Dear Legislative Leaders: We, as people of faith in the state of Minnesota, urge you not to put a voter ID amendment

on the ballot. People of faith believe that all human life is sacred. In virtually all faith traditions, God creates humans with dignity and value. God intends people to participate in the human community, and to be able to do so with inherent respect. We believe that democracy is most completeand therefore most powerfulwhen it embraces people on the margins of society. We believe that democracy at its best engages participation from the most diverse and gifted gathering of Gods whole people. In face of these values, the proposed voter ID referendum in Minnesota seeks to reduce the number of people who participate in our democracy. Passage of the proposed referendum would primarily reduce voters of color, the elderly, students, poor and non-English-speaking voters. Effectively this gives more influence to a smaller number of wealthy, privileged and primarily White voters. Furthermore, passage of the referendum would effectively eliminate voting as a right, making it a privilege instead. People of faith recognize the proposed referendum as an attack on democracy, reducing participation rather than expanding it. It would also increase government expense and power, requiring an expanded system to evaluate and process voter IDs. A deeply troubling implication recognized by people of faith is that the proposed referendum would reduce the number of people of color who could vote. One of the primary objectives of the civil rights campaign in the US was voter registration. In its attack on citizens right to vote, the proposed referendum seeks to increase white power, and would dangerously isolate White America from an increasingly diverse and gifted world. People of faith see the proposed referendum as profoundly cynical and backward. Additionally, the proposed referendum would reduce the number of poor people who could vote, for it will be people of limited economic resource, limited time and limited mobility who will have most difficulty obtaining voter identification cards. By reducing the number of poor who vote, the proposed referendum seeks to increase the political power and influence of the wealthiest and most privileged classes of our society. It is for these reasons that we urge our legislative leaders to not put the Voter ID amendment on the 2012 ballot and ensure that Minnesota continues a proud legacy of high voter turnout and participation in our democracy.

Barbara Thomalla, OSM Anne Attean, Pastoral Associate Bishop Fred Washington Cindy Boggs, Pastoral Associate Deacon David Lindmeier Elder Alfred Babington-Johnson Fr. Don Piche Br. John Kerr Pr. Linda McPeak Pr. Michelene Verlautz Pr. Patrick Cabello Hansel Rabbi Adam Spilker Rabbi Amy Eilberg Rabbi Avi Olitzky Rabbi David Locketz Rabbi David Wirtschafter Rabbi Esther Adler Rabbi Harold Kravitz Rabbi Melissa Simon Rabbi Michael Latz Rabbi Morris Allen Rabbi Norman Cohen Rabbi Shosh Dworsky Rabbi Sim Glaser, Rabbi Yonatan Sadoff Rev. Allan Negstad Rev. Anita Hill Rev. Anne Hokenstad Rev. Aretta-Rie Johnson Rev. Barbara Winter Martin Rev. Becky Sechrist Rev. Bruce C. Arnevik Rev. Chris Becker Rev. Chris Duckworth Rev. Dana Reynolds Rev. Diane M. Roth Rev. Dr. Charles Gill Rev. Dr. James A. Siefkes

Servants of Mary, Vadnais Heights Ascension Church, Minneapolis Minnesota Jurisdictional Prelate COGIC Policy Board Member: His Works United, Minneapolis Church of the Ascension, Minneapolis Church of St. Peter, St. Cloud CEO Stairstep Foundation, Policy Board Member, His Works United, Minneapolis St. Joseph the Worker, Maple Grove St. Bridget Church, Minneapolis St. Johns Lutheran Church, Shakopee Augustana Lutheran Church, Minneapolis St. Paul Lutheran Church, Minneapolis Mount Zion Temple, St. Paul Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning Beth El Congregation, St Louis Park Bet Shalom Congregation, Minnetonka Jewish Community Action Hamline University Wesley Center Adath Jeshurun, Minnetonka Shir Tikvah Congregation, Minneapolis Shir Tikvah Congregation, Minneapolis Beth Jacob Congregation, Mendota Heights Bet Shalom Congregation, Minnetonka Carleton College, Associate Chaplain for Interfaith Life Temple Israel, St Paul Adath Jeshurun, Minnetonka Evangelical Lutheran Church in America St. Paul Reformation Lutheran Church, St. Paul House of Prayer Lutheran Church, Richfield Resurrection Temple Church, St. Paul Non-Denominational, Sortell Good Samaritan UMC, Edina St. Lukes Lutheran Church, Bloomington Amazing Grace Lutheran Church, Inver Grove Heights Grace Lutheran Church, St. Paul Michael Servetus Unitarian Church, Fridley Woodlake Lutheran Church, Richfield Pilgrim Missionary Baptist, St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Rev. Dr. Paul Sponheim Rev. Gary Dreier Rev. Grant Stevensen Rev. James Erlandson Rev. Jane McBride Rev. Jen Nagel Rev. Jin Kim Rev. Joanne Sylvander Rev. Joetta Schlabach Rev. Jonathan Zielske Rev. Joo H. Kim Rev. Karen Stevensen Rev. Keith Olstad Rev. Laurie Eaton Rev. Lawrence Pray Rev. Lee Snook Rev. Mark Vinge Rev. Mary Albing Rev. Patricia Lull Rev. Paul Slack Rev. Paul Tideman Rev. Ralph Baumgartner Rev. Roland Hayes Rev. Roy Vanderwerf Rev. Sandy Dodson Rev. Stacey Gassman Rev. Stan Sledz Rev. Sue Tjornehoj Rev. Suzan Ireland Rev. Tara Bauer Rev. Trudy Cretsinger Rev. Wendy Jerome Roxanne Smith, Social Justice Dir. Sister Amata Miller Sister Betty Kenny, OSF Sister Gert Brixius Sister Ramona Miller

Luther Seminary, St. Paul Christ Lutheran on Capitol Hill, St. Paul St. Matthews Lutheran Church, St. Paul Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, St. Paul First Congregational Church of MN UCC, Minneapolis Salem Lutheran Church, Minneapolis Church of All Nations, Minneapolis United Church of Christ Faith Mennonite Church, Minneapolis Hope Lutheran Church, St. Paul Knox Presbyterian Church, St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, St. Paul St. Paul Reformation Lutheran Church, St. Paul Our Saviours Lutheran Church, Minneapolis Union Theological Seminary, Minneapolis Luther Seminary, St. Paul House of Hope Lutheran Church, New Hope Lutheran Church of Christ the Redeemer, Minneapolis St. Paul Area Council of Churches, Executive Director, St. Paul New Creation Church, Minneapolis Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, St. Paul Galilee Lutheran Church, Roseville St. Michaels Lutheran Church, Roseville Champlin United Methodist Church, Champlin Mayflower, St. Paul First Congregational Church of MN , UCC Maplewood Director, Evangelical Mission-Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA, Minneapolis Judson Memorial Baptist Church, Minneapolis Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, St. Paul Unitarian Universalist St. Joseph the Worker, Maple Grove St. Catherine University, St. Paul Sisters of St. Francis, Rochester St. Bridget's Church, Minneapolis Assisi Height, Rochester

Aaron Rosenthal Aaron Sinner Adele Brown Allison Devney Althea Danielski Amity Foster Amy Long Aneesa Parks Anita Swanson Ann Mickelson Hebble Ann Mongoven Anna Boyle Anna Lynn Ardyce Davies Ariella Tilsen Art Serotoff Barbara Glaser Barbara NordstromLoeb Barbara Wagner Barbara Wiener Belle B Scott Ben Ament Ben Miller Beverly Ryan Bill Aberman Bill Daly Bill Keats Bill Lerman Bill Urbanski Bob Windels Bradley Schwieger Brian Zaidman Brita Kukich Bruce Eldevik Carin Mrotz Carla Johnson Carol Berg Carol Bromer Carol Nelson Charlotte Fisher Charlotte Stephens

Cheryl Westman Christin Scanlon Cindy Croft Cindy Dubansky Dan McGowan Daniel Zielske Dave Snyder David Brom David Leitzman Debbie Meister Debra Hoffman Debra Long Diane Shallue Diane Vener Donald S. Masler Dr. Barry B. Cohen Dr. Edward and Joyce Ratner Dr. Louis Newman Dr. Ozzie Mayers Dr. Steven Derfler Dr. Sunday Enubuzor Elain Tyler May Elizabeth Andress Eric Howard Erica Bryan-Wegner Francesca Mucciacciao Francis Farell Fylla Kildegaard Gary Sheppard Gerald Effinger Gerald Martens Glenn Choquette Gregory King Gretchen Goodman Harriet C. McCleary Helen Gleason Jack O'Leary James W. Tuthill James Zenter Jan Daly

Jane Frymire Jane Katz Jane Truhlar Janice Goldstein Jason Witack Jeanne Kaufman Jennifer Thaney Jennifer Toms Jerry Kahlert Joan Haan Joan Kampmeyer Joan Molenaar Joan Paulson Joan Urbanski Joanne Negstad Joe Foss Joe Meyer Joyce Bonafield-Pierce Joyce Levitan Judy Grauer Judy Jones Judy Miller Judy Rein Judy Will Julie Anderson Karen Starr Kate Hess Pace Kathy Keys Kathy Steinhauer Kelsey Johnston Kevin Anderson Kjensmo Walker Kristy Effinger Larry Hampel Larry Molenaar Lars Negstad Laura Hope Melton Lauren Bastien Lee and Diane Rosenthal Leigh Rosenberg Leonard Levitan

Linda Fingarson Lisa Amman Lisa Cannon-Ratliff Lisa Mathieson Lisa Middag Lois Wintersteen Louis Haut-Prokop Mae Lou Thompson Margaret Boatz Margaret Villanueva Margot Monson Maria Menendez Marian Moore Marita Buold Martha Burchardt Mary Ann Sachs Mary Anne McGuire Mary Ellen Briel Mary Lerman Mary Louise Klas Mary Oberg Mary Slobig Mary Vitcenda Maryellen Skan Matt Gladue Matthew Hausman Maxine Barnett Melissa Rudnick Michael Risse Michael Trepanier Mitchell Davis, Jr. Monica Bravo-Carbajal Myra Hennes Nancy Kleeman Nancy Vanderberg Naomi Nygaard Nick Allen Nina Samuels Nonnie Osendorf Pamela Cook Pamela McGowan Pat Radecki Paul Grauer

Pete Magee Peter Glick Phyllis Hill Phyllis Schwanke Raelinh Vo Randee Edmundson Renee Domeier Rhona Leibel, PhD Richard Morton Richard Nymoen Richard Wintersteen Rick Linsk Rick Miller Rick Osgood Robert Schwanke Robert Sunderlin Roberty Wagner Rollie Langer Sarah Barrett Sarah Huelskoetter Sarah Hurwicz Kogut Sarah Kise Sarah Mullins Sean Connaughty Shirley Vikse Sonja Peterson Sonya Kuznetsov Stephanie Stoessel Steven Foldes Steven Marchese Suzanne Bates Suzanne Bring Teresa Schwartz Terri McNeil Thomas Lee Boles Tom Bulger Travis Churchward Vern Rice Vic Rosenthal Wendy Horowitz William Bronn