Voter Security and Misinformation

 

From article written by League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area and published in the Park Rapids Enterprise. 

    The League of Women Voters of Minnesota has been a trusted source of nonpartisan voter registration and education for over 100 years, serving citizens across the state of Minnesota to ensure free, fair and safe elections. Local and state election officials have been hard at work to guarantee citizens can trust the integrity of Minnesota’s voting systems.
    Our current election system has many safeguards in place to verify voter identity and protect ballot integrity. State, city and county election officials register voters and ensure their eligibility to vote, look into any ballot challenges and address any inconsistencies in voter registration.
    This election season you may have heard about incidents that show our system is not accurate. But most of that information is coming from other states.
    Minnesotans can be proud that ours is the No. 1 state for voter turnout. In Minnesota we have not found widespread irregularities in our voting. Some have referenced the Franken-Coleman race of 2008. In reality, this case showcased the safeguards already in place within our election system, including the value of having paper ballots; a process for recounting ballots and addressing grievances; and having the elections process overseen by officials from both political parties. Since that 2008 election, the following safeguards to our voting system have protected the integrity of our elections:

•  Voters must verify their residence when they register to vote in Minnesota.
•  Absentee ballots require voter identification and include a unique barcode that ties a ballot to specific ballot materials.
•  All ballots are opened and tallied in bipartisan pairs.
•  A record of ballots received is created and maintained to eliminate any double voting.
•  Ballot machines are locally purchased and  bipartisan public tests are conducted daily.
•  Ballot integrity assured by a daily bipartisan 3-step process of matching: 1) number of ballots issued, 2) number indicated on the ballot tabulator, and 3) number of physical paper ballots in the ballot box.
•  *Same day voter registration requires proof of residence, under threat of perjury.
•  On Election Day, ballots are handed off in bipartisan teams of two.
•  A bipartisan post-election audit is held to certify election results.
•  After certification, all ballots are kept in a secure location for 22 months.
•  There is a process for a public recount and formal complaint process.

    During this election season, League of Women Voters urges everyone to refer to the facts and not misinformation and drama about our elections. Minnesotans can come together to support access to free, fair and safe elections that also protect the privacy of voters and the safety of our election officials. If you want to read more use this link: https://www.lwvmn.org/elections411.
    Minnesota elections are safe and secure!  So, be assured, and if you have not already, vote Nov. 8!
    Please direct any questions about League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area (LWVPRA) activities, events or on how to join by emailing: lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org. Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LWVPRA