House Republicans and the Republican National Committee (RNC) are pressing for transparency from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's administration regarding the removal of noncitizens from state voter rolls.
According to Fox News, Republican representatives from Minnesota, along with RNC officials, have sent a follow-up letter to state officials demanding updates on voter roll cleanup efforts.
The letter comes after the discovery that noncitizens and ineligible individuals were improperly registered to vote under Minnesota's automatic voter registration process.
The GOP letter, addressed to Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon and Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson, acknowledges previous communication between their offices. Republicans claim they provided the information necessary to remove known noncitizens from voter rolls over a month ago but have received limited updates on actions taken.
The letter, signed by Representatives Tom Emmer, Brad Finstad, Michelle Fischbach, and Pete Stauber, along with RNC election integrity counsel Kevin J. Cline and Minnesota Republican Party Chairman David Hann, raises several pointed questions about the voter registration cleanup process.
Republicans are demanding to know the exact number of individuals whose registrations were inactivated, the categories of missing information in individual records, and how many inactivated individuals have voted in past elections or were sent ballots previously.
The GOP officials are also inquiring whether any of the inactivated individuals will be able to register and vote in the upcoming November election and if eliminating these votes would have changed the outcome of any past elections.
The controversy stems from recent changes in Minnesota's voter registration laws. In March 2023, Governor Walz signed a bill allowing noncitizens to receive driver's licenses, known as "Driver License for All."
Two months later, Walz signed the "Democracy for the People Act," which permitted automatic voter registration through the Department of Public Safety's Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) division. Republicans argue that this combination of laws may have led to the improper registration of noncitizens.
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.
The Minnesota Secretary of State's office has admitted to some issues with the registration process. In a September 12 news release, the office disclosed that the DVS flagged a small number of applicant files as needing additional confirmation of voter registration information, including address, name, and citizenship.
The Secretary of State's office stated that out of caution, they have inactivated the voter registrations of individuals whose registrations were flagged by DVS. These individuals may still be eligible to vote but will need to re-register due to human error in document classification or database saving.
The GOP's demand for transparency in Minnesota's voter roll cleanup efforts highlights ongoing concerns about election integrity. As the November election approaches, the accuracy of voter rolls remains a critical issue for both state officials and political parties. The Walz administration's response to these inquiries will likely shape the ongoing debate over voter registration processes in Minnesota.
