GOP-led Minnesota Senate approves voter ID bill, though it's unlikely to become law

The Republican-led Minnesota Senate has narrowly approved a voter identification, but is expected to fail in the Democrat-controlled House. 

The bill passed 34-32 Monday, according to Kare 11, a local NBC-TV news station.

The bill's goal would require all Minnesota voters to present photo identification such as driver's licenses at the polls before casting a ballot. It also calls for  replacing the state's same-day, voter-registration process with a provisional ballot system, which would set aside ballots from same-day registered voters or those without identification until their residence or identity can be verified, the TV station also reports. 

Republican state Sen. Scott Newman rejected criticism about the measure being a direct response to the 2020 elections, instead of intended goal or securing the state's voting system. 

"I categorically deny the assertion," he said.