Minnesota election security: What to know

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon addressed election security and results reporting ahead of Election Day.

What we know

Speaking on Monday, Simon tried to temper concerns over election fraud.

While Minnesota should have most of its results in by the morning after Election Day, some states could take days to finish its count. Simon explains the difference in ballot counting speed comes down to different state laws.

"Some states accept ballots that have been postmarked by Election Day," Simon said. "Other states have a rule where they can't even start counting absentee ballots until after the polls have closed… They are following their state's laws."

In Minnesota, election officials are allowed to begin counting absentee and mail ballots as early as 18 days before Election Day. The state also doesn't accept ballots that don't reach dropoff sites before polls close on Election Day. But, as Simon explained, that's not the case in every other state. But just because some states take longer to report, Simon says that doesn't mean there's a problem.

"In these cases, results that are not right after the close of polls is not proof of a problem," Simon says. "It is proof of the opposite: They are dedicated election workers following the laws of their state."

Background

The United States has faced increased scrutiny of election results following the 2020 election and the events that followed.

A recent survey by the Associated Press found that about a quarter of registered voters had little to no trust in the nationwide vote counts. Among registered Republicans, that number was even higher at 44 percent. Despite the fact that every challenge to the 2020 election was ultimately rejected by the courts.

The poll did, however, find that most voters had at least moderate trust in their local election officials.

However, during Monday's press conference, Simon did point out that two local surveys showed most Minnesota voters had trust in their election systems.

Context

Secretary Simon reminded voters that the state itself doesn't count votes. Election counts are done at the local level and the state merely aggregates the results.

"I can tell you that this is a very durable, very resilient system and a very decentralized system," Simon explained. "I keep wanting to emphasize that. I said before, I'll say again, we don't count votes ever. We don't touch anyone's ballot. That happens in thousands of places throughout the state. As I mentioned, these are very often our friends and neighbors doing the counting."