Isanti City Council unanimously approves canvass of municipal primary returns, discusses turnout

The Isanti City Council, meeting as its canvassing board, approved a resolution to canvas the municipal primary returns and accepted updated vote abstracts, the council’s presiding officer announced after a unanimous vote.

"That motion carries 5 0," the presiding officer said after the council voted to approve the canvass resolution. Council paperwork identifying the motion named Councilman Lundin as the mover and Councilman Heaman as the seconder. Staff told the council the resolution and the abstracts had been updated and placed in the meeting packet.

Council members discussed voter turnout following the approval. "So over 500 people showed up," said Unidentified Speaker 3 when describing ballots cast in the primary. Unidentified Speaker 2 said there are about 4,200 registered voters in the city and noted that primary turnout is typically lower than in general or federal elections; participants cited a turnout figure near 15%.

At the close of the meeting, a council member asked the mayor and council to remain briefly to sign the canvass abstracts. "After this, I will have each one of you sign this," said Unidentified Speaker 5, referring to the documents needed to finalize the canvass. The presiding officer then moved to adjourn; the motion to adjourn, recorded as moved by Councilman Lundin and seconded by Councilman Merrill, passed 5-0 and the meeting was adjourned.

The action taken was procedural: the council formally acknowledged and approved the canvass of primary returns and arranged for signatures on the canvass abstracts. No amendments, legal challenges, or additional directives were made during the session.