Susan Ritter
Member, Fillmore County League of Women Voters
Lanesboro, MN
Let’s not spread misinformation about election integrity. In the August 12 Fillmore County Journal the commentary by Jeff Erding (fillmorecountyjournal.com/election-integrity-in-america/) contains multiple false or misleading claims perpetuated by Andrew Cilek of Minnesota Voters Alliance regarding Minnesota election integrity. It is important readers are given accurate information.
Erding states that the Secretary of State and county auditors refused to turn over information regarding voter registrations with Social Security number irregularities. What Erding doesn’t mention is that under Minnesota Statute 13.355 (www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/13.355), Social Security numbers are private information and may not be shared except when specifically authorized by state law. In this case the Secretary of State was not authorized by any state law to share Social Security numbers with Representative Duane Quam. I, for one, do not want Social Security numbers disclosed to state representatives for any purpose. Our governmental system of checks and balances provide checks on the administrative system and checks on the legislative system — such as preventing Representative Quam from getting individuals’ Social Security numbers.
The Minnesota Voter Alliance brought a lawsuit but gave no factual evidence that “massive illegal voting” occurs in Minnesota. The district court issued a “stay” on July 17, 2019, regarding the order to turn over information. When a court issues a stay on an order, the court hits a “pause” on the order and this action allows the appeal process to proceed to a higher court. In the case that Erding is referring to, the Supreme Court of Minnesota stated that the case would be reviewed; thus, the Secretary of State is following court orders and the legal process proceeds appropriately. This sounds like a fishing expedition.
The Legislative Auditor issued a report in March of 2018 (www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/ped/pedrep/votereg.pdf) that describes at length the numerous ways county auditors and the Secretary of State check and verify voter registrations. The report found that in the very rare instance when there are irregularities, they are caught. For example, if an individual attempts to vote more than once, the current system catches and prosecutes that individual. That is exactly what happened in a case from earlier this year in Minneapolis (www.startribune.com/voter-stand-charge-st-louis-park-woman-purposely-voted-in minneapolis-then-in-her-city/505798022/).
Mr. Erding claims that “Big Tech” is influencing elections for the Democrats and fails to mention that credible evidence was found that foreign governments influenced our elections for the benefit of Republican candidates. We all want a fair and just democratic election system, but we will never have it if public figures insist on spreading misinformation about the integrity of our elections. Mr. Erding’s editorial is just another example of divisiveness – spreading untruths about people of different political persuasions (i.e. Democrats). Safeguarding our election requires looking at facts, truths, no matter the political party.
David Cosgrove says
I wonder what JFK or Hubert Humphrey would say about the current DFL corruption in Minnesota? Never mind they would be tossed out for being radical conservatives.
Ken says
Check out Project Veritas video, Omar ballot harvesting .
Mary Smith says
as an election judge who has followed this and MN Voters Alliance i find Mr Erding and Mr Cilek’s concerns and FACTS very very credible…
Andrew Melberg says
Having worked AS AN ELECTION JUDGE in the 2012 general election in MPLS and having seen FIRSTHAND flagrant voter fraud, and after having my responsibly reported notification of awareness (whatever it is called) complaints IGNORED I can tell you that there is indeed voter fraud in MN, specifically various MPLS locations… I have no knowledge of any locations outside this particular city. Party affiliations aside, ANY fraud should not be tolerated and any efforts to prevent people from addressing and/or correcting the issue should be regarded as, at the least, an abuse of power.
Emma says
Ms. Ritter – YOU need to STOP spreading the lies. The voter database only has the last 4 digits so stop trying to make it seem like someone asked for full access. Please show us WHERE it was requested? It was NOT. You are part of the problem!
Jeffrey Erding says
The title of this commentary is entirely appropriate… pertaining to the content thereof. It is absurd to characterize this situation as a heroic effort by the State to protect the privacy of Minnesota citizens, as anyone who takes the time to read the summary by Andrew Cilek can plainly see.
Minnesota Election Officials are indeed engaged in a coverup regarding significant voter fraud, refusing to follow a Ramsey District Court Order from July, 2018 which affirmed the requested voter information is public information and must be released. The state has appealed the ruling, determined to cover up their lack of due diligence and forcing yet more expensive legal action.
In March 2018, the Office of Legislative Auditor released a review that showed 26,000 voters whose status was marked “Challenged” had their votes counted.
Recently Ramsey sent out 37,000 postcards to test the validity of voter addresses. 6000 came back as undeliverable.
Another limited analysis by MVA found 2800 records of individuals who voted twice.
During 2018, about 15000 individuals registered to vote using invalid SS numbers, which we know because the data is available from SSA online.
So yes, there is misinformation being spread about voter fraud in Minnesota; and Susan Ritter is spreading it by defending the coverup perpetrated by the Minnesota Secretary of State and other election officials.
Regarding the “Russian Interference” in 2016, $37,000.00 worth of Facebook ads by Russian Bots is rather insignificant compared to the 75 million votes influenced by Big Tech in 2018.
This should not be a partisan issue, Ms. Ritter. That you have chosen to make it one is unfortunate. Transparency of our election process is a vital element to maintain our Democratic Republic. By attempting to justify unethical and perhaps illegal behavior, you are complicit thereof. Shameful behavior.
Fillmore County Resident says
I was so glad to see this! Thank you for these facts in the face of ridiculous lies constantly perpetuated by Jeff Erding. Wish that FCJ and Bluff Country would stop printing his opinions. He’s disgraceful.
Kim Wentwortb says
By ommitting your name you seem to be somewhat of a coward. Another example of….oh well you can guess by now what I was going to say.
Robert Schmidtbauer. says
Typical easily fooled, easily led Democrat voter or just in denial? Without your name you could be related to or a friend of Ms. Ritters. Without your name your comment isn’t credible.