Recounts Completed, Update on Scott County

With no changes to the canvassed election results in District 48B after the recount of Chaska Ward 3, Candidate Caleb Steffenhagen waived the recounting of additional precincts. Furthermore, the State Canvassing Board approved the Amended Canvass Report on December 2, certifying the election results following the recount of 54A in Scott County.

However, the Minnesota Reformer reported that Republican Aaron Paul filed an election contest and requested a special election in the race decided by just 14 votes where 21 ballots are missing. Elections expert Max Hailperin answers the question of what happened with the 20 missing Shakopee ballots and what should happen now. 

In short, while the court is unlikely to nullify the close election result, there should be tweaks to the law and process improvements so that all votes are counted in the future. Through no apparent fraud or bad faith, human error seems to have caused this contention. However, as Max shares, it is an opportunity for lawmakers to unite “around a common goal of improving the state’s election laws” by codifying clear best practices for the opening of absentee ballot envelopes and procedures for suitable training and supervision in state statute.

Another election issue occurred in Hubbard County where a head election judge allegedly let 11 people vote who were not registered. Election officials must follow state laws, and we should continue to ensure that these laws balance voter access with election integrity, learning from past mistakes.