Do the Dead Vote in Minnesota?
Voter History Records Show Deceased People Voted in 2008 Election
Today Minnesota Majority announced the discovery of individuals who were deceased prior to November 4, 2008 who have shown-up on voter history records as having voted in the 2008 general election.
Minnesota Majority employed a data enhancement service to flag potentially deceased individuals on Minnesota’s voter registration file. Over 2,800 individuals who voted in the 2008 general election were flagged as being “deceased”. Minnesota Majority then selected a sample of a dozen records for additional investigation. A representative drove to addresses listed on voter registration records. Interviews conducted with residents or neighbors confirmed that at least 5 individuals were deceased, the latest having died in March 2007.
The Minnesota secretary of state’s office has tried to explain the findings were due to data entry errors on the part of election workers.
“The first problem with their explanation is that there should not even be deceased individuals on the voter rolls”, said Jeff Davis, president of Minnesota Majority. Minnesota statute 201.13 says that the commissioner of health is to provide the secretary of state with a monthly report of residents who have died. The secretary of state is then responsible for working with county auditors to update voter registration records to flag the records of deceased individuals.
“The second problem with the secretary of state’s explanation is that it basically acknowledges the lack of controls in the way in which voter history updates are being captured and recorded,” said Davis. “If the proper controls had been in place, this situation would not have occurred.”
Minnesota Majority originally notified Secretary of State Mark Ritchie that deceased individuals were likely present on the voter registration file in a letter dated October 16, 2008. “Even having been notified of this problem in advance of the election, the secretary obviously failed to take corrective action,” said Davis. “Bottom line, election officials have failed to obey the law, thus making our election system vulnerable to errors and abuse.”
As to the question of whether dead people actually may have voted in the past election, Minnesota Majority says this question must still be answered. “There are still 2800 records that need to be reviewed,” said Davis.
Minnesota Majority renewed its call for a formal investigation into Minnesota’s elections. An 18-month investigation conducted by a joint task force consisting of the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local law officials in Wisconsin revealed problems strikingly similar to what Minnesota Majority says it is finding in Minnesota’s election system.
PRESS RELEASE: Wednesday, June 3, 2009, from Minnesota Majority
Today Minnesota Majority announced the discovery of individuals who were deceased prior to November 4, 2008 who have shown-up on voter history records as having voted in the 2008 general election.
Minnesota Majority employed a data enhancement service to flag potentially deceased individuals on Minnesota’s voter registration file. Over 2,800 individuals who voted in the 2008 general election were flagged as being “deceased”. Minnesota Majority then selected a sample of a dozen records for additional investigation. A representative drove to addresses listed on voter registration records. Interviews conducted with residents or neighbors confirmed that at least 5 individuals were deceased, the latest having died in March 2007.
The Minnesota secretary of state’s office has tried to explain the findings were due to data entry errors on the part of election workers.
“The first problem with their explanation is that there should not even be deceased individuals on the voter rolls”, said Jeff Davis, president of Minnesota Majority. Minnesota statute 201.13 says that the commissioner of health is to provide the secretary of state with a monthly report of residents who have died. The secretary of state is then responsible for working with county auditors to update voter registration records to flag the records of deceased individuals.
“The second problem with the secretary of state’s explanation is that it basically acknowledges the lack of controls in the way in which voter history updates are being captured and recorded,” said Davis. “If the proper controls had been in place, this situation would not have occurred.”
Minnesota Majority originally notified Secretary of State Mark Ritchie that deceased individuals were likely present on the voter registration file in a letter dated October 16, 2008. “Even having been notified of this problem in advance of the election, the secretary obviously failed to take corrective action,” said Davis. “Bottom line, election officials have failed to obey the law, thus making our election system vulnerable to errors and abuse.”
As to the question of whether dead people actually may have voted in the past election, Minnesota Majority says this question must still be answered. “There are still 2800 records that need to be reviewed,” said Davis.
Minnesota Majority renewed its call for a formal investigation into Minnesota’s elections. An 18-month investigation conducted by a joint task force consisting of the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local law officials in Wisconsin revealed problems strikingly similar to what Minnesota Majority says it is finding in Minnesota’s election system.
PRESS RELEASE: Wednesday, June 3, 2009, from Minnesota Majority
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