Ballots 'found' in Baldwin, flipping election
What kind of audit can be done to discover an explanation for these late ballots and to verify their origin, legitimacy, and legality?
Late ballots change outcome of a city council election in Sherburne County, but where the ballots have come from is unclear
Towns usually have March elections, but Baldwin is becoming a City, therefore it had elections for all 5 City Council seats (including Mayor), across 3 separate elections, all held on Nov 5, 2024:
1 election for mayor, which is ONE (1) city council seat
1 election for TWO (2) city council seats expiring 2026 (6 people ran for 2 seats)
1 election for TWO (2) city council seats expiring 2028 (5 people ran for 2 seats)
These results are on paper because they are not posted on the MNSOS website... the updated version can be found on the county site.
Where did these ballots come from?
According to County Administrator Bruce Messelt, the County will pay for a recount in this situation, but once again, where did this ballots come from? (A recount will just recount them, serving no purpose.)
Secondly, why is the County Administrator involved here instead of the unelected (appointed) County Auditor, Loraine Rupp, who recently sent an email to cities and towns saying that she is the authority over elections?
What kind of audit can be done to discover an explanation for these late ballots and to verify their origin, legitimacy, and legality?
At minimum, both of Baldwin's townships (for ALL down ballot races) should be included in the Post Election Review hand count audit that is statutory under Minn Stat §206.89 where the County Canvassing Board (during certification meeting) can decide how many precincts will be audited. Or, above and beyond this remedy, the county could perform its own audit on top of minimum standards set out in very weak Minnesota election codes.
These late ballots also affect other races here.
To ensure this does not happen in your city or town, city councils and town supervisors may take action to request additional hand counts be done by the county during the Post Election Review hand count or ask for deeper forensic audits of equipment, electronics, and systems such as the election management system, the statewide voter registration system, or electronic poll pads.
