A growing controversy is brewing in Minnesota, where House Republicans are demanding answers from the Democratic administration about how noncitizens ended up on the state’s voter rolls. This follows the discovery of ineligible individuals registered to vote through the state’s automatic voter registration process, a system that automatically registers eligible voters when they interact with certain government services.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Minnesota Republican Party initially raised concerns in August, pointing to a case where a noncitizen, legally residing in the state, received a primary ballot despite not registering to vote. They attributed this issue to a law signed by Democratic Governor Tim Walz in March 2023, allowing noncitizens to obtain driver’s licenses, which was followed by the implementation of automatic voter registration.
Reps. Tom Emmer, Brad Finstad, Michelle Fischbach, and Pete Stauber joined the RNC in sending a letter to Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon and Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson, demanding transparency on the matter. They argue that the administration has been slow to provide information and that a significant number of individuals may have been improperly registered to vote. The letter demands the Walz administration provide specific details, including the exact number of individuals who were inactivated, the categories of missing information that led to their improper registration, and how many inactivated individuals voted in past elections.
The Republicans are concerned that the errors in the automatic voter registration system could have impacted the outcome of past elections. The letter also inquires about whether the inactivated individuals will be able to register and vote in the upcoming November election.
In response, the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State acknowledged that a small number of applicant files required additional confirmation, including citizenship. The office stated that it had inactivated the voter registrations of those individuals, noting that they might still be eligible to vote but their documentation was misclassified or not properly saved. They emphasized that they are partnering with the Department of Public Safety to review the process, improve procedures, and prevent future errors.
The controversy highlights the ongoing debate about election integrity and the potential risks of automatic voter registration. Republicans argue that the system requires stricter safeguards to ensure accurate voter rolls, while Democrats maintain that automatic voter registration is a valuable tool for increasing voter participation. The situation in Minnesota underscores the importance of careful implementation and continuous oversight of election processes to maintain public confidence in the electoral system.
