Letter: Weigh both amendments carefully

To the Editor:

If the voter ID amendment passes, it will change the state Constitution. But there are still numerous questions on how it will be implemented fairly and widely.

Absentee voting is not addressed and how do you verify ID for this critical portion of the vote? Will all absentee ballots also be considered provisional until a person produces suitable ID? Think servicemen serving overseas or in another state.

I have known how and where to get “fake” IDs since junior high. If a student has this ability, don’t you think someone who wants to vote illegally would?

Probably the largest question: Is this an answer looking for a problem?

To my knowledge there have been no verifiable and prosecuted cases of voter identity fraud in Minnesota in 10 years. This amendment does nothing to eliminate an illegible person with a valid ID from voting — felons, people who have not changed address, to name a couple. You can get a valid ID and not be a citizen.

On the second proposed amendment — the so-called “marriage amendment.” The biggest reason to agree to this is because we might be “forcing” churches to preform marriages against their beliefs. You do not have to be married in a “church” to be legally married. You have to go to the courthouse, fill out a form, pay the fee and have them “certify” the marriage. That is why the state requires a marriage license. You can be married by justice of the peace, in a church or by anyone who has paid a fee to be recognized by the state to perform the ceremony. I think for $50 I can perform marriages.

So, the main argument to pass this amendment is bogus. Please do not force the state to discriminate against a group of people just because they are different than you. Remember, it was not that long ago it was illegal for people of different races to marry. I had hoped we had grown beyond this.

These are just a few reasons not to rush into changing our constitution without due diligence. Think carefully. But no matter what decision you come to, please remember to vote.

Mary Nehring

Red Wing

Tags: letters, opinion, election