Election integrity concerns rise as precincts excluded from review

In a recent government meeting, officials discussed the lack of transparency in the post-election review process for Plymouth, Minnesota, highlighting that none of the 23 precincts were included in the 2020 and 2023 reviews. This absence raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, particularly as the state mandates a minimum of only 3% of precincts to be randomly selected for review.

The meeting revealed that approximately 75% of absentee ballots in 2020 originated from Plymouth, with a total of 38,000 out of 51,000 ballots cast by mail. At the state level, 700,000 absentee ballots were reported missing 25 days after the election, indicating discrepancies between certified totals and the statewide voter registration system. Although these issues were addressed by the Secretary of State's office, the discussions underscored a growing demand for more rigorous auditing practices.

One speaker emphasized the need for an expanded post-election review, suggesting that Plymouth should aim to include more precincts in future audits. He referenced other cities, such as Oak Grove and Ramsey, which have successfully expanded their reviews to cover more precincts and races. The speaker proposed that the council consider a workshop to explore these options further.

Concerns about the chain of custody for ballots were also raised, with calls for bipartisan oversight to ensure the security of ballots from the time they are cast until they are counted. The meeting concluded with a commitment to further discussions on enhancing the post-election review process, reflecting a community interest in ensuring electoral integrity.