What's in a name? Well, it may be the difference between winning and losing, according to supporters and opponents of two referenda heading for the ballot in November.
Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie has now renamed both of them.
First, he renamed the marriage amendment "Limiting The Status Of Marriage To Opposite Sex Couples." It had been called "Recognition of marriage solely between one man and one woman."
.. Ritchie's decision to rename the voter ID amendment also came just hours after 15 lawmakers and proponents of a same-sex marriage ban filed suit against Ritchie for giving their proposal a new title for the November ballot.
Ritchie said two weeks ago that measure will be titled," Limiting The Status Of Marriage To Opposite Sex Couples." The Republican-controlled Legislature had named it "Recognition of marriage solely between one man and one woman."
At a press conference, state Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, criticized the new wording.
"Those words are definitely considered negative and misleading, and I believe they're created to sway the voter," he said.
Related: "Perhaps you've never heard of the Secretary of State Project. But if you haven't, you should."
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