Secretary of State Steve Simon today convened the State Canvassing Board to review the canvass report for the 2020 General Election and certify the results. In addition to the U.S. Presidential election and a U.S. Senate race, the board certified the election results of eight U.S. House of Representatives contests and state legislative and judicial offices.

“The State Canvassing Board has today certified Minnesota's 2020 General Election results,” said Secretary Steve Simon. “I’m proud to officially announce that for the third election in a row, Minnesota voters were number one in the nation in voter turnout.” The total number of voters was 3,292,997. That means 79.96 percent of eligible Minnesotans participated in the 2020 General Election. That is the highest percentage turnout since 1956, and the highest total number of voters ever.

“This election was like no other in Minnesota history. The pandemic meant administering the 2020 election using a public health and safety lens.” Secretary Simon said. “I made an unprecedented request of Minnesota voters: to consider voting from home with an absentee ballot. Those voters responded in truly remarkable fashion.” 1,906,383 million voters cast an absentee ballot - about 58 percent of those voting. The previous highest level, in 2018, was around 24 percent.

The election was a great success for other reasons. There was no lack of election judges, which other states faced. There was no report of violence or intimidation, as some had feared. There were no credible allegations of voter fraud. And there was no shortage of PPE or supplies at polling places to keep in-person voters safe.

“Even as we celebrate a third consecutive election leading the nation in turnout, I know that Minnesota can do more to make every voice heard. No matter where they live in Minnesota, or what language they speak, or what accommodations they need to cast their ballot, I look forward to continuing my mission to make it as easy as possible for every eligible Minnesotan to vote.”

The State Canvassing Board is called pursuant to Article VII, Section 8 of the Constitution of the State of Minnesota, which states: The returns of every election for officeholders elected statewide shall be made to the secretary of state who shall call to his assistance two or more of the judges of the supreme court and two disinterested judges of the district courts. They shall constitute a board of canvassers to canvass the returns and declare the result within three days after the canvass.

Secretary of State Simon extended his thanks to the Justices and Judges who agreed to serve on this canvassing board to certify the election results: Margaret H. Chutich, Associate Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court; Gordon L. Moore III, Associate Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court; Regina Chu, Judge, Fourth Judicial District Court; and Christian Sande, Judge, Fourth Judicial District Court.

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Secretary Simon Statement on Private Security Groups at Polling Places

Private security or other related individuals or groups are not allowed inside polling places, only one 'challenger' per major political party is allowed in each polling place, and no one else other than a voter or an administrator is allowed within one hundred feet of the entrance of a polling place.

We are actively working with state and federal law enforcement to ensure laws are enforced. Those laws are strictly enforced by local law enforcement. In addition, our 30,000 election judges at nearly 3,000 polling places are well-trained on those laws. Any outside effort to supplement election judges or local law enforcement is counterproductive, unwelcome, and possibly unlawful."

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Secretary Simon Announces Start of Absentee and Early Voting for 2020 General Election

“Holding an election during a pandemic is a public health challenge,” said Secretary Simon. “But the spirit that makes Minnesota the national leader in voter turnout is stronger than ever in this difficult year. I’m expecting the already large demand for voting from home to continue through to Election Day. It’s about more than just convenience. Every voter who chooses an absentee ballot makes the polling place a little safer on election day for those who vote in person and those who serve as election judges. I’m recommending that all voters request — and return — their ballots as soon as possible to help local officials process and count all of those ballots.”

Today, September 18, is the first day of Minnesota’s 46-day period of absentee voting leading up to November 3. County and city election offices will begin mailing ballots today to voters who have requested them, and in-person absentee voting is now available at election offices statewide.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Secretary Simon is encouraging all eligible voters to Vote From Home, using an absentee ballot.

Find out more about how Minnesota elections are different in 2020

HOW TO REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT
Minnesota voters can request an absentee ballot quickly and easily at mnvotes.org using the online application.

Voters can also request an absentee ballot by downloading the “2020 Minnesota Absentee Ballot Application” and returning it to their county election office by email, mail, or fax. Absentee Ballot application forms are available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Vietnamese, Russian, Chinese, Lao, Oromo, Khmer, and Amharic.

Voters can request an absentee ballot even if they are not registered to vote — a voter registration application will be provided with their ballot.

WHAT’S ON MY BALLOT?
Minnesotans can use “My Ballot” to view their sample ballot and find links to candidates’ websites. Visit mnvotes.org/myballot

TRACKING YOUR BALLOT
Beginning September 21, upon requesting an absentee ballot, voters may check the status of their ballot, such as when it was mailed, and if their completed ballot was received and accepted by their local elections office. Visit mnvotes.org/track

The Vote From Home absentee ballot period for all Federal, State, Judicial, and County Offices runs from September 18, 2020, until November 2, 2020. In-person Election Day voting will take place throughout Minnesota on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Anyone can go to mnvotes.org to check their eligibility, register to vote, or to locate their county or city election office.

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Secretary Simon Announces Statewide Mailing to Encourage Vote From Home

“During a pandemic, we have to view this election as a public health challenge,” said Sec. Simon. “In a normal year, the appeal of voting from home is comfort and convenience. But this year, it’s also a public service – because every person who votes from home is making the polling place a little bit safer for voters who need or prefer to vote in person. This mailing is all about making sure Minnesota voters know that voting from home is easy, safe, and secure.”

Minnesotans have already embraced Vote From Home in 2020: over 860,000 voters have requested an absentee ballot to date. However, some 2.3 million registered voters have not yet done so, and this week’s mailing provides all the information they need to choose that option for voting. The mailing is being delivered now, to help Minnesota voters order their ballots as early as possible. Requesting and returning a ballot as soon as the voter can will help elections officials manage this year’s surge in absentee voting.

The mailing strongly encourages voters to apply for their ballot online at mnvotes.org, but the mailing also includes a paper form for possible return by mail. Minnesota joins ten states that have sent similar statewide mailings to voters.

Funding for the mailing comes from funds Minnesota received through the federal CARES Act for the purpose of administering elections during the pandemic.

See the letter included in the mailing.