1 00:00:24,257 --> 00:00:24,991 >> Commissioner Edelson: OKAY. 2 00:00:24,991 --> 00:00:27,260 ALL RIGHT, GUYS. LAST COMMITTEE. 3 00:00:27,260 --> 00:00:30,130 SO I WILL CALL TO ORDER RESIDENT SERVICE, THE RESIDENT 4 00:00:30,130 --> 00:00:32,532 SERVICES COMMITTEE, IT'S TUESDAY, AUGUST 25TH. 5 00:00:32,532 --> 00:00:35,935 IT IS 4:34:00 P.M. OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS 6 00:00:35,935 --> 00:00:38,404 TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM AUGUST 13TH. 7 00:00:38,404 --> 00:00:40,940 IF I CAN HAVE A MOTION? >> Commissioner Goettel: 8 00:00:40,940 --> 00:00:41,273 SECOND. >> 9 00:00:41,273 --> 00:00:43,343 >> Commissioner Edelson: MOVED AND SECONDED. 10 00:00:43,343 --> 00:00:44,477 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. 11 00:00:44,477 --> 00:00:45,612 [ MEMBERS VOTING ] OPPOSED? 12 00:00:45,612 --> 00:00:46,880 [ NO RESPONSE HEARD ] MOTION CARRIES. 13 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:49,882 WE HAVE ONE ADDENDUM UNDER NEW BUSINESS TODAY IF I COULD HAVE 14 00:00:49,882 --> 00:00:52,819 A MOTION TO PUT 2A BEFORE US. >> Commissioner Fernando: 15 00:00:52,819 --> 00:00:54,220 SO MOVED. SECOND. 16 00:00:54,220 --> 00:00:56,622 >> Commissioner Edelson: MOVED AND SECONDED, THANK YOU. 17 00:00:56,622 --> 00:00:58,910 RESOLUTION TO AFFIRMING HENNEPIN COUNTY'S COMMITMENT 18 00:00:58,910 --> 00:01:00,270 TO ENSURING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. 19 00:01:00,270 --> 00:01:02,228 Mr. ROGAN, CAN YOU GIVE US SOME BACKGROUND ON THIS? 20 00:01:02,228 --> 00:01:05,980 >> Mr. ROGAN: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. 21 00:01:05,980 --> 00:01:07,233 COMMISSIONERS, RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU HIGHLIGHTS THE 22 00:01:07,233 --> 00:01:09,236 COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS AND HAS 23 00:01:09,236 --> 00:01:12,105 KIND OF A LENGTHY BACKGROUND WITH A LOT OF WHEREAS CLAUSES 24 00:01:12,105 --> 00:01:14,707 THAT PROVIDE BACKGROUND ON THE ROOSEVELT COUNTY BOARD, 25 00:01:14,707 --> 00:01:17,309 ELECTION OFFICIALS AND THE COUNTY CANVASSING BOARD. 26 00:01:17,309 --> 00:01:20,513 AS YOU KNOW WE'VE HAD OPEN FORUM THREE DIFFERENT TIMES 27 00:01:20,513 --> 00:01:25,251 WHERE WE'VE HAD CITIZENS COME IN, OVER 40 OF THEM NOW AND 28 00:01:25,251 --> 00:01:28,254 ASK FOR, TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. 29 00:01:28,254 --> 00:01:31,124 SEVERAL OF THE WHEREAS CLAUSES HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE EFFORTS 30 00:01:31,124 --> 00:01:34,127 AT HENNEPIN COUNTY AND OUR PARTNERS HAVE UNDERTAKEN THIS 31 00:01:34,127 --> 00:01:38,264 YEAR TO PRESERVE FREE AND FAIR ELECTION INCLUDING PROVIDING 32 00:01:38,264 --> 00:01:44,264 COMMENTS OPPOSED TO THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE RULE REGARDING 33 00:01:45,671 --> 00:01:51,710 ABSENTEE BALLOTS, AN AMICUS BRIEF -- INJUNCTION TO THIS 34 00:01:51,210 --> 00:01:57,216 RULE, NOT -- POLLING ACCESS TO -- AND THE SECRETARY OF 35 00:01:57,216 --> 00:02:01,870 STATE'S DECISION TO NOT PROVIDE UNREDACTED COPIES OF 36 00:02:01,870 --> 00:02:02,688 MINNESOTA'S COMPLETE VOTER REGISTRATION LIST TO THE 37 00:02:02,688 --> 00:02:05,291 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. OTHER WHEREAS CLAUSES 38 00:02:05,291 --> 00:02:08,361 HIGHLIGHT PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN ELECTIONS REALLY DEPENDS ON 39 00:02:08,361 --> 00:02:10,696 THE SECURE, ACCURATE AND TRANSPARENT ADMINISTRATION OF 40 00:02:10,696 --> 00:02:13,100 THE ELECTION PROCESS AND WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY HERE IN 41 00:02:13,100 --> 00:02:16,369 HENNEPIN COUNTY OF ELECTIONS OFFICIALS, CITY ELECTION 42 00:02:16,369 --> 00:02:19,905 OFFICIALS AND THOUSANDS OF ELECTION JUDGES CARRYING OUT 43 00:02:19,905 --> 00:02:23,243 THEIR DUTIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH MINNESOTA LAW. 44 00:02:23,243 --> 00:02:26,380 FINALLY SEVERAL OF THE CLAUSES HIGHLIGHT THE LIMITED ROLE 45 00:02:26,380 --> 00:02:28,982 THAT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE IN ACTUALLY ADMINISTERING THE 46 00:02:28,982 --> 00:02:31,982 PROCESS OR CERTIFYING ELECTION RESULTS. 47 00:02:32,118 --> 00:02:35,921 INSTEAD THAT WORK IS DONE BY THE HENNEPIN COUNTY CANVASSING 48 00:02:35,921 --> 00:02:39,521 BOARD. THE CANVASSING BOARD HAS FIVE 49 00:02:40,260 --> 00:02:44,265 MEMBERS, -- TWO OF THEM ARE APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY HERE, 50 00:02:44,265 --> 00:02:46,399 AND THIS YEAR IT IS COMMISSIONER EDELSON EXPLAINE 51 00:02:46,399 --> 00:02:49,735 ON THAT BOARD. THE RESOLUTION THEN ENDS WITH 52 00:02:49,735 --> 00:02:55,208 DOING THREE SEPARATE THINGS. FIRST, IT ASK THAT YOU ALL 53 00:02:55,208 --> 00:02:58,811 REAFFIRM YOUR OATHS TO SUPPORT THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND THE 54 00:02:58,811 --> 00:02:59,678 CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. 55 00:02:59,678 --> 00:03:03,549 IT DIRECTS STAFF, INCLUDING ME, THE COUNTY AUDITOR AND 56 00:03:03,549 --> 00:03:05,418 ELECTIONS DIRECTOR TO TAKE EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN FREE AND 57 00:03:05,418 --> 00:03:10,890 FAIR ELECTIONS IN HENNEPIN COUNTY, AND TO TAKE ACTIONS TO 58 00:03:10,890 --> 00:03:13,426 OPPOSE ANY UNLAWFUL REQUESTS FOR ELECTION DATA OR UNLAWFUL 59 00:03:13,426 --> 00:03:16,295 REQUESTS THAT COULD IMPACT THE ELECTION PROCESS, AND FINALLY, 60 00:03:16,295 --> 00:03:21,767 IT DIRECTS ME, I CHAIRED THE COUNTY CANVASSING BOARD TO 61 00:03:21,767 --> 00:03:26,567 ENSURE THAT ALL COUNTY CANVASSING BOARD MEMBERS TAKE 62 00:03:27,106 --> 00:03:31,443 THE OATH REQUIRED WHEN WE ARE SCHEDULED TO MEET THE CANVASS 63 00:03:31,443 --> 00:03:33,579 GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS WEDNESDAY THAT, MADAM CHAIR, I 64 00:03:33,579 --> 00:03:35,248 CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. >> Commissioner Edelson: 65 00:03:35,248 --> 00:03:36,717 THANK YOU. AND WITH THAT, CHAIR FERNANDO 66 00:03:36,717 --> 00:03:38,917 I'LL BE COMING TO YOU. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS, I WANT 67 00:03:38,917 --> 00:03:43,722 TO THANK ALL OF THE RESIDENTS THAT CAME TODAY, AND I VERY 68 00:03:43,722 --> 00:03:45,658 MUCH SUPPORT THIS. ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL SAY 69 00:03:45,658 --> 00:03:50,596 IS NEVER BEFORE HAVE WE FACED THE THREATS TO OUR DEMOCRACY 70 00:03:50,596 --> 00:03:54,666 AND TO OUR ELECTION PROCESS THAT WE ARE FACING NOW. 71 00:03:54,666 --> 00:03:59,605 WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IN 2024 AND IT SAYS 40 -- I LOOKED UP 72 00:03:59,605 --> 00:04:02,808 THE NUMBER, 47.3% OF OUR BALLOTS IN HENNEPIN COUNTY 73 00:04:02,808 --> 00:04:05,478 WERE ABSENTEE BALLOTS. NOW, OF COURSE THAT ABSENTEE 74 00:04:05,478 --> 00:04:08,214 WAS EARLY VOTING THEN AND IT'S DIFFERENT NOW SO HOW MANY WERE 75 00:04:08,214 --> 00:04:12,485 ACTUALLY MAIL-IN VOTES, YOU KNOW, WE'D WE'D HAVE TO 76 00:04:12,485 --> 00:04:16,222 DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THAT. BUT WITH TRUMP'S MARCH 31ST 77 00:04:16,222 --> 00:04:20,359 EXECUTIVE ORDER WHICH DIRECTS THE POSTAL SERVICE TO NOT 78 00:04:20,359 --> 00:04:24,363 TRANSMIT ANY MAIL-IN OR ABSENTEE BALLOTS THAT ARE NOT 79 00:04:24,363 --> 00:04:27,633 ON A LIST, I THINK RESIDENTS ARE GENUINELY CONCERNED AND I 80 00:04:27,633 --> 00:04:31,833 THINK THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. 81 00:04:32,772 --> 00:04:36,576 WITH THIS, YOU KNOW, AS YOU WERE STATING, Mr. ROGAN, 82 00:04:36,576 --> 00:04:42,181 ABOUT THE OATH OF OFFICE THAT YOU'LL TAKE WITH THE ELECTION 83 00:04:42,181 --> 00:04:46,520 TO OUR -- DO THE POSTAL WORKERS TAKE THAT SAME OATH OF 84 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:52,520 OFFICE, IT IS A TYPE OF TAMPERING WITH OUR ELECTIONS 85 00:04:52,658 --> 00:04:57,596 THAT IS SHOCKING AND SOMETHING THAT I AM GLAD THAT WE ARE 86 00:04:57,596 --> 00:05:01,670 REAFFIRMING, THAT WE WILL BE FOLLOWING STATE LAWS, AND 87 00:05:01,670 --> 00:05:04,937 THOSE HAVE ALWAYS HISTORICALLY BEEN THE LAWS THAT UPHOLD OUR 88 00:05:04,937 --> 00:05:07,206 ELECTIONS. AND SO I'M GLAD RESIDENTS ARE 89 00:05:07,206 --> 00:05:09,275 PAYING ATTENTION. I'M GLAD THAT THEY UNDERSTAND 90 00:05:09,275 --> 00:05:14,790 JUST HOW MUCH COUNTIES DO TO PROTECT THEIR ELECTIONS, AND I 91 00:05:14,790 --> 00:05:17,150 THINK PEOPLE COMING HERE IS ACTUALLY REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF 92 00:05:17,150 --> 00:05:19,485 THE WORK THAT WE WILL BE DOING, AND SO I WAS REALLY 93 00:05:19,485 --> 00:05:22,221 HAPPY TO SEE, AND I HOPE WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE PEOPLE 94 00:05:22,221 --> 00:05:24,825 COMING HERE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE WILL BE PROTECTING 95 00:05:24,825 --> 00:05:28,361 THEIR ELECTIONS BECAUSE WE WILL, WE REALLY WELL. 96 00:05:28,361 --> 00:05:30,960 CHAIR FERNANDO, YOU ARE UP. >> Commissioner Fernando: 97 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:32,298 THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I TOO WANT TO OPEN WITH 98 00:05:32,298 --> 00:05:35,300 GRATITUDE TO THE RESIDENTS AND COMMISSION MEMBERS BOTH 99 00:05:35,300 --> 00:05:40,700 LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY WHO ARE UPLIFTING THIS TO ADMINISTER 100 00:05:40,706 --> 00:05:42,174 ELECTIONS WHICH GENERALLY ARE COUNTIES. 101 00:05:42,174 --> 00:05:44,176 SECOND I WANT TO THANK -- ADMINISTRATION FOR PUTTING 102 00:05:44,176 --> 00:05:46,912 THIS TOGETHER. THIS CONTAINS A NUMBER OF 103 00:05:46,912 --> 00:05:49,848 WHEREAS CLAUSES WHICH, COLLEAGUES, I THINK WITH THE 104 00:05:49,848 --> 00:05:52,185 2026 YEAR WE'VE HAD IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO CODIFY 105 00:05:52,185 --> 00:05:56,122 INTO THE RECORD THE EXPERIENCE FROM A GOVERNANCE PERSPECTIVE 106 00:05:56,122 --> 00:05:57,923 THAT WE ARE HAVING, THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE HAVING. 107 00:05:57,923 --> 00:06:01,928 SO I'M VERY, VERY HAPPY TO REAFFIRM MY OWN OATH AND VOTE 108 00:06:01,928 --> 00:06:06,532 IN FAVOR OF THIS. I WANT TO MAKE ONE TYPO NOTE. 109 00:06:06,532 --> 00:06:09,736 THE FOURTH TO LAST WHEREAS CLAUSE FROM THE BOTTOM WHERE 110 00:06:09,736 --> 00:06:13,336 IT NAMES THE CANVASSING BOARD MEMBERS. 111 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:16,613 THERE'S ONE SUR NAME THAT HAS A TYPO. 112 00:06:16,613 --> 00:06:18,816 SO WANT TO JUST CORRECT THAT AND THAT'S ALL. 113 00:06:18,816 --> 00:06:20,617 THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >> Commissioner Edelson: 114 00:06:20,617 --> 00:06:22,285 THANK YOU. AND COMMISSIONER GOETTEL. 115 00:06:22,285 --> 00:06:24,687 >> Commissioner Goettel: I WON'T BE LONG BUT I WANT TO 116 00:06:24,687 --> 00:06:28,958 SAY TOO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE FOR A RESOLUTION. 117 00:06:28,958 --> 00:06:32,362 AND I TALKED TO SOME OF THE FOLKS IN THE GROUP I TALKED 118 00:06:32,362 --> 00:06:35,566 ABOUT HOW MUCH BIGGER AND MORE PUBLIC THIS WAS, US DOING A 119 00:06:35,566 --> 00:06:38,502 RESOLUTION AND COMING OUT TO THE RESIDENTS IN FRONT OF 120 00:06:38,502 --> 00:06:42,390 EVERYBODY ON CAMERA SAYING THESE KINDS OF THINGS, INSTEAD 121 00:06:42,390 --> 00:06:44,174 OF JUST SIGNING THE PLEDGE, WHICH IS A GREAT PLEDGE, 122 00:06:44,174 --> 00:06:47,711 THAT'S FINE. I MEAN, BUT I ALSO, I'D ALSO, 123 00:06:47,711 --> 00:06:51,382 -- WE'RE GETTING PEOPLE -- THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS SPEAKING 124 00:06:51,382 --> 00:06:55,520 OUT ABOUT THIS, KEITH ELLISON IS SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THIS. 125 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:57,320 AND THEY HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES TO PIECES OF THIS AS WELL AS 126 00:06:57,320 --> 00:07:01,325 WE DO TOO. BUT I HAVE HEARD COMMENTS AND 127 00:07:01,325 --> 00:07:06,725 CONCERNS AT OTHER TOWN HALLS, ONE SPECIFICALLY RECENTLY WITH 128 00:07:08,532 --> 00:07:10,670 CONGRESS CONGRESSWOMAN ILHAN OMAR AND PEOPLE ALL OVER, NOT 129 00:07:10,670 --> 00:07:13,337 JUST THESE COALITION GROUPS BUT PEOPLE ALL OVER, JUST 130 00:07:13,337 --> 00:07:15,406 GENERAL CITIZENS ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR ABILITY 131 00:07:15,406 --> 00:07:18,942 TO VOTE AND NOT BE INTIMIDATED. 132 00:07:18,942 --> 00:07:19,677 THANK YOU. >> Commissioner Edelson: 133 00:07:19,677 --> 00:07:21,611 THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GOETTEL. 134 00:07:21,611 --> 00:07:23,481 COMMISSIONER LUNDE. >> Commissioner Lunde: 135 00:07:23,481 --> 00:07:27,417 THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST I'M GRATEFUL FOR STAFF 136 00:07:27,417 --> 00:07:30,487 FOR THIS BECAUSE I MET WITH THE GROUPS THAT HAVE COME HERE 137 00:07:30,487 --> 00:07:33,157 AND I DON'T SIGN PLEDGES, I'VE BEEN BURNED TOO MANY TIMES 138 00:07:33,157 --> 00:07:36,560 WHERE THE PLEDGES END UP IN OTHER PEOPLE'S HANDS, SO THIS 139 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:41,165 IS FOR ME A PERFECT VEHICLE TO REAFFIRM WHAT WE WANT TO DO. 140 00:07:41,165 --> 00:07:45,102 AND I THINK THAT HIGHLIGHTING THE THINGS, CHANGES THAT ARE 141 00:07:45,102 --> 00:07:48,505 JUST BEING MADE UNILATERALLY AND ACROSS THE BOARD WHEN WE 142 00:07:48,505 --> 00:07:51,909 ARE 50 STATES, AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT STATE LAWS THAT YOU 143 00:07:51,909 --> 00:07:55,979 CAN'T JUST APPLY A UNIFORM LAW WITHOUT CONGRESS PASSING IT, 144 00:07:55,979 --> 00:07:59,917 AND THE PRESIDENT SIGNING IT, WHICH IS NOT THE CASE. 145 00:07:59,917 --> 00:08:03,520 SO JUST THAT HIGHLIGHT. I ALSO THINK THAT THERE'S 146 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:06,790 PROBABLY AN OPPORTUNITY, WE TALKED WHEN JENNY HELMS WAS 147 00:08:06,790 --> 00:08:08,925 HERE ABOUT INFORMATION, I THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL 148 00:08:08,925 --> 00:08:11,595 BECAUSE WHEN I WAS MEETING WITH THE GROUP THAT HAS BEEN 149 00:08:11,595 --> 00:08:14,131 PRESENTING TO US, THERE WAS ALSO MISINFORMATION THAT THEY 150 00:08:14,131 --> 00:08:17,134 HAD, LIKE THEY WERE ASKING US TO PUT SHERIFF DEPUTIES AT 151 00:08:17,134 --> 00:08:20,870 EVERY POLLING LOCATION, I WAS LIKE, NOPE, CAN'T DO THAT ONE. 152 00:08:20,870 --> 00:08:23,740 AND ALSO THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IF A TRESPASSING IS 153 00:08:23,740 --> 00:08:26,809 GIVEN ACTUALLY IT'S LOCAL POLICE THAT RESPOND, NOT THE 154 00:08:26,809 --> 00:08:28,478 SHERIFF. SO I THINK THERE'S SOME 155 00:08:28,478 --> 00:08:31,882 OPPORTUNITY I THINK FOR EVEN MORE, SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE 156 00:08:31,882 --> 00:08:34,951 EXPECTATIONS MET WHEN THEY SEE SOMETHING, THAT WE HAVE A 157 00:08:34,951 --> 00:08:41,158 PROCESS THAT'S VERY DEFINED THAT WE FOLLOW THAT WE DO IT 158 00:08:41,158 --> 00:08:44,293 AND THAT PROCESS IS IMPORTANT. WE CAN'T SHORTCUT IT, LIKE WE 159 00:08:44,293 --> 00:08:48,632 CAN'T LET THE PRESIDENT DECIDE THAT HE CAN JUST DECIDE WHEN 160 00:08:48,632 --> 00:08:50,434 AND WHENEVER HE WANTS TO DO SOMETHING. 161 00:08:50,434 --> 00:08:57,240 IT'S ALSO THE SAME PROCESS, THAT WE HAVE TO LIVE UP TO OUR 162 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:04,381 PROCESS -- AND SO I THINK THAT -- AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. 163 00:09:04,381 --> 00:09:06,984 I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS BECAUSE I SAID IT WITH THEM, I 164 00:09:06,984 --> 00:09:10,387 THINK THAT ALL STATES SHOULD BE COUNTING THEIR BALLOTS LIKE 165 00:09:10,387 --> 00:09:12,656 MINNESOTA OR FLORIDA DO. THE FACT THAT CALIFORNIA TAKES 166 00:09:12,656 --> 00:09:15,659 WEEKS TO COUNT DOES NOT GIVE ANYBODY CONFIDENCE IN ANYTHING 167 00:09:15,659 --> 00:09:18,928 BECAUSE WHEN YOU SEE THAT, AND I'M NOT SURE ABOUT EVERYBODY 168 00:09:18,928 --> 00:09:22,465 ELSE, LIKE, OKAY, HOW CAN FLORIDA AND MINNESOTA GET IT 169 00:09:22,465 --> 00:09:23,934 DONE FIRST NIGHT AND OTHER STATES CAN'T? 170 00:09:23,934 --> 00:09:26,670 I THINK IT'S ABOUT WILLPOWER. AND I THINK THAT FEEDS INTO 171 00:09:26,670 --> 00:09:31,207 THIS NARRATIVE THAT PEOPLE CAN POINT TO AND SAY, AH, SEE, 172 00:09:31,207 --> 00:09:33,343 IT'S THIS. AND SO I THINK WE'RE DOING THE 173 00:09:33,343 --> 00:09:34,745 RIGHT THING WITH THIS RESOLUTION. 174 00:09:34,745 --> 00:09:39,883 I FEEL BETTER SUPPORTING THIS AS A BOARD BECAUSE IT COMES 175 00:09:39,883 --> 00:09:42,552 FROM US AND AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'RE GOING TO DO AND 176 00:09:42,552 --> 00:09:45,622 FOLLOW WHAT HAPPENS AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING WE 177 00:09:45,622 --> 00:09:47,357 DON'T WANT TO UNLESS WE'RE ORDERED TO. 178 00:09:47,357 --> 00:09:50,227 I THINK THAT'S THE PART AND WE HAVE ALLIES WHO ARE THERE. 179 00:09:50,227 --> 00:09:53,960 I JUST WANT EVERYBODY WHO CAN VOTE TO BE ABLE TO VOTE. 180 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:57,896 IT'S VERY SIMPLE. IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE, 181 00:09:57,967 --> 00:09:59,102 100%, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THAT. 182 00:09:59,102 --> 00:10:01,571 I THINK THAT'S ULTIMATELY MY GOAL AND I THINK THAT THIS 183 00:10:01,571 --> 00:10:04,174 HELPS US LIVE UP TO THAT, SO THANK YOU. 184 00:10:04,174 --> 00:10:06,574 >> Commissioner Edelson: COMMISSIONER GREENE. 185 00:10:07,110 --> 00:10:09,112 >> Commissioner Greene: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. 186 00:10:09,112 --> 00:10:11,848 AND THANK YOU TO THE TEAM FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. 187 00:10:11,848 --> 00:10:15,184 REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND I ALSO WANT TO ADD TO THE 188 00:10:15,184 --> 00:10:17,654 THANKS THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED, THANK YOU TO THE ELECTIONS 189 00:10:17,654 --> 00:10:20,791 OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HERE IN HENNEPIN COUNTY. 190 00:10:20,791 --> 00:10:27,391 I KNOW I SO APPRECIATE THE CALM, THE EXPERTISE, THE DEEP 191 00:10:28,465 --> 00:10:31,535 KNOWLEDGE THAT THAT OFFICE HAS AND CARRIES FORWARD WHEN 192 00:10:31,535 --> 00:10:35,805 THEY'RE ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC 193 00:10:35,805 --> 00:10:38,942 IT'S SUCH A BOOST IN CONFIDENCE BOTH FOR ME AND 194 00:10:38,942 --> 00:10:42,542 RESIDENTS. AS HAS BEEN OUTOUTLINED -- 195 00:10:45,682 --> 00:10:50,755 -- RECEIVED AN E-MAIL, I CERTAINLY HAVE, IS A LITTLE 196 00:10:50,755 --> 00:10:53,623 BIT OF LIKE WHAT ARE YOU DOING, HENNEPIN COUNTY , 197 00:10:53,623 --> 00:10:56,626 HENNEPIN COUNTY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE SURE THESE BAD 198 00:10:56,626 --> 00:11:01,426 THINGS DON'T HAPPEN? AND I APPRECIATE ALL THAT 199 00:11:02,980 --> 00:11:08,171 WE'RE DOING AND I THINK THERE IS SOME BALANCE TO BE FOUND 200 00:11:08,171 --> 00:11:12,371 THAT'S TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING AND 201 00:11:12,776 --> 00:11:16,376 ALSO NOT FANNING FLAMES OF CONCERN. 202 00:11:17,114 --> 00:11:22,719 AND I GUESS IT'S ALL, YOU KNOW, IT'S -- EVERYBODY WOULD 203 00:11:22,719 --> 00:11:25,322 PROBABLY PLANT THEIR FLAG ON THAT SPECTRUM IN A DIFFERENT 204 00:11:25,322 --> 00:11:27,658 PLACE. I'D LIKE TO SEE US LEAN A 205 00:11:27,658 --> 00:11:30,727 LITTLE BIT FURTHER INTO LIKE HERE'S EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING, 206 00:11:30,727 --> 00:11:33,727 TO JUST FURTHER THAT CONFIDENCE. 207 00:11:34,132 --> 00:11:36,867 I UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE NOT SORT OF GOING ALL THE WAY WITH 208 00:11:36,867 --> 00:11:41,670 THAT. AND SO I MYSELF AM CLEARLY 209 00:11:42,873 --> 00:11:47,673 REPRESENTING SOME SORT OF PULL IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. 210 00:11:48,545 --> 00:11:55,152 THE LAST THING I WANTED TO SAY IS THAT -- WELL, I GUESS, I 211 00:11:55,152 --> 00:11:56,686 THINK I'LL JUST CONCLUDE IT THERE. 212 00:11:56,686 --> 00:11:57,820 THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> Commissioner Edelson: 213 00:11:57,820 --> 00:11:59,423 THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GREENE. 214 00:11:59,423 --> 00:12:01,823 COMMISSIONER ANDERSON. >> Commissioner Anderson: 215 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:05,829 THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO SAY 216 00:12:05,829 --> 00:12:09,429 THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP. 217 00:12:10,967 --> 00:12:15,772 OBVIOUSLY AND I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY I WANT TO EXPRESS 218 00:12:15,772 --> 00:12:20,109 GRATITUDE FOR THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF HENNEPIN COUNTY 219 00:12:20,109 --> 00:12:24,987 ADMINISTERING ELECTIONS IN SUCH A WAY THAT PEOPLE HAVE 220 00:12:24,987 --> 00:12:27,987 CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS HERE. 221 00:12:28,657 --> 00:12:32,857 DESPITE THIS ADMINISTRATION'S ATTEMPT TO UNDERMINE THE 222 00:12:34,597 --> 00:12:38,468 CONFIDENCE IN IT AND AS WE'VE HEARD THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE 223 00:12:38,468 --> 00:12:41,137 THAT ARE VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THAT. 224 00:12:41,137 --> 00:12:46,542 BUT WE HAVE BEEN DOING OUR JOB FOR A VERY LONG TIME IN MAKING 225 00:12:46,542 --> 00:12:50,680 SURE THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE FREE AND FAIR AND ACCURATE, 226 00:12:50,680 --> 00:12:56,850 AND THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR 227 00:12:56,850 --> 00:12:57,953 ELECTIONS THAN THE YEAR BEFORE, RIGHT? 228 00:12:57,953 --> 00:13:01,623 WE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND WAYS OF EXPANDING 229 00:13:01,623 --> 00:13:05,227 PARTICIPATION AND I AM SO THANKFUL THAT WE LIVE IN A 230 00:13:05,227 --> 00:13:08,697 COUNTY THAT IS PRIORITIZING PARTICIPATION AND INVOLVEMENT 231 00:13:08,697 --> 00:13:15,370 IN OUR ELECTION PROCESS. SO I AM LIKE YES TO ALL OF THE 232 00:13:15,370 --> 00:13:19,708 THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID, APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC WHO HAS 233 00:13:19,708 --> 00:13:23,312 COME AND SPOKE TO US ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE 234 00:13:23,312 --> 00:13:29,312 UPHOLDING AN OATH THAT I THINK EVERYBODY HERE AND REALLY 235 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:33,322 ACROSS ITSELF STATE OF MINNESOTA, I THINK WE ALL TAKE 236 00:13:33,322 --> 00:13:38,722 THAT OATH REALLY SERIOUSLY. AND I KNOW THAT REAFFIRMING 237 00:13:40,663 --> 00:13:44,533 THAT OATH IS, YOU KNOW, LIKE I THINK EVERY TIME I'M TAKING A 238 00:13:44,533 --> 00:13:52,333 VOTE I AM REAFFIRMING MY OATH THAT I TOOK WHEN I WAS ELECTED 239 00:13:52,942 --> 00:13:56,411 SO I THINK TO COMMISSIONER GREENE'S POINT, GETTING THE 240 00:13:56,411 --> 00:14:01,830 WORD OUT OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING TO HELP CALM PEOPLE, 241 00:14:01,830 --> 00:14:03,685 YOU KNOW, LIKE PROVIDE REASSURANCES. 242 00:14:03,685 --> 00:14:07,288 BECAUSE WE ARE DOING A LOT OF REALLY IMPORTANT, GOOD THINGS, 243 00:14:07,288 --> 00:14:12,270 THE PREPARATIONS THAT WE WERE TOLD ABOUT IN THE LEAD-UP TO 244 00:14:12,270 --> 00:14:15,270 OUR PRIMARY ELECTIONS IS ONGOING. 245 00:14:18,433 --> 00:14:22,504 WE ARE LOOKING AT FURTHER STRENGTHENING OUR SYSTEMS 246 00:14:22,504 --> 00:14:26,908 THROUGH EQUIPMENT PURCHASES AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, I 247 00:14:26,908 --> 00:14:31,450 HAVE COMPLETE FAITH IN OUR ELECTION TEAMS, IN OUR 248 00:14:31,450 --> 00:14:35,784 PROCESS, AND I THINK OUR PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE ABSOLUTE 249 00:14:35,784 --> 00:14:38,654 CONFIDENCE IN OUR ABILITY TO ADMINISTER FREE AND FAIR 250 00:14:38,654 --> 00:14:41,456 ELECTION AGAIN THIS YEAR, BECAUSE WE DAMN WELL BETTER 251 00:14:41,456 --> 00:14:43,258 MAKE SURE THAT IT HAPPENS, AND WE WILL. 252 00:14:43,258 --> 00:14:45,860 SO THANK YOU. >> Commissioner Edelson: 253 00:14:45,860 --> 00:14:47,729 THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ANDERSON. 254 00:14:47,729 --> 00:14:48,663 COMMISSIONER CONLEY. >> Commissioner Conley: 255 00:14:48,663 --> 00:14:52,734 THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST REALLY RESPONSIVE TO WHAT 256 00:14:52,734 --> 00:14:56,872 WE'VE BEEN HEARING FOR A WHILE NOW FROM RESIDENTS ALL OVER 257 00:14:56,872 --> 00:15:00,750 THE COUNTY, CONSTITUENTS AND FOLKS OUTSIDE OF OUR DISTRICT 258 00:15:00,750 --> 00:15:02,477 BOUNDARIES. I JUST JUST WANT TO ALSO SAY 259 00:15:02,477 --> 00:15:08,950 THAT IT IS NOT LOST ON ME THAT AS WE APPROACH OR AS WE ARE IN 260 00:15:08,950 --> 00:15:12,754 THE 250TH YEAR OF THIS COUNTRY WE ARE IN A POSITION WHERE WE 261 00:15:12,754 --> 00:15:17,554 ARE DEFENDING RIGHTS, BASIC RIGHTS, AND REAFFIRMING THE 262 00:15:19,940 --> 00:15:21,497 OATH THAT WE TOOK TO THE CONSTITUTION WHICH IS THE LAW 263 00:15:21,497 --> 00:15:24,366 OF THIS LAND, WHICH IS THE OVERARCHING LAWS BY WHICH WE 264 00:15:24,366 --> 00:15:29,104 EXIST HERE IN THIS COUNTRY. THE CONSTITUTION THAT, AS 265 00:15:29,104 --> 00:15:31,507 COMMISSIONER ANDERSON SAID, EVERY TIME WE ARE VOTING WE 266 00:15:31,507 --> 00:15:36,712 ARE REAFFIRMING THAT OATH. THAT IS SYMBOLIC OF THE OATH 267 00:15:36,712 --> 00:15:40,582 THAT WE TOOK TO EVEN HOLD THESE SEATS. 268 00:15:40,582 --> 00:15:44,530 WE'VE TAKEN THOSE OATHS MULTIPLE TIMES, MANY OF US. 269 00:15:44,530 --> 00:15:48,857 BUT IT'S STILL NOT LOST ON ME THAT VOTING RIGHTS ARE 270 00:15:48,857 --> 00:15:50,392 COMPLETELY UNDER ATTACK AND HAVE BEEN. 271 00:15:50,392 --> 00:15:53,929 WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO LIVE IN A STATE WHERE WE JUST THIS 272 00:15:53,929 --> 00:15:59,134 PRIMARY WE BROKE THE RECORD FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO 273 00:15:59,134 --> 00:16:01,737 VOTED, FOR THE FACT THAT IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, IN 274 00:16:01,737 --> 00:16:05,673 HENNEPIN COUNTY, WE CAN VOTE FREELY, FAIRLY, WE HAVE 275 00:16:05,673 --> 00:16:09,344 MULTIPLE DIFFERENT WAYS TO VOTE, EARLY VOTING, ABSENTEE 276 00:16:09,344 --> 00:16:11,680 VOTING. I AM A TRADITIONAL IN-PERSON 277 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:15,217 VOTING DAY PERSON, BUT I THINK ABOUT STATES IN THE SOUTH, 278 00:16:15,217 --> 00:16:19,288 WHERE THEY ARE SYSTEMATICALLY REMOVING POLLING PLACES FROM 279 00:16:19,288 --> 00:16:22,288 PREDOMINANTLY BLACK COMMUNITIES, TO DISENFRANCHISE 280 00:16:23,692 --> 00:16:27,292 , TO COMPLETELY ELIMINATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR 281 00:16:28,970 --> 00:16:31,990 SOME COMMUNITIES TO VOTE. THAT'S ASTOUNDING. 282 00:16:31,990 --> 00:16:35,637 NOT SURPRISING, BUT ASTOUNDING TO ME, THE LENGTHS OF WHICH 283 00:16:35,637 --> 00:16:38,239 THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION WILL GO TO REMOVE THE RIGHT TO 284 00:16:38,239 --> 00:16:39,842 VOTE BECAUSE VOTING IS POWERFUL. 285 00:16:39,842 --> 00:16:41,910 I DON'T NEED TO TELL PEOPLE THAT. 286 00:16:41,910 --> 00:16:46,648 AND WHEN YOU REMOVE THAT POWER FROM PEOPLE, I'LL EVEN GO 287 00:16:46,648 --> 00:16:49,385 FURTHER AND SAY THE WAY THAT WE'VE SEEN REDISTRICTING 288 00:16:49,385 --> 00:16:52,721 HAPPEN IN THIS COUNTRY JUST WITHIN THE PAST SEVERAL 289 00:16:52,721 --> 00:16:56,725 MONTHS, HOW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN REDRAWN TO 290 00:16:56,725 --> 00:17:00,662 CHANGE OR TO TIP THE SCALES IN THE FAVOR OF A DOMINANT 291 00:17:00,662 --> 00:17:04,800 DEMOGRAPHIC, RIGHT? IT'S MIND BOGGLING TO ME. 292 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:09,710 AND SO I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE PRIVILEGE OF LIVING IN A STATE 293 00:17:09,710 --> 00:17:15,544 WHERE I KNOW THAT I'VE GOT ACCESS TO VOTING THAT HASN'T 294 00:17:15,544 --> 00:17:20,415 BEEN, IN MY TIME OF BEING A VOTER, HASN'T BEEN STRIPPED 295 00:17:20,415 --> 00:17:25,215 AWAY FROM ME THROUGH REALLY EGREGIOUS, OVERTLY RACIST 296 00:17:25,220 --> 00:17:28,820 WAYS. AND SO WHILE THIS IS 297 00:17:29,758 --> 00:17:34,163 PROTECTING OUR VOTE AND OUTLINING WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN 298 00:17:34,163 --> 00:17:39,340 BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE PUBLIC VOTE AND HOW WE CAN JUST BE 299 00:17:39,340 --> 00:17:43,572 GOOD ELECTED OFFICIALS BY REMAINING TRUE TO THE OATHS 300 00:17:43,572 --> 00:17:49,311 THAT WE TOOK TO BE ELECTED OFFICIALS, I JUST WANT TO JUST 301 00:17:49,311 --> 00:17:53,181 REITERATE THAT VOTING RIGHTS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE UNDER 302 00:17:53,181 --> 00:17:55,851 ATTACK. AND THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT 303 00:17:55,851 --> 00:17:57,719 REALLY WAS AN INSTRUMENTAL PIECE. 304 00:17:57,719 --> 00:18:02,591 IT IS AN INSTRUMENTAL PIECE OF WHAT MAKES THIS COUNTRY IN THE 305 00:18:02,591 --> 00:18:06,262 FIRST PLACE. SO 250 YEARS LATER HERE WE ARE 306 00:18:06,262 --> 00:18:09,931 TRYING TO DEFEND THAT. AND SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS 307 00:18:09,931 --> 00:18:13,134 BUT I'M CERTAINLY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE THIS BOARD ACTION 308 00:18:13,134 --> 00:18:16,400 AS A TANGIBLE WAY TO SHOW OUR RESIDENTS THAT WE'RE NOT 309 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:17,339 PLAYING AROUND. THANK YOU. 310 00:18:17,339 --> 00:18:19,609 >> Commissioner Edelson: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER 311 00:18:19,609 --> 00:18:20,742 CONLEY. AND COMMISSIONER LUNDE, YOU 312 00:18:20,742 --> 00:18:21,810 HAD A FOLLOW-UP? >> Commissioner Lunde: 313 00:18:21,810 --> 00:18:24,146 THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST I FORGOT TO MENTION WHEN 314 00:18:24,146 --> 00:18:30,352 I ASKED FOR -- I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY USEFUL FOR 315 00:18:30,352 --> 00:18:33,828 ELECTIONS TEAM TO ACTUALLY PUT THE DIAGRAM OF WHEN YOUR VOTE 316 00:18:33,828 --> 00:18:37,832 COMES IN, WHEN'S IT COUNTED, ABSENTEE VERSUS YOU PUT IT IN 317 00:18:37,832 --> 00:18:41,903 A MACHINE. BECAUSE THOSE THINGS ARE SOME 318 00:18:41,903 --> 00:18:44,573 ARE HELD AND PUT IN A MACHINE ALL AT ONCE. 319 00:18:44,573 --> 00:18:49,778 WE NEED TO BE VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT HOW A BOLLOT IS HANDLED. 320 00:18:49,778 --> 00:18:54,115 -- THOSE WAYS THAT, A-HA, THIS IS HOW IT'S HAPPENING OR A BIG 321 00:18:54,115 --> 00:18:57,585 DUMP AND AT THE LAST MINUTE THAT'S WHERE THEY CHEAT, THAT, 322 00:18:57,585 --> 00:18:59,588 NO, WE NEED TO BE VERY SPECIFIC AND HOW WE COUNT IT 323 00:18:59,588 --> 00:19:02,123 AND TELL PEOPLE. AND ALSO I THINK WE SHOULD USE 324 00:19:02,123 --> 00:19:04,392 THIS, I THINK EVERYBODY HERE SHOULD BE SIGNED UP FOR 325 00:19:04,392 --> 00:19:06,394 ELECTION JUDGE. I KNOW WE HAD A FEW BUT ONE OF 326 00:19:06,394 --> 00:19:10,650 THE BEST WAYS TO ENSURE ELECTION INTEGRITY IS BE AN 327 00:19:10,650 --> 00:19:11,733 ELECTION JUDGE. AND WE DON'T SUFFER FROM TOO 328 00:19:11,733 --> 00:19:14,403 MANY ELECTION JUDGES, TO ME I THINK THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY 329 00:19:14,403 --> 00:19:17,606 TO REALLY GO OUT AND PUBLIC PUBLICIZE AT EVERY LEVEL LIKE, 330 00:19:17,606 --> 00:19:19,741 HEY, IF YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT THIS WE NEED YOU EVERY TWO 331 00:19:19,741 --> 00:19:22,611 YEARS AND HERE'S THE STEPS OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO, HERE'S 332 00:19:22,611 --> 00:19:26,682 THE TRAINING, HERE'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO, I THINK IT WOULD 333 00:19:26,682 --> 00:19:29,150 BE HELPFUL AS WELL. AND THEN BECAUSE BY 334 00:19:29,150 --> 00:19:30,952 PUBLICIZING WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING MAKES US 335 00:19:30,952 --> 00:19:33,488 LIVE UP TO IT AND I THINK ABOUT, WE TALKED ABOUT IT WHEN 336 00:19:33,488 --> 00:19:36,691 I MET WITH THEM WHERE WE LEFT THE GATE UP ON A VEHICLE THAT 337 00:19:36,691 --> 00:19:40,895 WAS CARRYING BALLOTS WHICH IS NOT OUR POLICY AND WE OWNED 338 00:19:40,895 --> 00:19:44,632 IT, THE PERSON I THINK IS NO LONGER WORKING IN THAT ROLE. 339 00:19:44,632 --> 00:19:48,836 BUT ALL THOSE THINGS MATTER BECAUSE IT FEEDS INTO STUFF 340 00:19:48,836 --> 00:19:53,410 AND SO EVERY TIME WE FAIL ON A POLICY PEOPLE USE IT AS AN 341 00:19:53,410 --> 00:19:55,376 A-HA, VERSUS WE USE THAT -- SO I DO THINK ALL THESE THINGS 342 00:19:55,376 --> 00:19:58,312 ARE GOOD THINGS AND MORE WE TELL PEOPLE WHAT WE DO. 343 00:19:58,312 --> 00:20:02,250 BUT I DO THINK WE SHOULD USE THIS AS ELECTION JUDGE 344 00:20:02,250 --> 00:20:03,585 RECRUITMENT AT EVERY LEVEL THAT WE CAN. 345 00:20:03,585 --> 00:20:06,254 SO THANK YOU. >> Commissioner Edelson: 346 00:20:06,254 --> 00:20:10,580 WELL, AND WITH THAT I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY TOO SOME OF THE 347 00:20:10,580 --> 00:20:12,600 VOTERS -- OR SOME OF THE VOTERS -- SOME OF THE 348 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:15,263 RESIDENTS THAT ATTENDED THE MEETING TODAY WERE WANTING TO 349 00:20:15,263 --> 00:20:17,867 MAKE SURE WE WERE PARTNERING WITH CITIES, I THINK MAKING 350 00:20:17,867 --> 00:20:20,334 MORE INFORMATION AROUND THE ELECTION AND HOW IT WORKS I 351 00:20:20,334 --> 00:20:22,538 THINK PEOPLE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN IT BECAUSE OF 352 00:20:22,538 --> 00:20:28,538 THE THREATS TO THE ELECTION. YOU KNOW, PUBLICLY HOW VOTING 353 00:20:28,810 --> 00:20:32,147 WORKS, HOW COUNTIES GET THE VOTES, HOW WE CERTIFY THE 354 00:20:32,147 --> 00:20:35,884 ELECTION, HOW WE WORK WITH CITIES, ALSO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW 355 00:20:35,884 --> 00:20:39,190 THAT DURING THE PRIMARY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, THE 356 00:20:39,190 --> 00:20:42,156 COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE MINNESOTA SECRETARY OF STATE, 357 00:20:42,156 --> 00:20:45,159 THE COUNTY ELECTIONS TEAM WAS VERY MUCH IN CLOSE 358 00:20:45,159 --> 00:20:46,561 COMMUNICATION WITH ALL OF THEM. 359 00:20:46,561 --> 00:20:49,498 I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD JUST HAVE A GENERAL IDEA THAT WE 360 00:20:49,498 --> 00:20:54,702 ARE PREPARING FOR THIS, WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WERE 361 00:20:54,702 --> 00:20:58,173 SOME POTENTIAL THREATS TO THE -- WELL, AT LEAST SOME PEOPLE 362 00:20:58,173 --> 00:21:01,420 WHATNOTTED TO COME WITHIN A PERIOD THAT THEY WERE NOT 363 00:21:01,420 --> 00:21:03,712 ALLOWED WITHIN 100 FEET OF A POLLING PLACE. 364 00:21:03,712 --> 00:21:08,850 SO WE DO HAVE A PLAN AND SO I THINK MAKING SURE PEOPLE 365 00:21:08,850 --> 00:21:10,385 UNDERSTAND THAT. AND Mr. ROGAN, DO YOU HAVE 366 00:21:10,385 --> 00:21:13,655 ANYTHING TO SAY TO ALL OF THAT? 367 00:21:13,655 --> 00:21:16,858 >> Mr. ROGAN: JUST, MADAM CHAIR, WE WILL BE DOING MORE 368 00:21:16,858 --> 00:21:19,994 OUTREACH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PLANNED SOME OUTREACH EVENTS 369 00:21:19,994 --> 00:21:23,531 AND WE, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE FEEDBACK WE'LL LOOK AT SOME 370 00:21:23,531 --> 00:21:26,267 OTHER WAYS TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT WHAT YOU'VE TALKED 371 00:21:26,267 --> 00:21:30,872 ABOUT ABOUT THE PROCESS, HOW IT WORKS AND THE STEPS THAT 372 00:21:30,872 --> 00:21:33,675 WE'VE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE FREE AND 373 00:21:33,675 --> 00:21:37,412 FAIR ELECTIONS. AND I'LL JUST REMIND FOLKS, I 374 00:21:37,412 --> 00:21:41,416 KNOW THAT THE FOLKS FROM OPEN FORUM AREN'T HERE ANYMORE BUT 375 00:21:41,416 --> 00:21:44,418 MAIL VOTING STARTS ON SEPTEMBER 19TH, AND THERE IS 376 00:21:44,418 --> 00:21:48,890 NO PROHIBITION RIGHT NOW FOR OUR MAIL BALLOTING IS GOING TO 377 00:21:48,890 --> 00:21:50,558 HAPPEN THE EXACT WAY IT HAPPENED FOR THE PRIMARY. 378 00:21:50,558 --> 00:21:54,295 WE ARE PRIMED AND READY TO GO. THOSE BALLOTS WILL GO OUT ON 379 00:21:54,295 --> 00:21:56,364 SEPTEMBER 19TH AND I HAVE EVERY EXPECTATION THAT THE 380 00:21:56,364 --> 00:21:57,765 POSTAL SERVICE IS GOING TO FOLLOW THAT. 381 00:21:57,765 --> 00:21:59,968 THERE'S OBVIOUSLY LITIGATION THAT'S HAPPENING BUT RIGHT NOW 382 00:21:59,968 --> 00:22:03,371 I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE COMMENTERS SAID THAT THE FACT 383 00:22:03,371 --> 00:22:06,574 THAT YOU CAN'T VOTE BY MAIL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT TRUE. 384 00:22:06,574 --> 00:22:12,981 YOU CAN VOTE BY MAIL RIGHT NOW AND CERTAINLY IF YOU ARE NOT 385 00:22:12,981 --> 00:22:17,452 THAT WILL BE AN ENORMOUS DEAL. BUT YOU CAN VOTE BY MAIL. 386 00:22:17,452 --> 00:22:19,254 AND I WILL SAY EARLY VOTING IS NEW THIS YEAR. 387 00:22:19,254 --> 00:22:25,393 MOST CITIES HAVE IT AT THEIR CITY HALL AND THE CITY OF 388 00:22:25,393 --> 00:22:27,262 MINNEAPOLIS, YOU CAN VOTE AT THE IN, NORTHEAST AT THE OPEN 389 00:22:27,262 --> 00:22:30,331 VOTING CENTER, AND THEN THEY HAVE ONE ON THE NORTH SIDE AT 390 00:22:30,331 --> 00:22:35,336 THE URBAN LEAGUE, ONE ON THE SOUTH SIDE AT THE BETHEL 391 00:22:35,336 --> 00:22:37,939 LUTHERAN CHURCH, AND THEN THIS YEAR THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE 12 392 00:22:37,939 --> 00:22:41,543 POP-UP EVENTS ON PARTICULAR DAYS MOVING AROUND THE CITY 393 00:22:41,543 --> 00:22:43,278 THAT'S ALL ADVERTISED ON THEIR WEBSITE. 394 00:22:43,278 --> 00:22:46,148 SO THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, I THINK PEOPLE ARE REALLY TRYING TO 395 00:22:46,148 --> 00:22:48,883 MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING IN WAYS TO EXPAND THE 396 00:22:48,883 --> 00:22:52,354 FRANCHISE AND TRY TO MAKE IT SO THAT WE'RE MEETING PEOPLE 397 00:22:52,354 --> 00:22:55,223 WHERE WE'RE AT AND TRYING TO MEET THAT GOAL AND MAKE SURE 398 00:22:55,223 --> 00:22:57,759 THAT EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO VOTE HAS THE ABILITY TO VOTE 399 00:22:57,759 --> 00:22:59,693 AND WE HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT IN DIFFERENT WAYS 400 00:22:59,693 --> 00:23:01,695 THIS YEAR THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST. 401 00:23:01,695 --> 00:23:02,897 >> Commissioner Edelson: YEAH, THAT'S GREAT. 402 00:23:02,897 --> 00:23:05,166 COMMISSIONER LUNDE, YOU HAD ANOTHER FOLLOW-UP. 403 00:23:05,166 --> 00:23:07,235 >> Commissioner Lunde: JUST, YEAH, I DO BELIEVE THE 404 00:23:07,235 --> 00:23:11,390 COUNTY NEEDS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE FACT THAT NOT EVERYONE 405 00:23:11,390 --> 00:23:13,410 GETS THE SAME TREATMENT AT MINNEAPOLIS BECAUSE NOT 406 00:23:13,410 --> 00:23:13,908 EVERYBODY HAS MINNEAPOLIS MONEY. 407 00:23:13,908 --> 00:23:17,512 SO IF YOU'RE IN A SMALL CITY AND I DON'T MEAN TO REACH INTO 408 00:23:17,512 --> 00:23:19,847 DISTRICT 7 BUT IF YOU'RE IN A SMALL CITIES IT NOT YOUR 409 00:23:19,847 --> 00:23:22,650 FAULT. THAT VOTER HAS THE SAME RIGHTS 410 00:23:22,650 --> 00:23:24,919 AS A VOTER WHO LIVES IN MILL CITY IN MINNEAPOLIS. 411 00:23:24,919 --> 00:23:28,189 I KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BUT WHEN I HEAR OF ALL 412 00:23:28,189 --> 00:23:32,594 THESE EVENTS, IT'S NOT THE SAME AND IT'S NOT -- A SMALL 413 00:23:32,594 --> 00:23:35,396 CITY'S FAULT FOR THE FACT THAT THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THOSE 414 00:23:35,396 --> 00:23:37,398 THINGS, THEY DON'T GET MONEY FOR THAT. 415 00:23:37,398 --> 00:23:39,534 AND SO I DO THINK, THINK ABOUT THE SPECIAL ELECTIONS WHERE WE 416 00:23:39,534 --> 00:23:44,672 WERE TELLING PEOPLE OUT IN CORCORAN TO COME DOWNTOWN TO 417 00:23:44,672 --> 00:23:47,609 CAST THEIR VOTE BECAUSE THEIR CITY HALL COULDN'T STAFF A 418 00:23:47,609 --> 00:23:48,878 THING. SO I KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT 419 00:23:48,878 --> 00:23:53,810 YOU'RE SAYING BUT IT JUST REMINDS ME THAT IT IS UNEQUAL 420 00:23:53,810 --> 00:23:56,550 ON SOME OF THE STUFF AND I REALIZE WHY IT IS, BUT IT 421 00:23:56,550 --> 00:24:00,622 SHOULDN'T BE. I JUST FEEL STRONGLY THAT A 422 00:24:00,622 --> 00:24:03,224 VOTER NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE IN THE COUNTY HAVE THE SAME 423 00:24:03,224 --> 00:24:04,425 ACCESS, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. 424 00:24:04,425 --> 00:24:06,425 >> Commissioner Edelson: OKAY. 425 00:24:06,827 --> 00:24:10,631 WELL, WITH THAT I JUST I WANT TODAY SAY ONE MORE THING. 426 00:24:10,631 --> 00:24:13,101 NO PRESIDENT, GOVERNOR, COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR THAT MATTER 427 00:24:13,101 --> 00:24:15,770 OR POLITICAL PARTY SHOULD DECIDE WHOSE VOTE MATTERS, OUR 428 00:24:15,770 --> 00:24:20,108 JOB IS TO PROTECT RULES, PROCESS, AND EVERY ELIGIBLE 429 00:24:20,108 --> 00:24:21,843 VOTER'S RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY. 430 00:24:21,843 --> 00:24:23,912 AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING AND CONTINUING 431 00:24:23,912 --> 00:24:25,380 TO DO. WITH THAT WE WILL MOVE TO A 432 00:24:25,380 --> 00:24:27,515 VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF 433 00:24:27,515 --> 00:24:28,918 APPROVING ITEM 2A PLEASE SAY AYE. 434 00:24:28,918 --> 00:24:29,984 [ MEMBERS VOTING ] OPPOSED? 435 00:24:29,984 --> 00:24:31,319 [ NO RESPONSE HEARD ] THE MOTION CARRIES. 436 00:24:31,319 --> 00:24:33,121 THAT CONCLUDES RESIDENT SERVICES. 437 00:24:33,121 --> 00:24:36,121 THANK YOU. WE ARE ADJOURNED.