Secretary of State Steve Simon says local law enforcement is looking into what he calls a widely discredited Florida-based political group who visited several polling places in Minneapolis impersonating Minnesota voters on primary election day.
Those involved posting videos of themselves using hidden cameras online.
Simon says the group dressed in what they called “Muslim” costumes, imitated foreign accents, and falsely claimed to be registered Minnesota voters. According to Simon, poll workers immediately reported these visits to local election officials and law enforcement is reviewing the situation.
He says they used concealed cameras to record their interactions with poll workers, releasing what he called a "heavily edited" video with the apparent goal of casting doubt on Minnesota election laws governing the legal vouching process.
Simon calls the group's behavior outrageous and totally unacceptable, saying their goal was to cast doubt on Minnesota's election process.
"Instead, they revealed their ignorance of how those laws actually work – while putting themselves in legal jeopardy," Simon adds.
The videos were posted by a conservative activist James O’Keefe, who said the they showed poll workers explaining Minnesota’s voter-vouching law.
"I told workers that the people accompanying me were unregistered and repeatedly pressed them about identification, how many people I could bring in, and what would be required for them to register," O'Keefe said in a long social media post. "Again and again, workers explained the vouching process to us."
According to Minnesota state law, a registered voter from your precinct can go with you to the polling place to sign an oath confirming your address. This is known as 'vouching.' A registered voter can vouch for up to eight voters. You cannot vouch for others if someone vouched for you.
In a statement posted to the Sec. of State's website, Simon explains this process has been used in Minnesota for over five decades, but says use of it is very rare. In the 2024 general election, less than 0.6% of votes cast used this process. Around 71% of those voters were already registered to vote but needed to update their name or address in their voter record.
"We have zero tolerance for lying, lawbreaking, and disruptions at our polling places," added Simon. "Voters deserve better, as do the tens of thousands of our neighbors and friends who serve as poll workers. Our aim, as always, is to ensure that our polling places are islands of calm. Minnesota laws are there to ensure that outcome.”
Under the law, the only persons eligible to vouch are voters registered in the same precinct as the person for whom they are vouching, or employees of authorized residential facilities who provide proof of their employment at the facility. Vouchers must sign an affidavit under penalty of perjury that they personally know the person being vouched for is a resident of the precinct.
Group dressed in what they called “Muslim” costumes, imitated foreign accents, and falsely claimed to be registered Minnesota voters
Group dressed in what they called “Muslim” costumes, imitated foreign accents, and falsely claimed to be registered Minnesota voters
