Statement on the Senate Hearing to Review of the Administration and Security of the 2020 Election
ST. PAUL – Today, the Senate State Government Finance and Policy and Elections Committee held a hearing to review the administration and security of the 2020 election. Michelle Witte, executive director for the League of Women Voters of Minnesota, released the following statement:
We strongly agree with Senator Kiffmeyer that transparency is key to our democracy, and that asking questions about the election is the right of all voters. Based on the lengthy response by Secretary Simon to the questions posed by this committee, election reports and court opinions already issued in Minnesota, and the information at today’s hearing, it should be clear this election was indeed conducted with integrity and was properly certified.
After today’s hearing, we can put to rest many of the unfounded conspiracy theories about Minnesota’s elections. The voters have spoken, and the votes have been tallied, reviewed and certified. Voters have every reason to have confidence in our system, as shown by the layers of evidence provided. And while the League always supports transparency, we strongly condemn any attempts to question the integrity of our election with baseless accusations that are divorced from reality—especially given that the facts that support the accuracy of this election are clearly transparent, right in front of us. It is time for lawmakers to help the public see this truth as well.
Additionally, the League notes the following information:
Election results are reviewed and audited through a detailed set of checks at the local and state level, through the use of county and state canvassing boards, and a detailed post-election review (PER) process which is openly described on the Secretary of State’s website. The results of the PER process are also available for public review. While there may be an error here or there, there were no substantial inaccuracies found.
Voting equipment is tested regularly and publicly, and Secretary Simon provided a complete spreadsheet of each precinct’s voting equipment. Information about the voting equipment testing process is also available on the Secretary of State’s website.
Minnesota law explicitly prohibits internet connections, wireless or otherwise, to be used in tabulation systems while recording votes and while the polling place is open to voting. Tabulators may only be connected to the internet after the polls close and after election judges print the summary statement of results. This connection is only allowed to transfer the unofficial precinct results to the county.
Each precinct returns the paper ballots, the printed summary, and the memory card to the local election official. All three types of records are kept secure by the official.
The Secretary of State issues guidance to local election officials and provides training, as required by law. Training manuals and guides are available for public review on the Secretary of State’s website. However, the Secretary of State does not have authority to enforce any local election administrator to follow guidance.
Lawsuits across the nation and in Minnesota alleging election irregularities have been repeatedly dismissed in court, including by Republican judges appointed by President Trump, who have ruled the suits lacked evidence.
On November 12, the Elections Infrastructure Government Coordinating Council and the Election Infrastructure Sector Coordinating Executive Committees issued a statement that there was "no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised." Additionally, the statement notes, “While we know there are many unfounded claims and opportunities for misinformation about the process of our elections, we can assure you we have the utmost confidence in the security and integrity of our elections, and you should too. When you have questions, turn to elections officials as trusted voices as they administer elections.”
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