Minnesota Secretary of State Simon visits Austin – Austin Daily Herald

As a part of a six cease tour of the first District Tuesday, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon got here to Austin to speak with election and metropolis officers.

The tour was a part of the district’s particular main to chop down the candidates for the seat left vacant by Rep. Jim Hagedorn, who died early this yr after a battle with most cancers.

“I strive, if I can, to cease by and thank the election judges,” Simon mentioned Tuesday on the underside ground of Metropolis Corridor as voters walked out and in. “There’s simply numerous shifting components.”

Throughout each election, Simon mentioned he tries to make stops all through the state simply to be on the bottom ground of the method.

He mentioned stops like Tuesday’s are vital to gauge how successfully issues are operating.

“I can have a Zoom name, I can trade an e-mail or cellphone calls, however till you’re there and also you see the constructing the place the voting takes place, you may’t perceive the challenges individuals discuss,” Simon mentioned. “Whether or not it’s house issues, whether or not it’s air flow, whether or not it’s tools points, whether or not it’s public entry points. There’s no substitute for in-person. No substitute.”

Nonetheless, one more reason Simon tries to make stops at polling locations is to shine a lightweight on the system and reassure the general public how nicely Minnesota’s system works.

The storm of stolen election accusations after the 2020 election put a highlight on the method as a complete and left many to defend the voting course of.

“For instance, simply being right here and being within the different locations I’ve stopped does shine a lightweight; it attracts consideration to an excellent system, the trustworthy system as it’s,” Simon burdened.

All through the nation Within the days following the 2020 election, accusations additionally began circulating that the machines themselves had been fastened and that in some instances they had been altering votes or individuals had been by some means manipulating the outcomes.

Nonetheless, Simon pointed to Minnesota regulation that requires these in possession of voting machines, whether or not that could be a metropolis, county or township, are required to check the machines within the two weeks earlier than every election.

What’s extra is that the general public is allowed to witness these exams.

“Any individual off the road — you don’t must be a giant shot or VIP or something,” mentioned Simon. “Come proper off the road and watch them kick the tires of the election tools.”

Above all, nevertheless, excursions like Tuesday’s permits Simon to go to with the individuals who make the elections work and to see the voter turnout in individual, which in flip helps display one of many nation’s strongest voting programs.

“Individuals have religion and confidence,” Simon mentioned. “We wouldn’t be No. 1 in America in voter turnout at virtually 80% turnout, which is totally sky excessive; that wouldn’t occur until individuals thought the system was essentially flawed.”

Whereas it’s exhausting to find out precisely how election day was fairing all through the district, Simon mentioned that what he’s seen has been very optimistic.

“I at all times ask the election judges, as a result of they at all times have their finger on the heart beat and it will depend on the place you’re,” Simon mentioned. “Some individuals say, ‘nicely we normally get a morning rush or we normally get a night rush.’ So it’s exhausting to speak about turnout, however by way of simply the logistics, issues are going easily. No glitches thus far. No disruptions within the polling place, which is sweet. Regular turnout.”