The Minnesota Senate's rules committee approved the proposed voter ID law in a 72-62 vote hours after the House passed a companion measure Wednesday, the Minnesota Daily reported.
If the bill passes the Senate floor on Friday, a conference committee would need to resolve the two versions, Majority Leader Dave Senjem told The Pioneer Press.
According to the Daily, if both chambers approve the bill, the amendment would be on November's ballot, asking voters whether a photo ID should be required at polling places. Minnesota would provide eligible voters with free IDs.
Republicans argue the amendment is meant to combat voter fraud, but Democrats argue voters like college students, the elderly and the homeless would be disenfranchised by the law.
Several states have enacted voter photo ID laws since the start of 2011 including Texas, Wisconsin, Kansas and Pennsylvania, though the U.S. Justice Department has blocked the Texas law and a state judge has blocked the Wisconsin law, the Chicago Tribune reported.
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