Minnesota’s election officials are gearing up for the 2024 election season, with absentee voting for the August primary set to begin on Friday. Secretary of State Steve Simon emphasized the state’s commitment to fair, accurate, honest, and secure elections during a press conference at the State Capitol. Recent efforts by Simon’s office and the DFL-controlled Legislature have focused on expanding voter access, including initiatives like a permanent absentee voting list and automatic voter registration. Simon highlighted the importance of providing information in multiple languages, citing his own mother’s experience as a native German speaker.
While Simon touted the state’s voter access improvements, Republican Senator Mark Koran expressed concerns about election transparency, particularly regarding voter eligibility. Simon reassured that voting audits are public and open to anyone, with both local and state-level audits conducted to ensure the validity of votes. Koran also criticized recent election law changes for lacking bipartisan support, specifically noting the absence of a voter ID requirement in Minnesota.
Simon defended the state’s election laws, citing successful practices from other states such as North Dakota’s restoration of voting rights for individuals leaving prison. He also highlighted the presence of bipartisan poll challengers who can verify voter eligibility at polling locations. Despite differing views on election laws, both officials agree on the importance of ensuring the integrity of the voting process. As Minnesota prepares for the upcoming elections, the debate over election laws and security measures continues to be a topic of discussion among state officials.
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