Gov. Mark Dayton could get a bill authorizing the online registration -- the policy isn't controversial among lawmakers, just the way the secretary of state's office put it in place -- as early as Tuesday, which would minimize service disruptions. Roughly 3,600 people have used the system to register to vote.

Political and ideological opponents did not waste their chance to grab some of the spotlight from Tuesday's groundbreaking.

The GOP advocacy groups leading the effort, Minnesota Majority and the Minnesota Voters Alliance, filed a lawsuit in Ramsey County Court on Monday, alleging Ritchie used unilateral power to install a new online voter registration tool after session ended and without bringing it through the proper legislative channels. They are asking the court to suspend the the tool, which was launched at the end of September, until it can be voted on by lawmakers.

Minnesota Majority is not closing its doors. The conservative advocacy group says that an emergency fundraising pitch took in more than the $20,000 that was needed to pay its bills and remain in business.

Minnesota Majority can't pay its bills. The conservative advocacy group sent out an emergency fundraising appeal on Tuesday saying that it needs to raise $20,000 by the end of the week -- or will be forced to close its doors permanently.

On Tuesday night there will be a debate on the proposed constitutional amendment requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls. But the lineup of individuals slated to discuss the merits of the proposal has changed significantly in recent days.

Minnesota Majority and its executive director, Dan McGrath, have engaged in lobbying at the Capitol, but were not required to register with the state, according to a ruling Tuesday by the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. That's because they did not meet the threshold for lobbying activities that triggers the registration requirement under state law.

Common Cause Minnesota filed a complaint on Tuesday alleging that Minnesota Majority and its executive director, Dan McGrath, broke state law by failing to properly register as a lobbying organization and disclose costs associated with seeking to influence legislation.

The main group supporting a constitutional amendment to require people to show photo identification at the polls has so far slightly outraised the lead DFL group in opposition.

Twenty three Republican legislators received perfect scores for their votes during the 2011 legislative session from Minnesota Majority. Conversely 43 DFL legislators voted in opposition to the policies favored by the conservative advocacy group on every vote scored.