Ritchie tells court he won’t defend voter ID
Secretary of State Mark Ritchie says he will not defend the ballot wording for a proposed photo ID constitutional amendment when the issue goes before the Minnesota Supreme Court next month.
Ritchie, a Democrat, is named as the defendant in the lawsuit brought by the ACLU and other groups opposed to the amendment, which would require voters to show photo identification at the polls. But in a letter to Chief Justice Lorie Gildea, Ritchie said he will not be filing a brief in the case.
Ritchie has been a vocal opponent of the Republican-backed amendment. Ritchie told the court he will honor its decision on whether the ballot question is accurate and complete, but he will not take a side in the legal challenge.
A spokeswoman for Ritchie said the office would not comment on the letter or the lawsuit.
The court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case on July 17.
Letter From Secretary Ritchie 2 61412
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