FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ​May 21, 2020

News from ​Minnesota Voice

Contact:​ Kevin Whelan, ​kevin@minnesotavoice.org​, (612) 414-9731 or
Wintana Melekin, Executive Director, ​wintana@minnesotavoice.org​, (651)808-5589

Minnesota Legislature Left Job Unfinished on Voting Safety

Elected officials should expand vote by mail to protect public health say local community leaders

St. Paul, MN - As the coronavirus pandemic continues to alter the fabric of everyday life,
Minnesota civic engagement groups, advocates, and election judges are calling on Minnesota
elected officials to make voting safer by mailing an absentee ballot to every voter before the
upcoming Primary and General Elections.

“I’m concerned about the upcoming election, for both the voters and all those working behind
the scenes at the polls to make our elections possible. Many of the folks who give their time
every election year to ensure that our elections run smoothly are elderly and have underlying
medical conditions. The coronavirus pandemic poses a challenge to our ability to recruit poll
workers who want to do their civic duty but are also very worried about their health and
wellbeing” ​said​ ​Amy Caucet, of Rochester a member of the Minnesota League of Women
Voters.

On May 12, Governor Tim Walz signed legislation to improve voting accessibility and modernize
election security. The legislation allocates Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds to ensure the
health and safety of election officials and voters, and includes preparation for increased
absentee voting, new polling locations, and public outreach for implementing social distancing
guidelines related to voting during the coronavirus pandemic.

But many items were left on the table as the 2020 legislative session ended, including ​expanded
vote by mail which advocates say would allow more people to vote safely from home while and
allow for social distancing at less crowded polling places.

“Many election judges like myself are retirees and in a vulnerable age group for the coronavirus.
We shouldn’t have to put our health and safety at risk when we have a simple fix like mail-in
voting available,” ​said​ ​Matt Broan, election judge from Northfield, MN. ​“Our elected officials
need to put public health first and take action to ensure that every eligible Minnesota voter can
have the option to vote by mail during this pandemic.”

Legislators could take up the issue in an expected June 12th special session, though it is
unclear if that would allow time for mailing ballots before the primary. Secretaries of State and
Governors of both parties have expanded mail in balloting as part of COVID emergency plans in
states including Michigan, California and Nevada.
Data ​shows​ that the coronavirus poses the greatest threat to elderly Minnesotans and those
with underlying health conditions. Elderly individuals also vote at the highest rates and tend to
make up the majority of poll workers and election judges. Dozens of cases of COVID-19 have
been directly traced to the recent. chaotic primary election in Wisconsin.

Many, primarily rural, towns and communities across Minnesota have successfully been voting
by mail-in ballots for decades. ​Local governments also support giving eligible Minnesota voters
the option to vote by mail. In fac​t, the Rochester City Council ​passed a resolution​ calling state
action for safer and more accessible elections.

Besides mailing every voter a ballot, civic groups have called for rule changes allowing for extra
time for election administrators to process absentee ballots, accepting all ballots postmarked by
Election Day, and setting up convenient, secure drop boxes to collect ballots.

Civic groups and individuals will continue to speak out about the need to implement broader
access to mail-in ballots, as well as making onsite voting as safe and accessible as possible this
year.

“Time is running out to prepare for our upcoming elections and ensure that every eligible
Minnesotan can vote safely during this pandemic, ​said Wintana Melekin, Executive Director
of Minnesota Voice​. “Our elected leaders need to pass legislation to mail ​every registered
Minnesota voter a ballot so they have the option to vote from home. Whatever your community,
race, or place in the state, it should be safe to make your voice heard.”

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Minnesota Voice is a member-based coalition of non-profit organizations working toward

permanent change in racial, social, and economic justice by increasing civic engagement and
voter participation across the state, especially focused in underrepresented communities;
making sure that every Minnesotans’ voice is heard, and the state reflects the values of its
people.