Minnesota election officials are making changes to the state’s automatic voter registration system ahead of Election Day after finding roughly 1,000 potentially problematic entries.
The group includes 16- and 17-year-olds who can be pre-registered to vote once they turn 18. The automatic process doesn’t require any registrants to confirm they meet legal criteria.
“The Office of Secretary of State has worked with [Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services] to add additional quality assurance to the process to catch and correct the instances of human error,” Secretary of State Steve Simon said.
“Moving forward, DVS is using two distinct staff areas to double-check all documentation at DVS before applicant files are sent to be registered to vote,” the Democrat said.
The verification changes will include notifying flagged individuals that, if they are eligible, they will need to register to vote online, at their local election office, or in-person at their polling place on Election Day, according to reports.
Vice President Kamala Harris leads former President Donald Trump by just over 4 points in Minnesota — the home of her VP pick, Gov. Tim Walz, according to polling results released this week.
Republican state lawmakers raised questions about the automatic voter registration system earlier this month — demanding to know the exact number of problematic registrations and whether any of those people were able to vote in the August primary election.
They also called on state public safety leaders to provide additional answers about its screening process.
“The election is 52 days away, and early voting begins on September 20. Minnesotans want to trust our elections are secure and fair,” Republican leaders in the Minnesota Legislature said in a statement.
Officials say they are not aware of anyone illegally voting as part of the system.
An analysis of automatic voter registrations through the DMV in Oregon found more than 300 non-citizens had been registered to vote since 2021 — which violates federal law in the US — and at least two had cast ballots in recent elections, officials revealed this week.
Minnesota grants driver’s licenses to residents regardless of immigration status, though officials have said there are sufficient safeguards against illegal voting as part of the process.
Automatic Voter Registration Process in Minnesota: More Than 65,000 Registered to Vote
But changes to the internal processes are also underway after some individuals’ voter registrations were inactivated due to potential human error.
Those who apply for or renew a state-issued ID and provide appropriate documentation will be registered to vote without needing to “opt-in.”
The system includes an intensive review process to verify registrants' identity and residence and confirm their eligibility.
The Department of Public Safety’s Driver and Vehicle Services division is partnering with the secretary of state to ensure the process works as expected and that only eligible Minnesotans are being registered to vote.
During this review, DVS flagged a small number of applicant files as needing additional confirmation of voter registration information.
These individuals may still be eligible to vote, and those impacted will be notified that they will need to register to vote online, with their local election office or in person at their polling place on Election Day.
The release states that the Office of the Secretary of State has worked with DVS to add additional quality assurance to the process to catch and correct instances of human error.
Registering to Vote in Minnesota
Eligible Minnesotans can still register to vote online at mnvotes.gov, at their local election office or in person at their polling place on Election Day.
With Post wires
