A voice for Rural America
The League of Rural Voters uses grassroots organizing and communications tools to connect with rural voters in pivotal Midwestern states, focusing on issues like economic development, Social Security, immigration, trade and farm policy, health care and education. We work to make sure the voices of rural America continue to be heard. Join us.
OP-ED
10/10/2012
Voter ID amendment imposes huge costs
Huge questions dog Voter ID amendment: With less than a week to Election Day, it's incredible that so much remains unknown about Minnesota's proposed constitutional amendment on elections Cost? Impacts? Neither of those basic questions have sure answers today. This represents more than just political folly. It is a wholesale failure of leadership, given the fact that Republican lawmakers didn't demand such answers before voting en masse to put this question on the ballot for the rest of us to decide. An op-ed by Cynthia Moothart appearing in the Grand Forks Herald.
Read full op-ed.
OP-ED
10/09/2012
Voter ID amendment would burden counties
Backers of the elections amendment continue with a full-throated defense that it’ll result in only minor change to Minnesota’s voting system. Undermining those claims, however, are their own words, given they freely admit its full impacts won’t be known until supporting legislation is written next year. A growing body of evidence by nonpartisan sources has begun to fill in the blanks. And what it’s showing is startling, particularly where local taxpayers are concerned. An op-ed by Cynthia Moothart appearing in the Duluth News Tribune.
Read full op-ed.
OP-ED
10/08/2012
Take a closer look
Proponents tell us the elections amendment on the ballot this November is no big deal because the state will provide a free ID card to anyone currently without one. A closer look reveals that passage of the amendment would mean much more -- and would seriously impact taxpayers in Martin County. An op-ed by Cynthia Moothart appearing in the Fairmont Sentinel.
Read full op-ed.
OP-ED
10/02/2012
Costs of voter ID remain absurdly vague
Even the amendment’s chief authors admit that Minnesotans are being put in the impossible position of voting on an issue around which concrete facts don’t exist. In other words, we have no idea at this point what we’re being asked to pay for. An op-ed by Cynthia Moothart appearing in the Caledonia Argus.
Read full op-ed.
OP-ED
09/16/2012
Protect the rights of democracy’s defenders
A national group dedicated to preserving the voting rights of military personnel recently praised Minnesota for its leadership, designating the state an All-Star as part of its Heroes Vote Initiative. The proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot in November threatens to undo these gains—and take away the right of democracy’s defenders serving abroad from participating in elections here at home. An op-ed by Cynthia Moothart appearing in the Winona Daily News.
Read full op-ed.
OP-ED
09/04/2012
Costly Minnesota voter ID amendment 'solves' an imaginary problem
In the wake of the Minnesota Supreme Court’s ruling on Aug. 27, Minnesotans will decide in November whether we rewrite our state Constitution to include new restrictions on voting, including the need to show photo ID at the polls. In its decision, the court affirmed the Legislature’s authority to place amendments on the ballot. Missing was proof that an amendment was even needed in this case. An op-ed by Cynthia Moothart, appearing in the Grand Forks Herald.
Read full op-ed.
REPORT
09/01/2012
Military Voting Update: A Bleak Picture in 2012
A national group dedicated to preserving the voting rights of military personnel recently praised Minnesota for its leadership, designating the state an All-Star as part of its Heroes Vote Initiative. The proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot in November threatens to undo these gains—and take away the right of democracy’s defenders serving abroad from participating in elections here at home.
Read full report (PDF).
OP-ED
08/30/2012
Court decision will have negative effect on rural Minnesota
In its decision, the Minnesota Supreme Court affirmed the legislature's authority to place amendments on the ballot. Missing was proof that one was even needed in this case, and that makes for an unfortunate and shortsighted opinion. An op-ed by Cynthia Moothart, appearing in the Montevideo American-News.
Read full op-ed.
FARM BILL
07/12/2012
League of Rural Voters joins Coalition in Support of Mclntyre Amendment for Infrastructure and Rural Economic Development in the Farm Bill
The amendment would direct $50 million dollars in mandatory spending to address the water and wastewater backlog at USDA. .
Read support letter (PDF)
Top of the List
Visit GreaterMNCounts to learn what the proposed constitutional amendment on elections would mean for outstate Minnesotans and their communities.
