Skip to Main Content

Client Success

Voter ID Amendment: Maslon Attorneys In Forefront of Battle Against the Amendment

June 15, 2012

During the spring and summer of 2012, Minnesota's attention was focused on a variety of issues being voted upon in the upcoming elections in November 2012, including the contest between presidential candidates and the many races which would determine control of the Minnesota legislature. One of the highest profile MN campaigns was that waged by Minnesotans United against the proposed constitutional amendment which would ban same-sex marriage.

Far less attention was being paid by the public to what was initially a lower profile contest in which an amendment was being proposed to the Minnesota Constitution to require voters to present a valid state issued picture identification at polling places before being allowed to vote—what came to be known as the "Voter ID amendment." Although polls had consistently shown that voters approved the proposed Voter ID amendment by a margin of more than 80%, many in the state, including the League of Women Voters and Common Cause, opposed the Voter ID amendment on multiple grounds.

At the request of the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, Maslon partner and ACLU-MN board member Bill Pentelovitch undertook representation of the League of Women Voters, Common Cause, Jewish Community Action, and several voters in a challenge to the placement of the proposed Voter ID amendment on the ballot. Under Minnesota law, such challenges are filed directly in the Minnesota Supreme Court, which hears and decides such matters on an expedited basis.

Bill, with the assistance of Maslon attorneys Rich Wilson and Catherine Ahlin-Halverson as well as former Maslon attorney Wayne Moskowitz, put together the petition to the Supreme Court and necessary briefs during June, and Bill argued the case before the Supreme Court in July. In addition, on behalf of Common Cause, Jewish Community Action, the ACLU-MN, and several individuals, Bill and the Maslon team filed an amicus curiae brief in the Minnesota Supreme Court in a separate action which had been commenced challenging the Secretary of State's selection of a title for the Voter ID amendment on the ballot.

Although the Supreme Court ruled against Maslon's clients in both cases, each decision drew vigorous dissents by Justices Paul Anderson and Alan Page. Maslon's brief, together with those dissents, framed the public discourse about the Voter ID amendment during the final two months of the campaign. Bill Pentelovitch participated in several forums debating the amendment against its proponents.

Ultimately, Minnesota voters soundly rejected the Voter ID amendment. For his efforts, Minnesota Lawyer named Bill Pentelovitch one of its 2012 Lawyers of the Year.

DISCLAIMER

Thank you for your interest in contacting us by email.

Please do not submit any confidential information to Maslon via email on this website. By communicating with us we are not establishing an attorney-client relationship, and information you submit will not be protected by the attorney-client privilege and cannot be treated as confidential. A client relationship will not be formed until we have entered into a formal agreement. You should also be aware that we may currently represent parties whose interests may be adverse to yours, and we reserve the right to continue to represent them notwithstanding any communication we receive from you.

If you would like to discuss possible representation, please call one of our attorneys directly or use our general line (p 612.672.8200). We can then fully discuss our intake procedures and, if appropriate, introduce you to an attorney suited to assist with your matter. Alternatively, you may send us an email containing a general inquiry subject to these terms.

If you accept the terms of this notice and would like to send an email, click on the "Accept" button below. Otherwise, please click "Decline."

MEDIA INQUIRIES

We welcome the opportunity to assist you with your media inquiry. To ensure we do so properly and promptly, please feel free to contact our representative below directly by phone or via the email option provided. We look forward to hearing from you.

Emily Gurnon, Marketing Communications Manager | Office: 612.672.8251 | Mobile: 651.785.3616

EMAIL DISCLAIMER

This email is intended for use by members of the media only.

Please do not submit any confidential information to Maslon via email on this website. By communicating with us we are not establishing an attorney-client relationship, and information you submit will not be protected by the attorney-client privilege and cannot be treated as confidential. A client relationship will not be formed until we have entered into a formal agreement. You should also be aware that we may currently represent parties whose interests may be adverse to yours, and we reserve the right to continue to represent them notwithstanding any communication we receive from you.

If you would like to discuss possible representation, please call one of our attorneys directly or use our general line (p 612.672.8200). We can then fully discuss our intake procedures and, if appropriate, introduce you to an attorney suited to assist with your matter. Alternatively, you may send an email containing a general inquiry subject to these terms.

If you are a member of the media, accept the terms of this notice, and would like to send an email, click on the "Accept" button below. Otherwise, please click "Decline."