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League of Women Voters observers find Hennepin County post‑election review met statutory accuracy standards
Summary
League of Women Voters observers reported that the 2024 Minnesota post‑election review in Hennepin County found a 0.03% difference between hand counts and machine tabulation (seven ballots), within statutory tolerances. Observers said the process was transparent, professionally run and free of outside disruptions.
The League of Women Voters reported to the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 14 that observers’ hand counts of randomly selected precincts in the 2024 post‑election review matched machine tabulations within statutory limits.
At a presentation arranged by Commissioner Debbie Gautel, Judy Zonbecker of the League of Women Voters of Minneapolis said League volunteers observed the hand counts in 12 precincts in Hennepin County. Observers compared 23,391 hand‑counted ballots with 23,398 machine‑tabulated ballots across the president/vice‑president, U.S. Senate and U.S. House races, a difference of seven ballots (about 0.03%), which Zonbecker said met the post‑election review guidelines.
The League’s observers described the process as transparent and professional. Zonbecker said deputy election officials hand‑count ballots at a central location, including absentee and election‑day ballots for the selected precincts, then compare those counts to the ballot‑counting machines; any discrepancies are investigated and then reported to the state board of canvassers. She also noted the state law that mandates post‑election reviews for statewide elections and said the League observed procedures consistent with Secretary of State guidance.
Board members thanked the League for the work and stressed the importance of verifying close counts. Commissioner Kevin Anderson noted how a few votes can decide local races; Chair Irene Fernando and others praised election workers and volunteers for building public confidence.
The League said it observed post‑election review procedures in 43 Minnesota counties in 2024 and stressed that the audit process both verifies machine accuracy and can inform statutory improvements. The presentation noted two counties (Scott and Sherburne) had discrepancies that led to recounts and follow‑up actions in 2024, underscoring the role of the review in identifying and correcting errors.
Observers reported no outside disruptions and said county staff were open to questions and explanation during the review, which the League said supports public confidence in election certification.
