Republican representatives and party officials are seeking answers from Minnesota's Democratic administration regarding the removal of noncitizens from state voter rolls.
According to Fox News, House Republicans from Minnesota and the Republican National Committee have requested details on the state's actions to address issues with voter rolls after discovering that noncitizens and ineligible individuals were mistakenly registered to vote through Minnesota's automatic voter registration system.
A letter demanding transparency was addressed to Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon and Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson. Representatives Tom Emmer, Brad Finstad, Michelle Fischbach, and Pete Stauber, as well as RNC election integrity counsel Kevin J. Cline and Minnesota Republican Party Chairman David Hann, signed the letter.
The GOP representatives and party officials are requesting specific details about the voter roll cleanup process. They want to know the exact number of individuals whose registrations were inactivated and the reasons for these inactivations.
Furthermore, the letter asks for information on how many of the inactivated individuals have voted in past elections or were sent ballots. The Republicans are also inquiring whether these individuals will be able to register and vote in the upcoming November election.
One of the key questions posed in the letter is whether the removal of these inactivated individuals' votes would have changed the outcome of any past elections. This underscores the potential significance of the issue in terms of electoral integrity.
The controversy stems from the implementation of two laws signed by Governor Tim Walz in 2023. In March, Walz signed a bill allowing noncitizens to receive driver's licenses, known as "Driver License for All."
Two months later, he signed the "Democracy for the People Act," which permitted automatic voter registration through the Department of Public Safety's Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS). The combination of these two laws has raised concerns about the potential for noncitizens to be inadvertently registered to vote.
RNC election integrity counsel Kevin J. Cline and Minnesota Republican Party Chairman David Hann stated in their letter:
It is imperative that Minnesota voters trust in the State's election system, which includes knowing the voter rolls only consist of legally registered voters.
This statement emphasizes the Republicans' focus on maintaining the integrity of the state's voter rolls and ensuring public trust in the electoral system.
In response to these concerns, the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State has taken action. On September 12, they released a statement acknowledging that a small number of applicant files needed additional confirmation of voter registration information, including citizenship status.
The office reported that out of caution, they have inactivated the voter registrations of individuals whose registrations were flagged by DVS. These individuals will be notified that they need to re-register if they are eligible to vote. To prevent future occurrences, the DVS is implementing additional quality assurance measures.
The controversy surrounding Minnesota's voter rolls highlights the ongoing debate about election integrity and the challenges of implementing automatic voter registration systems. Republicans are demanding transparency and accountability, while state officials are working to address the issues and maintain public trust in the electoral process. The outcome of this situation could have implications for future election procedures and voter registration practices in Minnesota and potentially other states.
