In Blaine this month there was an event designed to show the public that elections are fair and accurate.
“I’m here today to get out the truth that Minnesota’s elections are free, fair, secure and accurate.” said Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon. “We’re here for a public accuracy test.”
Simon came to Blaine on a pre-election day mission – hoping to convince voters that everything is on the up and up.
Election officials and judges tested and even tricked voting machines to make sure they are ready to produce accurate results on November 5th.
“They’ll crease or fold the ballot,” Simon said. “They’ll put stray marks on the ballot. They’ll over vote. They’ll under vote. All in an effort to see whether the equipment performs as it should and as people expect. Only if the equipment performs perfectly is it allowed for use in the upcoming election in Minnesota.”
“Staff election officials have tested all 26 machines for all 26 of Blaine’s precincts to insure accuracy.” said Blaine City Clerk Cathy Sorenson. “We have election judges here that are actually going to be feeding the ballots into each tabulator.”
Guard rails in place
In Anoka County and the entire state of Minnesota, there are guard rails in place to guarantee fair elections.
“Tests like this one are required in law,” Simon said. “What you’re going to see here today is going on – if not today – then within a few days of today in literally hundreds of places around Minnesota.”
Simon gave the North Metro high grades for handling elections.
“It’s because of places like Blaine and Anoka County that do it so well and so professionally that we know our elections are fair, accurate, honest and secure,” Simon said.
Simon believes that everyone has the right to cast their vote without being harassed or intimidated.
Said Simon: “We want our polling places to be an oasis of calm.”
But he knows that these are polarized times that require proper preparation.
“We are in active collaboration with local governments on all kinds of security measures,” Simon said. “We want everyone to be safe.”
Whoever wins the election, Simon says every US citizen has a right to challenge the results, but he those wants those individuals to use the proper channels to file a protest and accept the outcome.
“When the last court has issued its last ruling we gotta be done,” Simon said. “That’s where you fight it out. Not on the streets, not by storming buildings. You fight it out in court.”
Simon expects Minnesota to have complete voting results by late night or early dawn after election day.
