MN Vote Suppression Forces Are Freaking Out

Several groups joined to file a lawsuit at the end of May, asking that the proposed Photo ID Amendment be removed from the November election ballot.

Representatives of The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, League of Women Voters Minnesota, Jewish Community Action and Common Cause Minnesota announced the legal challenge (May 30) in a downtown Minneapolis law office. They claim the ballot language that lawmakers passed several weeks ago is vague and misleading.

If you click on this link, and scroll down some, you'll see why the plaintiffs have a solid case.  Whether it's solid enough for the Minnesota Supreme Court to actually remove the proposal remains to be seen;  arguments are scheduled for July 17, and a quick decision has been promised.

The proposal's backers, desperate and (at least) half-crazed with foaming-at-the-mouth fanaticism, are girding their loins.  The infamous far-right group "Minnesota Majority" is demanding to be involved in this, as are a notorious pair of legislators.

Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer and Sen. Scott Newman, who sponsored the measure, asked to become part of the lawsuit in addition to the only named respondent, Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, according to papers their attorneys filed with the Minnesota Supreme Court on Thursday.

An attorney for the pair said they were concerned that Ritchie - a vocal Photo ID opponent - wouldn't adequately represent the legislative majorities' interests in court.

It's hard to imagine the court being impressed by this cavalcade of clowns;  the majority of its members likely share most of the public's opinion of Minnesota Republicans, in the wake of the past two years of incompetence, scandal, and failure.  However, the justices are professionals, and the involvement of such an intellectually and psychologically challenged bunch on one side of the issue won't prevent them from ruling based on the legal merits of the case itself. Otherwise, we could be celebrating already.