The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota is very pleased with United States District Court's decision today to dismiss Minnesota Voter's Alliance case challenging Election Day Registration and the eligibility of individuals to vote who are under guardianship in Minnesota.
While not a party to the case, we have been monitoring the case closely because of the potential negative impact it would have on hundreds of thousands of Minnesota voters. We believe that Minnesota has a great voting system, and that Election Day Registration is an integral part of that. We consistently have the highest voter turnout in the nation, of which we should be proud. Voting is such an important and fundamental right that states should always encourage and have easy access to the ballot box for all eligible citizens.
Currently in Minnesota when you register on Election Day individuals must certify that they are eligible to vote, under threat of criminal prosecution if they do so falsely. This is a valid system that has been working well since implemented. In 2008, 500,000 voters used Election Day Registration; it is clearly well liked and used heavily and we want it to continue.
In addition the court upheld that Minnesota's guardianship laws were constitutional ensuring that individuals who are under guardianship retain their right to vote (as long as it has not been taken away). The ACLU is glad that the court affirmed t our guardianship law as well which safeguards the right to vote of some of society's most vulnerable.