Election Reforms

STEPS TO IMPROVE MINNESOTA’S ELECTION SYSTEM

The Senate recount has provided an opportunity for Minnesota to further examine our election system and identify areas that are in need of reform. The most glaring issue is the 12,000 rejected absentee ballots, some of which were properly and some improperly rejected. The high level of error in voting absentee demonstrates that the requirements are simply too complex and hinder, rather than facilitate, voting.

Here are some ways we can simplify Minnesota’s election system -

Voter Notification - Absentee voters must be notified if there are problems with their absentee ballot so that the voter can fix any problems.

Central Processing - Absentee ballots must be processed and reviewed in a central location instead of by 30,000 election judges. This would encourage consistent counting strategies for all ballots.

Early Voting - Individuals must also have the option of voting early instead of having to vote absentee. This change would give voters the peace of mind that their vote would be counted because the ballots are processed immediately.