Minnesota voters will have an opportunity to determine the fate of two amendments to the state constitution.

“Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota?”

“Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to require all voters to present valid photo identification to vote and to require the state to provide free identification to eligible voters, effective July 1, 2013?”

On the surface, both question seem simple … yet we know that they are not.
Looking at the television advertisements, mailers, and letters to the editors all seem to present various views … yet, one group of commentators seem to be pretty united … Newspaper Editorial Boards.
Admittedly, some newspapers view their role is to provide as much information from all sides so the voter can make their own reasoned choice, and do not issue endorsements (such as the Pioneer Press) while others will make endorsements. In some cases, the Editorial Boards may seem to have a liberal or conservative bent … so it is rather interesting to search for recommendations on the two Amendments.

Quick Googling of some selected newspapers reveal a recommendation to reject these amendments.
For example, from major cities like the Minneapolis Star Tribune or Rochester Post Bulletin to smaller newspapers like the Waconia Patriot, Virginia MN and New Ulm Journal … the recommendation is NO. In fact, the Voter ID has 59 newspapers have voiced disapproval.
Heck, even the staunchly conservative, New Ulm Journal could not recommend a YES vote on the Marriage Amendment.

Gosh, if these issues were worthy of a YES vote, wouldn’t one newspaper tell us ?