Woodbury Bulletin - Nonpartisan Groups Launch Observation

While the Franken and Coleman campaigns are planning to staff recount locations with attorneys and volunteers, three election-minded organizations said they will team up to enlist upward of 250 volunteers to monitor the recount. The group said it will be present, possibly at every recount location, to ensure election laws and recount procedures are followed.

“This is about protecting the integrity of the process,” said Mark Halvorson, director of Citizens for Election Integrity Minnesota.

Halvorson’s organization is joining with state chapters of League of Women Voters and Common Cause, which bills itself as a government watchdog group, to monitor the Senate recount as well as three legislative race recounts. The coalition describes itself as the only nonpartisan observers of the recount.

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NON-PARTISAN GROUPS TO OBSERVE MINNESOTA STATEWIDE RECOUNT

Citizens for Election Integrity Minnesota (CEIMN), League of Women Voters Minnesota, and Common Cause Minnesota are working in coalition as the only non-partisan observers of Minnesota's 2008 election recount. In the current atmosphere of a hotly contested election with a razor-thin margin between the candidates, this coalition of non-profit organizations committed to protecting the integrity of the electoral process; objectively evaluating the recount process; providing feedback to election officials to improve the transparency and accuracy of the recount. As in the audit observation, a report of the coalition's findings will be issued.

The coalition will mobilize over 250 volunteers to observe the recount which Secretary of State Mark Ritchie estimates may take up to one month. Volunteers, made up of CEIMN-trained auditors observers, League of Women Voters members, and Common Cause members will observe, document, and report what takes place during the recount. Volunteers will not intervene or handle the ballots.

"The importance of transparency and public confidence in the recount is paramount,"said Mark Halvorson, director of Citizens for Election Integrity. Citizens for Election Integrity organizes election audits observations after every statewide election in Minnesota. "Audits are critical for protecting the integrity of the electoral process by providing an independent check on the accuracy of the voting machines. Working with Common Cause and the League of Women Voters, Citizens for Election Integrity will bring their our experience and reputation for accuracy and transparency to observing the recount."

A non-partisan presence in the recount who the public can trust is essential to voter confidence in the outcome. "The League of Women Voters has been committed to maintaining the quality and integrity of Minnesota's elections since 1919," says League of Women Voters Executive Director Keesha Gaskins. "This recount has statewide and national significance. Our coalition volunteers are performing an essential non-partisan public service and they are committed to reporting their accurate and unbiased observations."

Mike Dean of Common Cause notes, "Citizens for Election Integrity, League of Women Voters, and Common Cause are uniquely positioned to observe the recount. Our hope is that the process is followed and if there are any issues we will work to improve them for future elections."

News Cut - Why don't some election judges know election law?

It's probably a thankless job, which is why I am always sure to thank the election judges in the precinct where I vote. Nevertheless, I'm struck today by how many people are working as election judges who don't know the election law, but aren't letting that stop them from offering an interpretation of it.

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Whistleblower - Poll flashpoint: Cedar-Riverside precinct in Minneapolis

Lawyers, poll watchers and journalists flocked to the Brian Coyle Community Center in Minneapolis’s Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. There, a spirited election challenger and high numbers of recent immigrants registering at the polls added up to some tense confrontations.

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News Cut - Same-day registration is saving voter rights in Minnesota

Occasionally, there are claims in Minnesota that same-day voter registration could lead to voter fraud. Today, it appears to be preventing fairly widespread voter disenfranchisement.

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MinnPost - Group helps students resolve precinct voting question over registration

Election Protection spokesman Mike Dean just issued a news release saying that student voters in Minneapolis had been turned away at the polls because rent statements from their student housing co-op were addressed to election officials rather than to the students.

The release says that Election Protection asked for, and received, a ruling from the secretary of state’s office clarifying that the co-op could issue corrected rent statements addressed to the students to use proof of residency.

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