[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.