>> Commissioner Edelson: OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS. LAST COMMITTEE.
SO I WILL CALL TO ORDER RESIDENT SERVICE, THE RESIDENT
SERVICES COMMITTEE, IT'S TUESDAY, AUGUST 25TH.
IT IS 4:34:00 P.M. OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS
TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM AUGUST 13TH.
IF I CAN HAVE A MOTION? >> Commissioner Goettel:
SECOND. >>
>> Commissioner Edelson: MOVED AND SECONDED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.
[ MEMBERS VOTING ] OPPOSED?
[ NO RESPONSE HEARD ] MOTION CARRIES.
WE HAVE ONE ADDENDUM UNDER NEW BUSINESS TODAY IF I COULD HAVE
A MOTION TO PUT 2A BEFORE US. >> Commissioner Fernando:
SO MOVED. SECOND.
>> Commissioner Edelson: MOVED AND SECONDED, THANK YOU.
RESOLUTION TO AFFIRMING HENNEPIN COUNTY'S COMMITMENT
TO ENSURING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.
Mr. ROGAN, CAN YOU GIVE US SOME BACKGROUND ON THIS?
>> Mr. ROGAN: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
COMMISSIONERS, RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU HIGHLIGHTS THE
COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS AND HAS
KIND OF A LENGTHY BACKGROUND WITH A LOT OF WHEREAS CLAUSES
THAT PROVIDE BACKGROUND ON THE ROOSEVELT COUNTY BOARD,
ELECTION OFFICIALS AND THE COUNTY CANVASSING BOARD.
AS YOU KNOW WE'VE HAD OPEN FORUM THREE DIFFERENT TIMES
WHERE WE'VE HAD CITIZENS COME IN, OVER 40 OF THEM NOW AND
ASK FOR, TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.
SEVERAL OF THE WHEREAS CLAUSES HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE EFFORTS
AT HENNEPIN COUNTY AND OUR PARTNERS HAVE UNDERTAKEN THIS
YEAR TO PRESERVE FREE AND FAIR ELECTION INCLUDING PROVIDING
COMMENTS OPPOSED TO THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE RULE REGARDING
ABSENTEE BALLOTS, AN AMICUS BRIEF -- INJUNCTION TO THIS
RULE, NOT -- POLLING ACCESS TO -- AND THE SECRETARY OF
STATE'S DECISION TO NOT PROVIDE UNREDACTED COPIES OF
MINNESOTA'S COMPLETE VOTER REGISTRATION LIST TO THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. OTHER WHEREAS CLAUSES
HIGHLIGHT PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN ELECTIONS REALLY DEPENDS ON
THE SECURE, ACCURATE AND TRANSPARENT ADMINISTRATION OF
THE ELECTION PROCESS AND WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY HERE IN
HENNEPIN COUNTY OF ELECTIONS OFFICIALS, CITY ELECTION
OFFICIALS AND THOUSANDS OF ELECTION JUDGES CARRYING OUT
THEIR DUTIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH MINNESOTA LAW.
FINALLY SEVERAL OF THE CLAUSES HIGHLIGHT THE LIMITED ROLE
THAT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE IN ACTUALLY ADMINISTERING THE
PROCESS OR CERTIFYING ELECTION RESULTS.
INSTEAD THAT WORK IS DONE BY THE HENNEPIN COUNTY CANVASSING
BOARD. THE CANVASSING BOARD HAS FIVE
MEMBERS, -- TWO OF THEM ARE APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY HERE,
AND THIS YEAR IT IS COMMISSIONER EDELSON EXPLAINE
ON THAT BOARD. THE RESOLUTION THEN ENDS WITH
DOING THREE SEPARATE THINGS. FIRST, IT ASK THAT YOU ALL
REAFFIRM YOUR OATHS TO SUPPORT THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.
IT DIRECTS STAFF, INCLUDING ME, THE COUNTY AUDITOR AND
ELECTIONS DIRECTOR TO TAKE EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN FREE AND
FAIR ELECTIONS IN HENNEPIN COUNTY, AND TO TAKE ACTIONS TO
OPPOSE ANY UNLAWFUL REQUESTS FOR ELECTION DATA OR UNLAWFUL
REQUESTS THAT COULD IMPACT THE ELECTION PROCESS, AND FINALLY,
IT DIRECTS ME, I CHAIRED THE COUNTY CANVASSING BOARD TO
ENSURE THAT ALL COUNTY CANVASSING BOARD MEMBERS TAKE
THE OATH REQUIRED WHEN WE ARE SCHEDULED TO MEET THE CANVASS
GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS WEDNESDAY THAT, MADAM CHAIR, I
CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. >> Commissioner Edelson:
THANK YOU. AND WITH THAT, CHAIR FERNANDO
I'LL BE COMING TO YOU. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS, I WANT
TO THANK ALL OF THE RESIDENTS THAT CAME TODAY, AND I VERY
MUCH SUPPORT THIS. ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL SAY
IS NEVER BEFORE HAVE WE FACED THE THREATS TO OUR DEMOCRACY
AND TO OUR ELECTION PROCESS THAT WE ARE FACING NOW.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IN 2024 AND IT SAYS 40 -- I LOOKED UP
THE NUMBER, 47.3% OF OUR BALLOTS IN HENNEPIN COUNTY
WERE ABSENTEE BALLOTS. NOW, OF COURSE THAT ABSENTEE
WAS EARLY VOTING THEN AND IT'S DIFFERENT NOW SO HOW MANY WERE
ACTUALLY MAIL-IN VOTES, YOU KNOW, WE'D WE'D HAVE TO
DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THAT. BUT WITH TRUMP'S MARCH 31ST
EXECUTIVE ORDER WHICH DIRECTS THE POSTAL SERVICE TO NOT
TRANSMIT ANY MAIL-IN OR ABSENTEE BALLOTS THAT ARE NOT
ON A LIST, I THINK RESIDENTS ARE GENUINELY CONCERNED AND I
THINK THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
WITH THIS, YOU KNOW, AS YOU WERE STATING, Mr. ROGAN,
ABOUT THE OATH OF OFFICE THAT YOU'LL TAKE WITH THE ELECTION
TO OUR -- DO THE POSTAL WORKERS TAKE THAT SAME OATH OF
OFFICE, IT IS A TYPE OF TAMPERING WITH OUR ELECTIONS
THAT IS SHOCKING AND SOMETHING THAT I AM GLAD THAT WE ARE
REAFFIRMING, THAT WE WILL BE FOLLOWING STATE LAWS, AND
THOSE HAVE ALWAYS HISTORICALLY BEEN THE LAWS THAT UPHOLD OUR
ELECTIONS. AND SO I'M GLAD RESIDENTS ARE
PAYING ATTENTION. I'M GLAD THAT THEY UNDERSTAND
JUST HOW MUCH COUNTIES DO TO PROTECT THEIR ELECTIONS, AND I
THINK PEOPLE COMING HERE IS ACTUALLY REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF
THE WORK THAT WE WILL BE DOING, AND SO I WAS REALLY
HAPPY TO SEE, AND I HOPE WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE PEOPLE
COMING HERE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE WILL BE PROTECTING
THEIR ELECTIONS BECAUSE WE WILL, WE REALLY WELL.
CHAIR FERNANDO, YOU ARE UP. >> Commissioner Fernando:
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I TOO WANT TO OPEN WITH
GRATITUDE TO THE RESIDENTS AND COMMISSION MEMBERS BOTH
LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY WHO ARE UPLIFTING THIS TO ADMINISTER
ELECTIONS WHICH GENERALLY ARE COUNTIES.
SECOND I WANT TO THANK -- ADMINISTRATION FOR PUTTING
THIS TOGETHER. THIS CONTAINS A NUMBER OF
WHEREAS CLAUSES WHICH, COLLEAGUES, I THINK WITH THE
2026 YEAR WE'VE HAD IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO CODIFY
INTO THE RECORD THE EXPERIENCE FROM A GOVERNANCE PERSPECTIVE
THAT WE ARE HAVING, THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE HAVING.
SO I'M VERY, VERY HAPPY TO REAFFIRM MY OWN OATH AND VOTE
IN FAVOR OF THIS. I WANT TO MAKE ONE TYPO NOTE.
THE FOURTH TO LAST WHEREAS CLAUSE FROM THE BOTTOM WHERE
IT NAMES THE CANVASSING BOARD MEMBERS.
THERE'S ONE SUR NAME THAT HAS A TYPO.
SO WANT TO JUST CORRECT THAT AND THAT'S ALL.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >> Commissioner Edelson:
THANK YOU. AND COMMISSIONER GOETTEL.
>> Commissioner Goettel: I WON'T BE LONG BUT I WANT TO
SAY TOO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE FOR A RESOLUTION.
AND I TALKED TO SOME OF THE FOLKS IN THE GROUP I TALKED
ABOUT HOW MUCH BIGGER AND MORE PUBLIC THIS WAS, US DOING A
RESOLUTION AND COMING OUT TO THE RESIDENTS IN FRONT OF
EVERYBODY ON CAMERA SAYING THESE KINDS OF THINGS, INSTEAD
OF JUST SIGNING THE PLEDGE, WHICH IS A GREAT PLEDGE,
THAT'S FINE. I MEAN, BUT I ALSO, I'D ALSO,
-- WE'RE GETTING PEOPLE -- THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS SPEAKING
OUT ABOUT THIS, KEITH ELLISON IS SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THIS.
AND THEY HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES TO PIECES OF THIS AS WELL AS
WE DO TOO. BUT I HAVE HEARD COMMENTS AND
CONCERNS AT OTHER TOWN HALLS, ONE SPECIFICALLY RECENTLY WITH
CONGRESS CONGRESSWOMAN ILHAN OMAR AND PEOPLE ALL OVER, NOT
JUST THESE COALITION GROUPS BUT PEOPLE ALL OVER, JUST
GENERAL CITIZENS ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR ABILITY
TO VOTE AND NOT BE INTIMIDATED.
THANK YOU. >> Commissioner Edelson:
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GOETTEL.
COMMISSIONER LUNDE. >> Commissioner Lunde:
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST I'M GRATEFUL FOR STAFF
FOR THIS BECAUSE I MET WITH THE GROUPS THAT HAVE COME HERE
AND I DON'T SIGN PLEDGES, I'VE BEEN BURNED TOO MANY TIMES
WHERE THE PLEDGES END UP IN OTHER PEOPLE'S HANDS, SO THIS
IS FOR ME A PERFECT VEHICLE TO REAFFIRM WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
AND I THINK THAT HIGHLIGHTING THE THINGS, CHANGES THAT ARE
JUST BEING MADE UNILATERALLY AND ACROSS THE BOARD WHEN WE
ARE 50 STATES, AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT STATE LAWS THAT YOU
CAN'T JUST APPLY A UNIFORM LAW WITHOUT CONGRESS PASSING IT,
AND THE PRESIDENT SIGNING IT, WHICH IS NOT THE CASE.
SO JUST THAT HIGHLIGHT. I ALSO THINK THAT THERE'S
PROBABLY AN OPPORTUNITY, WE TALKED WHEN JENNY HELMS WAS
HERE ABOUT INFORMATION, I THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL
BECAUSE WHEN I WAS MEETING WITH THE GROUP THAT HAS BEEN
PRESENTING TO US, THERE WAS ALSO MISINFORMATION THAT THEY
HAD, LIKE THEY WERE ASKING US TO PUT SHERIFF DEPUTIES AT
EVERY POLLING LOCATION, I WAS LIKE, NOPE, CAN'T DO THAT ONE.
AND ALSO THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IF A TRESPASSING IS
GIVEN ACTUALLY IT'S LOCAL POLICE THAT RESPOND, NOT THE
SHERIFF. SO I THINK THERE'S SOME
OPPORTUNITY I THINK FOR EVEN MORE, SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE
EXPECTATIONS MET WHEN THEY SEE SOMETHING, THAT WE HAVE A
PROCESS THAT'S VERY DEFINED THAT WE FOLLOW THAT WE DO IT
AND THAT PROCESS IS IMPORTANT. WE CAN'T SHORTCUT IT, LIKE WE
CAN'T LET THE PRESIDENT DECIDE THAT HE CAN JUST DECIDE WHEN
AND WHENEVER HE WANTS TO DO SOMETHING.
IT'S ALSO THE SAME PROCESS, THAT WE HAVE TO LIVE UP TO OUR
PROCESS -- AND SO I THINK THAT -- AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS BECAUSE I SAID IT WITH THEM, I
THINK THAT ALL STATES SHOULD BE COUNTING THEIR BALLOTS LIKE
MINNESOTA OR FLORIDA DO. THE FACT THAT CALIFORNIA TAKES
WEEKS TO COUNT DOES NOT GIVE ANYBODY CONFIDENCE IN ANYTHING
BECAUSE WHEN YOU SEE THAT, AND I'M NOT SURE ABOUT EVERYBODY
ELSE, LIKE, OKAY, HOW CAN FLORIDA AND MINNESOTA GET IT
DONE FIRST NIGHT AND OTHER STATES CAN'T?
I THINK IT'S ABOUT WILLPOWER. AND I THINK THAT FEEDS INTO
THIS NARRATIVE THAT PEOPLE CAN POINT TO AND SAY, AH, SEE,
IT'S THIS. AND SO I THINK WE'RE DOING THE
RIGHT THING WITH THIS RESOLUTION.
I FEEL BETTER SUPPORTING THIS AS A BOARD BECAUSE IT COMES
FROM US AND AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'RE GOING TO DO AND
FOLLOW WHAT HAPPENS AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING WE
DON'T WANT TO UNLESS WE'RE ORDERED TO.
I THINK THAT'S THE PART AND WE HAVE ALLIES WHO ARE THERE.
I JUST WANT EVERYBODY WHO CAN VOTE TO BE ABLE TO VOTE.
IT'S VERY SIMPLE. IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE,
100%, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THAT.
I THINK THAT'S ULTIMATELY MY GOAL AND I THINK THAT THIS
HELPS US LIVE UP TO THAT, SO THANK YOU.
>> Commissioner Edelson: COMMISSIONER GREENE.
>> Commissioner Greene: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
AND THANK YOU TO THE TEAM FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND I ALSO WANT TO ADD TO THE
THANKS THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED, THANK YOU TO THE ELECTIONS
OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HERE IN HENNEPIN COUNTY.
I KNOW I SO APPRECIATE THE CALM, THE EXPERTISE, THE DEEP
KNOWLEDGE THAT THAT OFFICE HAS AND CARRIES FORWARD WHEN
THEY'RE ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
IT'S SUCH A BOOST IN CONFIDENCE BOTH FOR ME AND
RESIDENTS. AS HAS BEEN OUTOUTLINED --
-- RECEIVED AN E-MAIL, I CERTAINLY HAVE, IS A LITTLE
BIT OF LIKE WHAT ARE YOU DOING, HENNEPIN COUNTY ,
HENNEPIN COUNTY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE SURE THESE BAD
THINGS DON'T HAPPEN? AND I APPRECIATE ALL THAT
WE'RE DOING AND I THINK THERE IS SOME BALANCE TO BE FOUND
THAT'S TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING AND
ALSO NOT FANNING FLAMES OF CONCERN.
AND I GUESS IT'S ALL, YOU KNOW, IT'S -- EVERYBODY WOULD
PROBABLY PLANT THEIR FLAG ON THAT SPECTRUM IN A DIFFERENT
PLACE. I'D LIKE TO SEE US LEAN A
LITTLE BIT FURTHER INTO LIKE HERE'S EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING,
TO JUST FURTHER THAT CONFIDENCE.
I UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE NOT SORT OF GOING ALL THE WAY WITH
THAT. AND SO I MYSELF AM CLEARLY
REPRESENTING SOME SORT OF PULL IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.
THE LAST THING I WANTED TO SAY IS THAT -- WELL, I GUESS, I
THINK I'LL JUST CONCLUDE IT THERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> Commissioner Edelson:
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GREENE.
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON. >> Commissioner Anderson:
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP.
OBVIOUSLY AND I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY I WANT TO EXPRESS
GRATITUDE FOR THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF HENNEPIN COUNTY
ADMINISTERING ELECTIONS IN SUCH A WAY THAT PEOPLE HAVE
CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS HERE.
DESPITE THIS ADMINISTRATION'S ATTEMPT TO UNDERMINE THE
CONFIDENCE IN IT AND AS WE'VE HEARD THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE
THAT ARE VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THAT.
BUT WE HAVE BEEN DOING OUR JOB FOR A VERY LONG TIME IN MAKING
SURE THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE FREE AND FAIR AND ACCURATE,
AND THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR
ELECTIONS THAN THE YEAR BEFORE, RIGHT?
WE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND WAYS OF EXPANDING
PARTICIPATION AND I AM SO THANKFUL THAT WE LIVE IN A
COUNTY THAT IS PRIORITIZING PARTICIPATION AND INVOLVEMENT
IN OUR ELECTION PROCESS. SO I AM LIKE YES TO ALL OF THE
THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID, APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC WHO HAS
COME AND SPOKE TO US ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
UPHOLDING AN OATH THAT I THINK EVERYBODY HERE AND REALLY
ACROSS ITSELF STATE OF MINNESOTA, I THINK WE ALL TAKE
THAT OATH REALLY SERIOUSLY. AND I KNOW THAT REAFFIRMING
THAT OATH IS, YOU KNOW, LIKE I THINK EVERY TIME I'M TAKING A
VOTE I AM REAFFIRMING MY OATH THAT I TOOK WHEN I WAS ELECTED
SO I THINK TO COMMISSIONER GREENE'S POINT, GETTING THE
WORD OUT OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING TO HELP CALM PEOPLE,
YOU KNOW, LIKE PROVIDE REASSURANCES.
BECAUSE WE ARE DOING A LOT OF REALLY IMPORTANT, GOOD THINGS,
THE PREPARATIONS THAT WE WERE TOLD ABOUT IN THE LEAD-UP TO
OUR PRIMARY ELECTIONS IS ONGOING.
WE ARE LOOKING AT FURTHER STRENGTHENING OUR SYSTEMS
THROUGH EQUIPMENT PURCHASES AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, I
HAVE COMPLETE FAITH IN OUR ELECTION TEAMS, IN OUR
PROCESS, AND I THINK OUR PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE ABSOLUTE
CONFIDENCE IN OUR ABILITY TO ADMINISTER FREE AND FAIR
ELECTION AGAIN THIS YEAR, BECAUSE WE DAMN WELL BETTER
MAKE SURE THAT IT HAPPENS, AND WE WILL.
SO THANK YOU. >> Commissioner Edelson:
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ANDERSON.
COMMISSIONER CONLEY. >> Commissioner Conley:
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST REALLY RESPONSIVE TO WHAT
WE'VE BEEN HEARING FOR A WHILE NOW FROM RESIDENTS ALL OVER
THE COUNTY, CONSTITUENTS AND FOLKS OUTSIDE OF OUR DISTRICT
BOUNDARIES. I JUST JUST WANT TO ALSO SAY
THAT IT IS NOT LOST ON ME THAT AS WE APPROACH OR AS WE ARE IN
THE 250TH YEAR OF THIS COUNTRY WE ARE IN A POSITION WHERE WE
ARE DEFENDING RIGHTS, BASIC RIGHTS, AND REAFFIRMING THE
OATH THAT WE TOOK TO THE CONSTITUTION WHICH IS THE LAW
OF THIS LAND, WHICH IS THE OVERARCHING LAWS BY WHICH WE
EXIST HERE IN THIS COUNTRY. THE CONSTITUTION THAT, AS
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON SAID, EVERY TIME WE ARE VOTING WE
ARE REAFFIRMING THAT OATH. THAT IS SYMBOLIC OF THE OATH
THAT WE TOOK TO EVEN HOLD THESE SEATS.
WE'VE TAKEN THOSE OATHS MULTIPLE TIMES, MANY OF US.
BUT IT'S STILL NOT LOST ON ME THAT VOTING RIGHTS ARE
COMPLETELY UNDER ATTACK AND HAVE BEEN.
WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO LIVE IN A STATE WHERE WE JUST THIS
PRIMARY WE BROKE THE RECORD FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO
VOTED, FOR THE FACT THAT IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, IN
HENNEPIN COUNTY, WE CAN VOTE FREELY, FAIRLY, WE HAVE
MULTIPLE DIFFERENT WAYS TO VOTE, EARLY VOTING, ABSENTEE
VOTING. I AM A TRADITIONAL IN-PERSON
VOTING DAY PERSON, BUT I THINK ABOUT STATES IN THE SOUTH,
WHERE THEY ARE SYSTEMATICALLY REMOVING POLLING PLACES FROM
PREDOMINANTLY BLACK COMMUNITIES, TO DISENFRANCHISE
, TO COMPLETELY ELIMINATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
SOME COMMUNITIES TO VOTE. THAT'S ASTOUNDING.
NOT SURPRISING, BUT ASTOUNDING TO ME, THE LENGTHS OF WHICH
THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION WILL GO TO REMOVE THE RIGHT TO
VOTE BECAUSE VOTING IS POWERFUL.
I DON'T NEED TO TELL PEOPLE THAT.
AND WHEN YOU REMOVE THAT POWER FROM PEOPLE, I'LL EVEN GO
FURTHER AND SAY THE WAY THAT WE'VE SEEN REDISTRICTING
HAPPEN IN THIS COUNTRY JUST WITHIN THE PAST SEVERAL
MONTHS, HOW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN REDRAWN TO
CHANGE OR TO TIP THE SCALES IN THE FAVOR OF A DOMINANT
DEMOGRAPHIC, RIGHT? IT'S MIND BOGGLING TO ME.
AND SO I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE PRIVILEGE OF LIVING IN A STATE
WHERE I KNOW THAT I'VE GOT ACCESS TO VOTING THAT HASN'T
BEEN, IN MY TIME OF BEING A VOTER, HASN'T BEEN STRIPPED
AWAY FROM ME THROUGH REALLY EGREGIOUS, OVERTLY RACIST
WAYS. AND SO WHILE THIS IS
PROTECTING OUR VOTE AND OUTLINING WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN
BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE PUBLIC VOTE AND HOW WE CAN JUST BE
GOOD ELECTED OFFICIALS BY REMAINING TRUE TO THE OATHS
THAT WE TOOK TO BE ELECTED OFFICIALS, I JUST WANT TO JUST
REITERATE THAT VOTING RIGHTS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE UNDER
ATTACK. AND THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT
REALLY WAS AN INSTRUMENTAL PIECE.
IT IS AN INSTRUMENTAL PIECE OF WHAT MAKES THIS COUNTRY IN THE
FIRST PLACE. SO 250 YEARS LATER HERE WE ARE
TRYING TO DEFEND THAT. AND SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS
BUT I'M CERTAINLY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE THIS BOARD ACTION
AS A TANGIBLE WAY TO SHOW OUR RESIDENTS THAT WE'RE NOT
PLAYING AROUND. THANK YOU.
>> Commissioner Edelson: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER
CONLEY. AND COMMISSIONER LUNDE, YOU
HAD A FOLLOW-UP? >> Commissioner Lunde:
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST I FORGOT TO MENTION WHEN
I ASKED FOR -- I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY USEFUL FOR
ELECTIONS TEAM TO ACTUALLY PUT THE DIAGRAM OF WHEN YOUR VOTE
COMES IN, WHEN'S IT COUNTED, ABSENTEE VERSUS YOU PUT IT IN
A MACHINE. BECAUSE THOSE THINGS ARE SOME
ARE HELD AND PUT IN A MACHINE ALL AT ONCE.
WE NEED TO BE VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT HOW A BOLLOT IS HANDLED.
-- THOSE WAYS THAT, A-HA, THIS IS HOW IT'S HAPPENING OR A BIG
DUMP AND AT THE LAST MINUTE THAT'S WHERE THEY CHEAT, THAT,
NO, WE NEED TO BE VERY SPECIFIC AND HOW WE COUNT IT
AND TELL PEOPLE. AND ALSO I THINK WE SHOULD USE
THIS, I THINK EVERYBODY HERE SHOULD BE SIGNED UP FOR
ELECTION JUDGE. I KNOW WE HAD A FEW BUT ONE OF
THE BEST WAYS TO ENSURE ELECTION INTEGRITY IS BE AN
ELECTION JUDGE. AND WE DON'T SUFFER FROM TOO
MANY ELECTION JUDGES, TO ME I THINK THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO REALLY GO OUT AND PUBLIC PUBLICIZE AT EVERY LEVEL LIKE,
HEY, IF YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT THIS WE NEED YOU EVERY TWO
YEARS AND HERE'S THE STEPS OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO, HERE'S
THE TRAINING, HERE'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO, I THINK IT WOULD
BE HELPFUL AS WELL. AND THEN BECAUSE BY
PUBLICIZING WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING MAKES US
LIVE UP TO IT AND I THINK ABOUT, WE TALKED ABOUT IT WHEN
I MET WITH THEM WHERE WE LEFT THE GATE UP ON A VEHICLE THAT
WAS CARRYING BALLOTS WHICH IS NOT OUR POLICY AND WE OWNED
IT, THE PERSON I THINK IS NO LONGER WORKING IN THAT ROLE.
BUT ALL THOSE THINGS MATTER BECAUSE IT FEEDS INTO STUFF
AND SO EVERY TIME WE FAIL ON A POLICY PEOPLE USE IT AS AN
A-HA, VERSUS WE USE THAT -- SO I DO THINK ALL THESE THINGS
ARE GOOD THINGS AND MORE WE TELL PEOPLE WHAT WE DO.
BUT I DO THINK WE SHOULD USE THIS AS ELECTION JUDGE
RECRUITMENT AT EVERY LEVEL THAT WE CAN.
SO THANK YOU. >> Commissioner Edelson:
WELL, AND WITH THAT I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY TOO SOME OF THE
VOTERS -- OR SOME OF THE VOTERS -- SOME OF THE
RESIDENTS THAT ATTENDED THE MEETING TODAY WERE WANTING TO
MAKE SURE WE WERE PARTNERING WITH CITIES, I THINK MAKING
MORE INFORMATION AROUND THE ELECTION AND HOW IT WORKS I
THINK PEOPLE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN IT BECAUSE OF
THE THREATS TO THE ELECTION. YOU KNOW, PUBLICLY HOW VOTING
WORKS, HOW COUNTIES GET THE VOTES, HOW WE CERTIFY THE
ELECTION, HOW WE WORK WITH CITIES, ALSO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW
THAT DURING THE PRIMARY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, THE
COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE MINNESOTA SECRETARY OF STATE,
THE COUNTY ELECTIONS TEAM WAS VERY MUCH IN CLOSE
COMMUNICATION WITH ALL OF THEM.
I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD JUST HAVE A GENERAL IDEA THAT WE
ARE PREPARING FOR THIS, WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WERE
SOME POTENTIAL THREATS TO THE -- WELL, AT LEAST SOME PEOPLE
WHATNOTTED TO COME WITHIN A PERIOD THAT THEY WERE NOT
ALLOWED WITHIN 100 FEET OF A POLLING PLACE.
SO WE DO HAVE A PLAN AND SO I THINK MAKING SURE PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND THAT. AND Mr. ROGAN, DO YOU HAVE
ANYTHING TO SAY TO ALL OF THAT?
>> Mr. ROGAN: JUST, MADAM CHAIR, WE WILL BE DOING MORE
OUTREACH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PLANNED SOME OUTREACH EVENTS
AND WE, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE FEEDBACK WE'LL LOOK AT SOME
OTHER WAYS TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT WHAT YOU'VE TALKED
ABOUT ABOUT THE PROCESS, HOW IT WORKS AND THE STEPS THAT
WE'VE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE FREE AND
FAIR ELECTIONS. AND I'LL JUST REMIND FOLKS, I
KNOW THAT THE FOLKS FROM OPEN FORUM AREN'T HERE ANYMORE BUT
MAIL VOTING STARTS ON SEPTEMBER 19TH, AND THERE IS
NO PROHIBITION RIGHT NOW FOR OUR MAIL BALLOTING IS GOING TO
HAPPEN THE EXACT WAY IT HAPPENED FOR THE PRIMARY.
WE ARE PRIMED AND READY TO GO. THOSE BALLOTS WILL GO OUT ON
SEPTEMBER 19TH AND I HAVE EVERY EXPECTATION THAT THE
POSTAL SERVICE IS GOING TO FOLLOW THAT.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY LITIGATION THAT'S HAPPENING BUT RIGHT NOW
I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE COMMENTERS SAID THAT THE FACT
THAT YOU CAN'T VOTE BY MAIL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT TRUE.
YOU CAN VOTE BY MAIL RIGHT NOW AND CERTAINLY IF YOU ARE NOT
THAT WILL BE AN ENORMOUS DEAL. BUT YOU CAN VOTE BY MAIL.
AND I WILL SAY EARLY VOTING IS NEW THIS YEAR.
MOST CITIES HAVE IT AT THEIR CITY HALL AND THE CITY OF
MINNEAPOLIS, YOU CAN VOTE AT THE IN, NORTHEAST AT THE OPEN
VOTING CENTER, AND THEN THEY HAVE ONE ON THE NORTH SIDE AT
THE URBAN LEAGUE, ONE ON THE SOUTH SIDE AT THE BETHEL
LUTHERAN CHURCH, AND THEN THIS YEAR THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE 12
POP-UP EVENTS ON PARTICULAR DAYS MOVING AROUND THE CITY
THAT'S ALL ADVERTISED ON THEIR WEBSITE.
SO THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, I THINK PEOPLE ARE REALLY TRYING TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING IN WAYS TO EXPAND THE
FRANCHISE AND TRY TO MAKE IT SO THAT WE'RE MEETING PEOPLE
WHERE WE'RE AT AND TRYING TO MEET THAT GOAL AND MAKE SURE
THAT EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO VOTE HAS THE ABILITY TO VOTE
AND WE HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT IN DIFFERENT WAYS
THIS YEAR THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST.
>> Commissioner Edelson: YEAH, THAT'S GREAT.
COMMISSIONER LUNDE, YOU HAD ANOTHER FOLLOW-UP.
>> Commissioner Lunde: JUST, YEAH, I DO BELIEVE THE
COUNTY NEEDS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE FACT THAT NOT EVERYONE
GETS THE SAME TREATMENT AT MINNEAPOLIS BECAUSE NOT
EVERYBODY HAS MINNEAPOLIS MONEY.
SO IF YOU'RE IN A SMALL CITY AND I DON'T MEAN TO REACH INTO
DISTRICT 7 BUT IF YOU'RE IN A SMALL CITIES IT NOT YOUR
FAULT. THAT VOTER HAS THE SAME RIGHTS
AS A VOTER WHO LIVES IN MILL CITY IN MINNEAPOLIS.
I KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BUT WHEN I HEAR OF ALL
THESE EVENTS, IT'S NOT THE SAME AND IT'S NOT -- A SMALL
CITY'S FAULT FOR THE FACT THAT THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THOSE
THINGS, THEY DON'T GET MONEY FOR THAT.
AND SO I DO THINK, THINK ABOUT THE SPECIAL ELECTIONS WHERE WE
WERE TELLING PEOPLE OUT IN CORCORAN TO COME DOWNTOWN TO
CAST THEIR VOTE BECAUSE THEIR CITY HALL COULDN'T STAFF A
THING. SO I KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT
YOU'RE SAYING BUT IT JUST REMINDS ME THAT IT IS UNEQUAL
ON SOME OF THE STUFF AND I REALIZE WHY IT IS, BUT IT
SHOULDN'T BE. I JUST FEEL STRONGLY THAT A
VOTER NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE IN THE COUNTY HAVE THE SAME
ACCESS, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
>> Commissioner Edelson: OKAY.
WELL, WITH THAT I JUST I WANT TODAY SAY ONE MORE THING.
NO PRESIDENT, GOVERNOR, COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR THAT MATTER
OR POLITICAL PARTY SHOULD DECIDE WHOSE VOTE MATTERS, OUR
JOB IS TO PROTECT RULES, PROCESS, AND EVERY ELIGIBLE
VOTER'S RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING AND CONTINUING
TO DO. WITH THAT WE WILL MOVE TO A
VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF
APPROVING ITEM 2A PLEASE SAY AYE.
[ MEMBERS VOTING ] OPPOSED?
[ NO RESPONSE HEARD ] THE MOTION CARRIES.
THAT CONCLUDES RESIDENT SERVICES.
THANK YOU. WE ARE ADJOURNED.