SECRETARY OF STATE DENYING COLLEGE STUDENTS RIGHT TO VOTE

11/07/2006

(ST. PAUL) 11/7/06 – Republican Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer today overruled local Minneapolis election officials and ordered that several University of Minnesota students could not use their utility bills to register to vote. A lawsuit is being prepared on behalf of the students to force Kiffmeyer to obey the law and let the students vote.

“It’s sad that we’ve reached this point, but I’m not surprised,” Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez said. “For eight years, we have seen a pattern of Mary Kiffmeyer using her office to disenfranchise her opponents’ supporters, and now she has reached a new low.

“Quite simply, she is breaking the law in not letting these students register to vote. Thankfully we have an eminently qualified candidate in Mark Ritchie, who can step in and start running the office effectively, and within the law.”