Democrat, Republican, or Independent,” said Tom Emmer (R–Delano).

“The 2008 election for U.S. Senate was decided by 312 votes. Now it looks like the number of illegal votes could exceed that number by a large margin. It is unfair to the voters of Minnesota and to the certified winner of an election to leave the legitimacy of that election in doubt. Minnesotans deserve to know that their vote counts.

“Democracy is a wonderful thing. And voting is the essence of democracy. It shouldn’t be harder to cash a check than it is to vote. That’s just common sense,” Emmer concluded.