Poll Pads Remain Optional, According to Minnesota Law—Oak Grove Can Say No
Is Tom Hunt, in his capacity as Elections Manager Anoka County, in fact interfering with the City of Oak Grove's elections?
Tom Hunt, attended the same Midwest Swamp Watch event as me, in October 2021—there, Rick Weible (also of USCASE.org presented and shared the story of how as St. Bonifacius Mayor he hacked the KNOWiNK poll pad in under five minutes and declined the contract for his city, the only municipality to say No in 2016 when Hennepin County rolled out this new technology.
Later, Hunt became the Elections Manager of Anoka County when Paul Linell was called up to the Office of the Secretary of State, where my recent call went to voicemail after speaking with two other members of the well-staffed Office. While Linell wasn't available to answer questions about electronic poll pads in Minn Stat §201.225, recently Hunt did in a different context.
Hunt has decided, or someone has instructed Hunt, to say that according to Minn Stat §201.225, that he, as the head election official, is deciding that Oak Grove must use electronic poll pads.
This is a sleight of speech (hand) in a few ways.
- Hunt is not the head election official of Oak Grove. Hunt is the head election official of Anoka County.
- Even if he was the head election official of Oak Grove, it still wouldn't be his decision—it's the City Council's decision.
- The City Council already decided not to use the electronic poll pads.
There's much more fine print here...
It's interesting that there are no attorneys backing up Hunt, or saying this (out loud). It's a clear mis-stating or mis-application of §201.225, which is now in effect disseminating false information through the front page of Anoka County Union Herald piece today, Friday Oct 25, 2024.
When reading the first subdivision (the first part) of Minn Stat §201.225, it says the head election official of whatever county, municipality, or school district may use them—in other words, they are permissible.
Later on, in subdivision 6 it describes how, for example, a city decides to use them, how they can later decide to revoke that decision.
Video explanations of §201.225
The fact that the Anoka Union Herald didn't ask why Hunt is referring to this statute in favor of his argument suggests that the writers haven't read the statute either, because that would have been the first follow-up question (I realize that there may not have been time to ask, but it should be asked—I've communicated the same to the staff writer, Elliot Steeves, and if there's a correction made I'll update this article, too.)
Also noteworthy is that the Oak Grove City Clerk has very recently resigned (within the last few days) without giving any notice that this writer is aware of.
More details about the fine print of all this:
Why Oak Grove may say No:
Is Tom Hunt, in his capacity as Elections Manager Anoka County, in fact interfering with the elections of the City of Oak Grove?
Also, here's how to use paper rosters instead of electronic poll books (internet-connected iPads from KNOWiNK, which acquired BPro in 2021...)
201.225 Sub 5 B has the paper back up roster requirements for Election Day 204B.28 sub 2 is the catch all that assigns it to the county auditor. 201.091 sub 1 states the master voter registration list is managed by county auditor, so they should be providing it...since they shall prepare and maintain a current list of registered voters in each precinct in the county....so it makes sense that's the official list to be provided by the county...
