[0:24] >> Commissioner Edelson: OKAY.

[0:24] ALL RIGHT, GUYS. LAST COMMITTEE.

[0:27] SO I WILL CALL TO ORDER RESIDENT SERVICE, THE RESIDENT

[0:30] SERVICES COMMITTEE, IT'S TUESDAY, AUGUST 25TH.

[0:32] IT IS 4:34:00 P.M. OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS

[0:35] TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM AUGUST 13TH.

[0:38] IF I CAN HAVE A MOTION? >> Commissioner Goettel:

[0:40] SECOND. >>

[0:41] >> Commissioner Edelson: MOVED AND SECONDED.

[0:43] ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.

[0:44] [ MEMBERS VOTING ] OPPOSED?

[0:45] [ NO RESPONSE HEARD ] MOTION CARRIES.

[0:46] WE HAVE ONE ADDENDUM UNDER NEW BUSINESS TODAY IF I COULD HAVE

[0:49] A MOTION TO PUT 2A BEFORE US. >> Commissioner Fernando:

[0:52] SO MOVED. SECOND.

[0:54] >> Commissioner Edelson: MOVED AND SECONDED, THANK YOU.

[0:56] RESOLUTION TO AFFIRMING HENNEPIN COUNTY'S COMMITMENT

[0:58] TO ENSURING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

[1:00] Mr. ROGAN, CAN YOU GIVE US SOME BACKGROUND ON THIS?

[1:02] >> Mr. ROGAN: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

[1:05] COMMISSIONERS, RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU HIGHLIGHTS THE

[1:07] COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS AND HAS

[1:09] KIND OF A LENGTHY BACKGROUND WITH A LOT OF WHEREAS CLAUSES

[1:12] THAT PROVIDE BACKGROUND ON THE ROOSEVELT COUNTY BOARD,

[1:14] ELECTION OFFICIALS AND THE COUNTY CANVASSING BOARD.

[1:17] AS YOU KNOW WE'VE HAD OPEN FORUM THREE DIFFERENT TIMES

[1:20] WHERE WE'VE HAD CITIZENS COME IN, OVER 40 OF THEM NOW AND

[1:25] ASK FOR, TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

[1:28] SEVERAL OF THE WHEREAS CLAUSES HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE EFFORTS

[1:31] AT HENNEPIN COUNTY AND OUR PARTNERS HAVE UNDERTAKEN THIS

[1:34] YEAR TO PRESERVE FREE AND FAIR ELECTION INCLUDING PROVIDING

[1:38] COMMENTS OPPOSED TO THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE RULE REGARDING

[1:45] ABSENTEE BALLOTS, AN AMICUS BRIEF -- INJUNCTION TO THIS

[1:51] RULE, NOT -- POLLING ACCESS TO -- AND THE SECRETARY OF

[1:57] STATE'S DECISION TO NOT PROVIDE UNREDACTED COPIES OF

[2:01] MINNESOTA'S COMPLETE VOTER REGISTRATION LIST TO THE

[2:02] FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. OTHER WHEREAS CLAUSES

[2:05] HIGHLIGHT PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN ELECTIONS REALLY DEPENDS ON

[2:08] THE SECURE, ACCURATE AND TRANSPARENT ADMINISTRATION OF

[2:10] THE ELECTION PROCESS AND WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY HERE IN

[2:13] HENNEPIN COUNTY OF ELECTIONS OFFICIALS, CITY ELECTION

[2:16] OFFICIALS AND THOUSANDS OF ELECTION JUDGES CARRYING OUT

[2:19] THEIR DUTIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH MINNESOTA LAW.

[2:23] FINALLY SEVERAL OF THE CLAUSES HIGHLIGHT THE LIMITED ROLE

[2:26] THAT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE IN ACTUALLY ADMINISTERING THE

[2:28] PROCESS OR CERTIFYING ELECTION RESULTS.

[2:32] INSTEAD THAT WORK IS DONE BY THE HENNEPIN COUNTY CANVASSING

[2:35] BOARD. THE CANVASSING BOARD HAS FIVE

[2:40] MEMBERS, -- TWO OF THEM ARE APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY HERE,

[2:44] AND THIS YEAR IT IS COMMISSIONER EDELSON EXPLAINE

[2:46] ON THAT BOARD. THE RESOLUTION THEN ENDS WITH

[2:49] DOING THREE SEPARATE THINGS. FIRST, IT ASK THAT YOU ALL

[2:55] REAFFIRM YOUR OATHS TO SUPPORT THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND THE

[2:58] CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

[2:59] IT DIRECTS STAFF, INCLUDING ME, THE COUNTY AUDITOR AND

[3:03] ELECTIONS DIRECTOR TO TAKE EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN FREE AND

[3:05] FAIR ELECTIONS IN HENNEPIN COUNTY, AND TO TAKE ACTIONS TO

[3:10] OPPOSE ANY UNLAWFUL REQUESTS FOR ELECTION DATA OR UNLAWFUL

[3:13] REQUESTS THAT COULD IMPACT THE ELECTION PROCESS, AND FINALLY,

[3:16] IT DIRECTS ME, I CHAIRED THE COUNTY CANVASSING BOARD TO

[3:21] ENSURE THAT ALL COUNTY CANVASSING BOARD MEMBERS TAKE

[3:27] THE OATH REQUIRED WHEN WE ARE SCHEDULED TO MEET THE CANVASS

[3:31] GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS WEDNESDAY THAT, MADAM CHAIR, I

[3:33] CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. >> Commissioner Edelson:

[3:35] THANK YOU. AND WITH THAT, CHAIR FERNANDO

[3:36] I'LL BE COMING TO YOU. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS, I WANT

[3:38] TO THANK ALL OF THE RESIDENTS THAT CAME TODAY, AND I VERY

[3:43] MUCH SUPPORT THIS. ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL SAY

[3:45] IS NEVER BEFORE HAVE WE FACED THE THREATS TO OUR DEMOCRACY

[3:50] AND TO OUR ELECTION PROCESS THAT WE ARE FACING NOW.

[3:54] WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IN 2024 AND IT SAYS 40 -- I LOOKED UP

[3:59] THE NUMBER, 47.3% OF OUR BALLOTS IN HENNEPIN COUNTY

[4:02] WERE ABSENTEE BALLOTS. NOW, OF COURSE THAT ABSENTEE

[4:05] WAS EARLY VOTING THEN AND IT'S DIFFERENT NOW SO HOW MANY WERE

[4:08] ACTUALLY MAIL-IN VOTES, YOU KNOW, WE'D WE'D HAVE TO

[4:12] DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THAT. BUT WITH TRUMP'S MARCH 31ST

[4:16] EXECUTIVE ORDER WHICH DIRECTS THE POSTAL SERVICE TO NOT

[4:20] TRANSMIT ANY MAIL-IN OR ABSENTEE BALLOTS THAT ARE NOT

[4:24] ON A LIST, I THINK RESIDENTS ARE GENUINELY CONCERNED AND I

[4:27] THINK THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

[4:32] WITH THIS, YOU KNOW, AS YOU WERE STATING, Mr. ROGAN,

[4:36] ABOUT THE OATH OF OFFICE THAT YOU'LL TAKE WITH THE ELECTION

[4:42] TO OUR -- DO THE POSTAL WORKERS TAKE THAT SAME OATH OF

[4:46] OFFICE, IT IS A TYPE OF TAMPERING WITH OUR ELECTIONS

[4:52] THAT IS SHOCKING AND SOMETHING THAT I AM GLAD THAT WE ARE

[4:57] REAFFIRMING, THAT WE WILL BE FOLLOWING STATE LAWS, AND

[5:01] THOSE HAVE ALWAYS HISTORICALLY BEEN THE LAWS THAT UPHOLD OUR

[5:04] ELECTIONS. AND SO I'M GLAD RESIDENTS ARE

[5:07] PAYING ATTENTION. I'M GLAD THAT THEY UNDERSTAND

[5:09] JUST HOW MUCH COUNTIES DO TO PROTECT THEIR ELECTIONS, AND I

[5:14] THINK PEOPLE COMING HERE IS ACTUALLY REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF

[5:17] THE WORK THAT WE WILL BE DOING, AND SO I WAS REALLY

[5:19] HAPPY TO SEE, AND I HOPE WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE PEOPLE

[5:22] COMING HERE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE WILL BE PROTECTING

[5:24] THEIR ELECTIONS BECAUSE WE WILL, WE REALLY WELL.

[5:28] CHAIR FERNANDO, YOU ARE UP. >> Commissioner Fernando:

[5:30] THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I TOO WANT TO OPEN WITH

[5:32] GRATITUDE TO THE RESIDENTS AND COMMISSION MEMBERS BOTH

[5:35] LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY WHO ARE UPLIFTING THIS TO ADMINISTER

[5:40] ELECTIONS WHICH GENERALLY ARE COUNTIES.

[5:42] SECOND I WANT TO THANK -- ADMINISTRATION FOR PUTTING

[5:44] THIS TOGETHER. THIS CONTAINS A NUMBER OF

[5:46] WHEREAS CLAUSES WHICH, COLLEAGUES, I THINK WITH THE

[5:49] 2026 YEAR WE'VE HAD IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO CODIFY

[5:52] INTO THE RECORD THE EXPERIENCE FROM A GOVERNANCE PERSPECTIVE

[5:56] THAT WE ARE HAVING, THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE HAVING.

[5:57] SO I'M VERY, VERY HAPPY TO REAFFIRM MY OWN OATH AND VOTE

[6:01] IN FAVOR OF THIS. I WANT TO MAKE ONE TYPO NOTE.

[6:06] THE FOURTH TO LAST WHEREAS CLAUSE FROM THE BOTTOM WHERE

[6:09] IT NAMES THE CANVASSING BOARD MEMBERS.

[6:15] THERE'S ONE SUR NAME THAT HAS A TYPO.

[6:16] SO WANT TO JUST CORRECT THAT AND THAT'S ALL.

[6:18] THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >> Commissioner Edelson:

[6:20] THANK YOU. AND COMMISSIONER GOETTEL.

[6:22] >> Commissioner Goettel: I WON'T BE LONG BUT I WANT TO

[6:24] SAY TOO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE FOR A RESOLUTION.

[6:28] AND I TALKED TO SOME OF THE FOLKS IN THE GROUP I TALKED

[6:32] ABOUT HOW MUCH BIGGER AND MORE PUBLIC THIS WAS, US DOING A

[6:35] RESOLUTION AND COMING OUT TO THE RESIDENTS IN FRONT OF

[6:38] EVERYBODY ON CAMERA SAYING THESE KINDS OF THINGS, INSTEAD

[6:42] OF JUST SIGNING THE PLEDGE, WHICH IS A GREAT PLEDGE,

[6:44] THAT'S FINE. I MEAN, BUT I ALSO, I'D ALSO,

[6:47] -- WE'RE GETTING PEOPLE -- THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS SPEAKING

[6:51] OUT ABOUT THIS, KEITH ELLISON IS SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THIS.

[6:55] AND THEY HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES TO PIECES OF THIS AS WELL AS

[6:57] WE DO TOO. BUT I HAVE HEARD COMMENTS AND

[7:01] CONCERNS AT OTHER TOWN HALLS, ONE SPECIFICALLY RECENTLY WITH

[7:08] CONGRESS CONGRESSWOMAN ILHAN OMAR AND PEOPLE ALL OVER, NOT

[7:10] JUST THESE COALITION GROUPS BUT PEOPLE ALL OVER, JUST

[7:13] GENERAL CITIZENS ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR ABILITY

[7:15] TO VOTE AND NOT BE INTIMIDATED.

[7:18] THANK YOU. >> Commissioner Edelson:

[7:19] THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GOETTEL.

[7:21] COMMISSIONER LUNDE. >> Commissioner Lunde:

[7:23] THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST I'M GRATEFUL FOR STAFF

[7:27] FOR THIS BECAUSE I MET WITH THE GROUPS THAT HAVE COME HERE

[7:30] AND I DON'T SIGN PLEDGES, I'VE BEEN BURNED TOO MANY TIMES

[7:33] WHERE THE PLEDGES END UP IN OTHER PEOPLE'S HANDS, SO THIS

[7:36] IS FOR ME A PERFECT VEHICLE TO REAFFIRM WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

[7:41] AND I THINK THAT HIGHLIGHTING THE THINGS, CHANGES THAT ARE

[7:45] JUST BEING MADE UNILATERALLY AND ACROSS THE BOARD WHEN WE

[7:48] ARE 50 STATES, AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT STATE LAWS THAT YOU

[7:51] CAN'T JUST APPLY A UNIFORM LAW WITHOUT CONGRESS PASSING IT,

[7:55] AND THE PRESIDENT SIGNING IT, WHICH IS NOT THE CASE.

[7:59] SO JUST THAT HIGHLIGHT. I ALSO THINK THAT THERE'S

[8:03] PROBABLY AN OPPORTUNITY, WE TALKED WHEN JENNY HELMS WAS

[8:06] HERE ABOUT INFORMATION, I THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL

[8:08] BECAUSE WHEN I WAS MEETING WITH THE GROUP THAT HAS BEEN

[8:11] PRESENTING TO US, THERE WAS ALSO MISINFORMATION THAT THEY

[8:14] HAD, LIKE THEY WERE ASKING US TO PUT SHERIFF DEPUTIES AT

[8:17] EVERY POLLING LOCATION, I WAS LIKE, NOPE, CAN'T DO THAT ONE.

[8:20] AND ALSO THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IF A TRESPASSING IS

[8:23] GIVEN ACTUALLY IT'S LOCAL POLICE THAT RESPOND, NOT THE

[8:26] SHERIFF. SO I THINK THERE'S SOME

[8:28] OPPORTUNITY I THINK FOR EVEN MORE, SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE

[8:31] EXPECTATIONS MET WHEN THEY SEE SOMETHING, THAT WE HAVE A

[8:34] PROCESS THAT'S VERY DEFINED THAT WE FOLLOW THAT WE DO IT

[8:41] AND THAT PROCESS IS IMPORTANT. WE CAN'T SHORTCUT IT, LIKE WE

[8:44] CAN'T LET THE PRESIDENT DECIDE THAT HE CAN JUST DECIDE WHEN

[8:48] AND WHENEVER HE WANTS TO DO SOMETHING.

[8:50] IT'S ALSO THE SAME PROCESS, THAT WE HAVE TO LIVE UP TO OUR

[8:57] PROCESS -- AND SO I THINK THAT -- AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

[9:04] I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS BECAUSE I SAID IT WITH THEM, I

[9:06] THINK THAT ALL STATES SHOULD BE COUNTING THEIR BALLOTS LIKE

[9:10] MINNESOTA OR FLORIDA DO. THE FACT THAT CALIFORNIA TAKES

[9:12] WEEKS TO COUNT DOES NOT GIVE ANYBODY CONFIDENCE IN ANYTHING

[9:15] BECAUSE WHEN YOU SEE THAT, AND I'M NOT SURE ABOUT EVERYBODY

[9:18] ELSE, LIKE, OKAY, HOW CAN FLORIDA AND MINNESOTA GET IT

[9:22] DONE FIRST NIGHT AND OTHER STATES CAN'T?

[9:23] I THINK IT'S ABOUT WILLPOWER. AND I THINK THAT FEEDS INTO

[9:26] THIS NARRATIVE THAT PEOPLE CAN POINT TO AND SAY, AH, SEE,

[9:31] IT'S THIS. AND SO I THINK WE'RE DOING THE

[9:33] RIGHT THING WITH THIS RESOLUTION.

[9:34] I FEEL BETTER SUPPORTING THIS AS A BOARD BECAUSE IT COMES

[9:39] FROM US AND AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'RE GOING TO DO AND

[9:42] FOLLOW WHAT HAPPENS AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING WE

[9:45] DON'T WANT TO UNLESS WE'RE ORDERED TO.

[9:47] I THINK THAT'S THE PART AND WE HAVE ALLIES WHO ARE THERE.

[9:50] I JUST WANT EVERYBODY WHO CAN VOTE TO BE ABLE TO VOTE.

[9:53] IT'S VERY SIMPLE. IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE,

[9:57] 100%, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THAT.

[9:59] I THINK THAT'S ULTIMATELY MY GOAL AND I THINK THAT THIS

[10:01] HELPS US LIVE UP TO THAT, SO THANK YOU.

[10:04] >> Commissioner Edelson: COMMISSIONER GREENE.

[10:07] >> Commissioner Greene: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

[10:09] AND THANK YOU TO THE TEAM FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

[10:11] REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND I ALSO WANT TO ADD TO THE

[10:15] THANKS THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED, THANK YOU TO THE ELECTIONS

[10:17] OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HERE IN HENNEPIN COUNTY.

[10:20] I KNOW I SO APPRECIATE THE CALM, THE EXPERTISE, THE DEEP

[10:28] KNOWLEDGE THAT THAT OFFICE HAS AND CARRIES FORWARD WHEN

[10:31] THEY'RE ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

[10:35] IT'S SUCH A BOOST IN CONFIDENCE BOTH FOR ME AND

[10:38] RESIDENTS. AS HAS BEEN OUTOUTLINED --

[10:45] -- RECEIVED AN E-MAIL, I CERTAINLY HAVE, IS A LITTLE

[10:50] BIT OF LIKE WHAT ARE YOU DOING, HENNEPIN COUNTY ,

[10:53] HENNEPIN COUNTY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE SURE THESE BAD

[10:56] THINGS DON'T HAPPEN? AND I APPRECIATE ALL THAT

[11:02] WE'RE DOING AND I THINK THERE IS SOME BALANCE TO BE FOUND

[11:08] THAT'S TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING AND

[11:12] ALSO NOT FANNING FLAMES OF CONCERN.

[11:17] AND I GUESS IT'S ALL, YOU KNOW, IT'S -- EVERYBODY WOULD

[11:22] PROBABLY PLANT THEIR FLAG ON THAT SPECTRUM IN A DIFFERENT

[11:25] PLACE. I'D LIKE TO SEE US LEAN A

[11:27] LITTLE BIT FURTHER INTO LIKE HERE'S EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING,

[11:30] TO JUST FURTHER THAT CONFIDENCE.

[11:34] I UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE NOT SORT OF GOING ALL THE WAY WITH

[11:36] THAT. AND SO I MYSELF AM CLEARLY

[11:42] REPRESENTING SOME SORT OF PULL IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.

[11:48] THE LAST THING I WANTED TO SAY IS THAT -- WELL, I GUESS, I

[11:55] THINK I'LL JUST CONCLUDE IT THERE.

[11:56] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> Commissioner Edelson:

[11:57] THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GREENE.

[11:59] COMMISSIONER ANDERSON. >> Commissioner Anderson:

[12:02] THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO SAY

[12:05] THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP.

[12:10] OBVIOUSLY AND I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY I WANT TO EXPRESS

[12:15] GRATITUDE FOR THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF HENNEPIN COUNTY

[12:20] ADMINISTERING ELECTIONS IN SUCH A WAY THAT PEOPLE HAVE

[12:24] CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS HERE.

[12:28] DESPITE THIS ADMINISTRATION'S ATTEMPT TO UNDERMINE THE

[12:34] CONFIDENCE IN IT AND AS WE'VE HEARD THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE

[12:38] THAT ARE VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THAT.

[12:41] BUT WE HAVE BEEN DOING OUR JOB FOR A VERY LONG TIME IN MAKING

[12:46] SURE THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE FREE AND FAIR AND ACCURATE,

[12:50] AND THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR

[12:56] ELECTIONS THAN THE YEAR BEFORE, RIGHT?

[12:57] WE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND WAYS OF EXPANDING

[13:01] PARTICIPATION AND I AM SO THANKFUL THAT WE LIVE IN A

[13:05] COUNTY THAT IS PRIORITIZING PARTICIPATION AND INVOLVEMENT

[13:08] IN OUR ELECTION PROCESS. SO I AM LIKE YES TO ALL OF THE

[13:15] THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID, APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC WHO HAS

[13:19] COME AND SPOKE TO US ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE

[13:23] UPHOLDING AN OATH THAT I THINK EVERYBODY HERE AND REALLY

[13:31] ACROSS ITSELF STATE OF MINNESOTA, I THINK WE ALL TAKE

[13:33] THAT OATH REALLY SERIOUSLY. AND I KNOW THAT REAFFIRMING

[13:40] THAT OATH IS, YOU KNOW, LIKE I THINK EVERY TIME I'M TAKING A

[13:44] VOTE I AM REAFFIRMING MY OATH THAT I TOOK WHEN I WAS ELECTED

[13:52] SO I THINK TO COMMISSIONER GREENE'S POINT, GETTING THE

[13:56] WORD OUT OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING TO HELP CALM PEOPLE,

[14:01] YOU KNOW, LIKE PROVIDE REASSURANCES.

[14:03] BECAUSE WE ARE DOING A LOT OF REALLY IMPORTANT, GOOD THINGS,

[14:07] THE PREPARATIONS THAT WE WERE TOLD ABOUT IN THE LEAD-UP TO

[14:12] OUR PRIMARY ELECTIONS IS ONGOING.

[14:18] WE ARE LOOKING AT FURTHER STRENGTHENING OUR SYSTEMS

[14:22] THROUGH EQUIPMENT PURCHASES AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, I

[14:26] HAVE COMPLETE FAITH IN OUR ELECTION TEAMS, IN OUR

[14:31] PROCESS, AND I THINK OUR PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE ABSOLUTE

[14:35] CONFIDENCE IN OUR ABILITY TO ADMINISTER FREE AND FAIR

[14:38] ELECTION AGAIN THIS YEAR, BECAUSE WE DAMN WELL BETTER

[14:41] MAKE SURE THAT IT HAPPENS, AND WE WILL.

[14:43] SO THANK YOU. >> Commissioner Edelson:

[14:45] THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ANDERSON.

[14:47] COMMISSIONER CONLEY. >> Commissioner Conley:

[14:48] THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST REALLY RESPONSIVE TO WHAT

[14:52] WE'VE BEEN HEARING FOR A WHILE NOW FROM RESIDENTS ALL OVER

[14:56] THE COUNTY, CONSTITUENTS AND FOLKS OUTSIDE OF OUR DISTRICT

[15:00] BOUNDARIES. I JUST JUST WANT TO ALSO SAY

[15:02] THAT IT IS NOT LOST ON ME THAT AS WE APPROACH OR AS WE ARE IN

[15:08] THE 250TH YEAR OF THIS COUNTRY WE ARE IN A POSITION WHERE WE

[15:12] ARE DEFENDING RIGHTS, BASIC RIGHTS, AND REAFFIRMING THE

[15:19] OATH THAT WE TOOK TO THE CONSTITUTION WHICH IS THE LAW

[15:21] OF THIS LAND, WHICH IS THE OVERARCHING LAWS BY WHICH WE

[15:24] EXIST HERE IN THIS COUNTRY. THE CONSTITUTION THAT, AS

[15:29] COMMISSIONER ANDERSON SAID, EVERY TIME WE ARE VOTING WE

[15:31] ARE REAFFIRMING THAT OATH. THAT IS SYMBOLIC OF THE OATH

[15:36] THAT WE TOOK TO EVEN HOLD THESE SEATS.

[15:40] WE'VE TAKEN THOSE OATHS MULTIPLE TIMES, MANY OF US.

[15:44] BUT IT'S STILL NOT LOST ON ME THAT VOTING RIGHTS ARE

[15:48] COMPLETELY UNDER ATTACK AND HAVE BEEN.

[15:50] WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO LIVE IN A STATE WHERE WE JUST THIS

[15:53] PRIMARY WE BROKE THE RECORD FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO

[15:59] VOTED, FOR THE FACT THAT IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, IN

[16:01] HENNEPIN COUNTY, WE CAN VOTE FREELY, FAIRLY, WE HAVE

[16:05] MULTIPLE DIFFERENT WAYS TO VOTE, EARLY VOTING, ABSENTEE

[16:09] VOTING. I AM A TRADITIONAL IN-PERSON

[16:11] VOTING DAY PERSON, BUT I THINK ABOUT STATES IN THE SOUTH,

[16:15] WHERE THEY ARE SYSTEMATICALLY REMOVING POLLING PLACES FROM

[16:19] PREDOMINANTLY BLACK COMMUNITIES, TO DISENFRANCHISE

[16:23] , TO COMPLETELY ELIMINATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR

[16:28] SOME COMMUNITIES TO VOTE. THAT'S ASTOUNDING.

[16:31] NOT SURPRISING, BUT ASTOUNDING TO ME, THE LENGTHS OF WHICH

[16:35] THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION WILL GO TO REMOVE THE RIGHT TO

[16:38] VOTE BECAUSE VOTING IS POWERFUL.

[16:39] I DON'T NEED TO TELL PEOPLE THAT.

[16:41] AND WHEN YOU REMOVE THAT POWER FROM PEOPLE, I'LL EVEN GO

[16:46] FURTHER AND SAY THE WAY THAT WE'VE SEEN REDISTRICTING

[16:49] HAPPEN IN THIS COUNTRY JUST WITHIN THE PAST SEVERAL

[16:52] MONTHS, HOW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN REDRAWN TO

[16:56] CHANGE OR TO TIP THE SCALES IN THE FAVOR OF A DOMINANT

[17:00] DEMOGRAPHIC, RIGHT? IT'S MIND BOGGLING TO ME.

[17:04] AND SO I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE PRIVILEGE OF LIVING IN A STATE

[17:09] WHERE I KNOW THAT I'VE GOT ACCESS TO VOTING THAT HASN'T

[17:15] BEEN, IN MY TIME OF BEING A VOTER, HASN'T BEEN STRIPPED

[17:20] AWAY FROM ME THROUGH REALLY EGREGIOUS, OVERTLY RACIST

[17:25] WAYS. AND SO WHILE THIS IS

[17:29] PROTECTING OUR VOTE AND OUTLINING WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN

[17:34] BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE PUBLIC VOTE AND HOW WE CAN JUST BE

[17:39] GOOD ELECTED OFFICIALS BY REMAINING TRUE TO THE OATHS

[17:43] THAT WE TOOK TO BE ELECTED OFFICIALS, I JUST WANT TO JUST

[17:49] REITERATE THAT VOTING RIGHTS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE UNDER

[17:53] ATTACK. AND THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT

[17:55] REALLY WAS AN INSTRUMENTAL PIECE.

[17:57] IT IS AN INSTRUMENTAL PIECE OF WHAT MAKES THIS COUNTRY IN THE

[18:02] FIRST PLACE. SO 250 YEARS LATER HERE WE ARE

[18:06] TRYING TO DEFEND THAT. AND SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS

[18:09] BUT I'M CERTAINLY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE THIS BOARD ACTION

[18:13] AS A TANGIBLE WAY TO SHOW OUR RESIDENTS THAT WE'RE NOT

[18:16] PLAYING AROUND. THANK YOU.

[18:17] >> Commissioner Edelson: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER

[18:19] CONLEY. AND COMMISSIONER LUNDE, YOU

[18:20] HAD A FOLLOW-UP? >> Commissioner Lunde:

[18:21] THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST I FORGOT TO MENTION WHEN

[18:24] I ASKED FOR -- I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY USEFUL FOR

[18:30] ELECTIONS TEAM TO ACTUALLY PUT THE DIAGRAM OF WHEN YOUR VOTE

[18:33] COMES IN, WHEN'S IT COUNTED, ABSENTEE VERSUS YOU PUT IT IN

[18:37] A MACHINE. BECAUSE THOSE THINGS ARE SOME

[18:41] ARE HELD AND PUT IN A MACHINE ALL AT ONCE.

[18:44] WE NEED TO BE VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT HOW A BOLLOT IS HANDLED.

[18:49] -- THOSE WAYS THAT, A-HA, THIS IS HOW IT'S HAPPENING OR A BIG

[18:54] DUMP AND AT THE LAST MINUTE THAT'S WHERE THEY CHEAT, THAT,

[18:57] NO, WE NEED TO BE VERY SPECIFIC AND HOW WE COUNT IT

[18:59] AND TELL PEOPLE. AND ALSO I THINK WE SHOULD USE

[19:02] THIS, I THINK EVERYBODY HERE SHOULD BE SIGNED UP FOR

[19:04] ELECTION JUDGE. I KNOW WE HAD A FEW BUT ONE OF

[19:06] THE BEST WAYS TO ENSURE ELECTION INTEGRITY IS BE AN

[19:10] ELECTION JUDGE. AND WE DON'T SUFFER FROM TOO

[19:11] MANY ELECTION JUDGES, TO ME I THINK THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY

[19:14] TO REALLY GO OUT AND PUBLIC PUBLICIZE AT EVERY LEVEL LIKE,

[19:17] HEY, IF YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT THIS WE NEED YOU EVERY TWO

[19:19] YEARS AND HERE'S THE STEPS OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO, HERE'S

[19:22] THE TRAINING, HERE'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO, I THINK IT WOULD

[19:26] BE HELPFUL AS WELL. AND THEN BECAUSE BY

[19:29] PUBLICIZING WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING MAKES US

[19:30] LIVE UP TO IT AND I THINK ABOUT, WE TALKED ABOUT IT WHEN

[19:33] I MET WITH THEM WHERE WE LEFT THE GATE UP ON A VEHICLE THAT

[19:36] WAS CARRYING BALLOTS WHICH IS NOT OUR POLICY AND WE OWNED

[19:40] IT, THE PERSON I THINK IS NO LONGER WORKING IN THAT ROLE.

[19:44] BUT ALL THOSE THINGS MATTER BECAUSE IT FEEDS INTO STUFF

[19:48] AND SO EVERY TIME WE FAIL ON A POLICY PEOPLE USE IT AS AN

[19:53] A-HA, VERSUS WE USE THAT -- SO I DO THINK ALL THESE THINGS

[19:55] ARE GOOD THINGS AND MORE WE TELL PEOPLE WHAT WE DO.

[19:58] BUT I DO THINK WE SHOULD USE THIS AS ELECTION JUDGE

[20:02] RECRUITMENT AT EVERY LEVEL THAT WE CAN.

[20:03] SO THANK YOU. >> Commissioner Edelson:

[20:06] WELL, AND WITH THAT I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY TOO SOME OF THE

[20:10] VOTERS -- OR SOME OF THE VOTERS -- SOME OF THE

[20:12] RESIDENTS THAT ATTENDED THE MEETING TODAY WERE WANTING TO

[20:15] MAKE SURE WE WERE PARTNERING WITH CITIES, I THINK MAKING

[20:17] MORE INFORMATION AROUND THE ELECTION AND HOW IT WORKS I

[20:20] THINK PEOPLE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN IT BECAUSE OF

[20:22] THE THREATS TO THE ELECTION. YOU KNOW, PUBLICLY HOW VOTING

[20:28] WORKS, HOW COUNTIES GET THE VOTES, HOW WE CERTIFY THE

[20:32] ELECTION, HOW WE WORK WITH CITIES, ALSO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW

[20:35] THAT DURING THE PRIMARY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, THE

[20:39] COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE MINNESOTA SECRETARY OF STATE,

[20:42] THE COUNTY ELECTIONS TEAM WAS VERY MUCH IN CLOSE

[20:45] COMMUNICATION WITH ALL OF THEM.

[20:46] I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD JUST HAVE A GENERAL IDEA THAT WE

[20:49] ARE PREPARING FOR THIS, WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WERE

[20:54] SOME POTENTIAL THREATS TO THE -- WELL, AT LEAST SOME PEOPLE

[20:58] WHATNOTTED TO COME WITHIN A PERIOD THAT THEY WERE NOT

[21:01] ALLOWED WITHIN 100 FEET OF A POLLING PLACE.

[21:03] SO WE DO HAVE A PLAN AND SO I THINK MAKING SURE PEOPLE

[21:08] UNDERSTAND THAT. AND Mr. ROGAN, DO YOU HAVE

[21:10] ANYTHING TO SAY TO ALL OF THAT?

[21:13] >> Mr. ROGAN: JUST, MADAM CHAIR, WE WILL BE DOING MORE

[21:16] OUTREACH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PLANNED SOME OUTREACH EVENTS

[21:19] AND WE, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE FEEDBACK WE'LL LOOK AT SOME

[21:23] OTHER WAYS TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT WHAT YOU'VE TALKED

[21:26] ABOUT ABOUT THE PROCESS, HOW IT WORKS AND THE STEPS THAT

[21:30] WE'VE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE FREE AND

[21:33] FAIR ELECTIONS. AND I'LL JUST REMIND FOLKS, I

[21:37] KNOW THAT THE FOLKS FROM OPEN FORUM AREN'T HERE ANYMORE BUT

[21:41] MAIL VOTING STARTS ON SEPTEMBER 19TH, AND THERE IS

[21:44] NO PROHIBITION RIGHT NOW FOR OUR MAIL BALLOTING IS GOING TO

[21:48] HAPPEN THE EXACT WAY IT HAPPENED FOR THE PRIMARY.

[21:50] WE ARE PRIMED AND READY TO GO. THOSE BALLOTS WILL GO OUT ON

[21:54] SEPTEMBER 19TH AND I HAVE EVERY EXPECTATION THAT THE

[21:56] POSTAL SERVICE IS GOING TO FOLLOW THAT.

[21:57] THERE'S OBVIOUSLY LITIGATION THAT'S HAPPENING BUT RIGHT NOW

[21:59] I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE COMMENTERS SAID THAT THE FACT

[22:03] THAT YOU CAN'T VOTE BY MAIL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT TRUE.

[22:06] YOU CAN VOTE BY MAIL RIGHT NOW AND CERTAINLY IF YOU ARE NOT

[22:12] THAT WILL BE AN ENORMOUS DEAL. BUT YOU CAN VOTE BY MAIL.

[22:17] AND I WILL SAY EARLY VOTING IS NEW THIS YEAR.

[22:19] MOST CITIES HAVE IT AT THEIR CITY HALL AND THE CITY OF

[22:25] MINNEAPOLIS, YOU CAN VOTE AT THE IN, NORTHEAST AT THE OPEN

[22:27] VOTING CENTER, AND THEN THEY HAVE ONE ON THE NORTH SIDE AT

[22:30] THE URBAN LEAGUE, ONE ON THE SOUTH SIDE AT THE BETHEL

[22:35] LUTHERAN CHURCH, AND THEN THIS YEAR THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE 12

[22:37] POP-UP EVENTS ON PARTICULAR DAYS MOVING AROUND THE CITY

[22:41] THAT'S ALL ADVERTISED ON THEIR WEBSITE.

[22:43] SO THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, I THINK PEOPLE ARE REALLY TRYING TO

[22:46] MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING IN WAYS TO EXPAND THE

[22:48] FRANCHISE AND TRY TO MAKE IT SO THAT WE'RE MEETING PEOPLE

[22:52] WHERE WE'RE AT AND TRYING TO MEET THAT GOAL AND MAKE SURE

[22:55] THAT EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO VOTE HAS THE ABILITY TO VOTE

[22:57] AND WE HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT IN DIFFERENT WAYS

[22:59] THIS YEAR THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST.

[23:01] >> Commissioner Edelson: YEAH, THAT'S GREAT.

[23:02] COMMISSIONER LUNDE, YOU HAD ANOTHER FOLLOW-UP.

[23:05] >> Commissioner Lunde: JUST, YEAH, I DO BELIEVE THE

[23:07] COUNTY NEEDS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE FACT THAT NOT EVERYONE

[23:11] GETS THE SAME TREATMENT AT MINNEAPOLIS BECAUSE NOT

[23:13] EVERYBODY HAS MINNEAPOLIS MONEY.

[23:13] SO IF YOU'RE IN A SMALL CITY AND I DON'T MEAN TO REACH INTO

[23:17] DISTRICT 7 BUT IF YOU'RE IN A SMALL CITIES IT NOT YOUR

[23:19] FAULT. THAT VOTER HAS THE SAME RIGHTS

[23:22] AS A VOTER WHO LIVES IN MILL CITY IN MINNEAPOLIS.

[23:24] I KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BUT WHEN I HEAR OF ALL

[23:28] THESE EVENTS, IT'S NOT THE SAME AND IT'S NOT -- A SMALL

[23:32] CITY'S FAULT FOR THE FACT THAT THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THOSE

[23:35] THINGS, THEY DON'T GET MONEY FOR THAT.

[23:37] AND SO I DO THINK, THINK ABOUT THE SPECIAL ELECTIONS WHERE WE

[23:39] WERE TELLING PEOPLE OUT IN CORCORAN TO COME DOWNTOWN TO

[23:44] CAST THEIR VOTE BECAUSE THEIR CITY HALL COULDN'T STAFF A

[23:47] THING. SO I KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT

[23:48] YOU'RE SAYING BUT IT JUST REMINDS ME THAT IT IS UNEQUAL

[23:53] ON SOME OF THE STUFF AND I REALIZE WHY IT IS, BUT IT

[23:56] SHOULDN'T BE. I JUST FEEL STRONGLY THAT A

[24:00] VOTER NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE IN THE COUNTY HAVE THE SAME

[24:03] ACCESS, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

[24:04] >> Commissioner Edelson: OKAY.

[24:06] WELL, WITH THAT I JUST I WANT TODAY SAY ONE MORE THING.

[24:10] NO PRESIDENT, GOVERNOR, COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR THAT MATTER

[24:13] OR POLITICAL PARTY SHOULD DECIDE WHOSE VOTE MATTERS, OUR

[24:15] JOB IS TO PROTECT RULES, PROCESS, AND EVERY ELIGIBLE

[24:20] VOTER'S RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY.

[24:21] AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING AND CONTINUING

[24:23] TO DO. WITH THAT WE WILL MOVE TO A

[24:25] VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF

[24:27] APPROVING ITEM 2A PLEASE SAY AYE.

[24:28] [ MEMBERS VOTING ] OPPOSED?

[24:29] [ NO RESPONSE HEARD ] THE MOTION CARRIES.

[24:31] THAT CONCLUDES RESIDENT SERVICES.

[24:33] THANK YOU. WE ARE ADJOURNED.

Resident Services Committee on 2026-08-25 1:30 PM

Agenda

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