Minnesota Lawmaker Finds Nearly 3,000 Voters With Missing Info

A Minnesota lawmaker has found that nearly 3,000 voter records in Hennepin County have missing information. This discovery is leading to talks about how voter lists are kept accurate and secure.
By Newsroom | Minnesota, Elections |

A Minnesota state representative has brought attention to concerns regarding voter roll accuracy after her review of data from the state's most populous county. The lawmaker identified nearly 3,000 voter records with incomplete information, sparking a debate about the integrity of voter lists and the processes in place to maintain them. The findings emerge amid broader national discussions about voter data security and the potential for ineligible individuals to be registered.

Minnesota lawmaker expresses concern after reviewing voter rolls, finding 3,000 people missing information - 1

Background and Discovery

Hennepin County, Minnesota's largest county by population, provided voter data for analysis. Within this dataset, which comprised approximately 830,000 voter records, state Representative [Lawmaker's Name Not Explicitly Stated in Provided Texts] found 2,992 voters with missing information. The specific nature of this missing information and its implications for voter eligibility are central to the lawmaker's concern.

Minnesota lawmaker expresses concern after reviewing voter rolls, finding 3,000 people missing information - 2

  • The data review was conducted after Hennepin County shared a "more complete picture of its voter roll data."

  • The legislator stated, "In Hennepin County, we had 2,992 voters that have missing information.”

Calls for Transparency and Data Requests

The lawmaker's findings have coincided with broader efforts by Republican officials in Minnesota to scrutinize voter roll maintenance. A letter, reportedly sent by Minnesota House Republicans to Secretary of State Steve Simon and Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson, highlights a desire for transparency.

Read More: Minnesota Governor Proposes $10 Million for Businesses, Faces Fraud Worries

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  • The letter indicates that information necessary to remove "known noncitizens" from voter rolls was provided to the officials over a month prior.

  • Concerns were raised about the time taken to receive updates on actions being taken, with information allegedly being released to the public on the same day it was provided to lawmakers.

  • The Republican letter reportedly demands precise numbers on inactivated individuals, the categories of missing information, and details on how many inactivated individuals have voted or received ballots in past elections.

  • Questions were also posed regarding whether inactivated individuals would be able to register and vote in the upcoming November election and if removing their votes would have altered past election outcomes.

Federal Data Demands and State Pushback

Parallel to these state-level concerns, Minnesota has been engaged in a dispute with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding access to voter data. Attorney General Pam Bondi has repeatedly requested Minnesota's voter rolls, particularly following incidents involving federal immigration enforcement.

Read More: Trump's Approval Ratings Low, Could Affect 2026 Elections

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  • The DOJ's demands for voter data, which can include sensitive personally identifiable information, have been met with resistance from Minnesota officials.

  • Secretary of State Steve Simon has stated his refusal to hand over the data, describing the situation as potentially "ransom."

  • The DOJ's efforts to obtain voter registration lists have faced legal challenges and judicial skepticism in other states, with federal judges in California and Oregon reportedly indicating potential dismissals of similar lawsuits.

  • Democratic senators have accused the Trump administration's DOJ of employing a "coercive and intimidating" campaign to centralize voter registration data, despite legal setbacks.

  • Minnesota officials have characterized the Trump administration's claims about cooperation with ICE as potentially false.

Concerns Over Noncitizen Voting and Automatic Registration

A significant aspect of the voter roll discussions involves the process of automatic voter registration and the inclusion of noncitizens. Reports have emerged of noncitizens being improperly registered under the state's automatic voter registration system.

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  • House Republicans have publicly urged transparency from the Walz administration regarding efforts to remove noncitizens and other ineligible individuals from voter rolls.

  • The House Fraud Prevention and State Oversight Policy Committee has held hearings on election integrity, focusing on how fraudulent registrations are processed and identified.

  • Questions have been raised about whether noncitizens can vote using driver's licenses and whether any potentially fraudulent registrations remain in the system.

  • The current system in Minnesota does not offer provisional balloting for "challenged" or same-day registrations, meaning once a vote is cast, it cannot be withdrawn.

Expert Analysis and Broader Context

Discussions surrounding voter roll integrity are occurring within a national framework of evolving federal data access policies and state-level election administration.

"The department has not publicly responded to the letter [from Senate Democrats]." - Democracy Docket

"The Justice Department has not said what exactly it intends to do with the sensitive information, beyond a general effort to ensure states are making sure only eligible voters are on the rolls." - The Guardian

Read More: Election Body Suspends 7 Officials in West Bengal for Voter List Errors

The collection of detailed voter data by federal agencies, even for purposes of election integrity, has drawn scrutiny from privacy advocates and legal experts concerned about the scope and potential misuse of such information.

Conclusion and Implications

The identification of nearly 3,000 voter records with missing information in Hennepin County by a Minnesota lawmaker raises pertinent questions about the completeness and accuracy of voter rolls. This situation, coupled with ongoing disputes between state officials and the federal government over access to voter data and concerns about noncitizen registration, underscores the complexity of election administration and the continuous efforts required to ensure voter list integrity. The demands for transparency from state lawmakers and the resistance from state election officials to federal data requests highlight differing perspectives on data access and its implications for election security and privacy. Further investigation into the nature of the missing information and the effectiveness of current voter roll maintenance procedures appears warranted.

Sources Used

Read More: West Bengal Officials Suspended Over Voter List Problems

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What did the lawmaker find in Minnesota's voter records?
The lawmaker found that nearly 3,000 voter records in Hennepin County had missing information. This means some important details were not there.
Q: Why is this discovery important?
It is important because it makes people wonder if the voter lists are correct. Accurate lists are needed for fair elections.
Q: Are there other issues with voter lists in Minnesota?
Yes, there are also talks about noncitizens being registered and disagreements between the state and the federal government over voter data.