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Isanti City canvassing board affirms Nov. 5 returns after debate over early‑voting incidents
Summary
After discussion prompted by an election judge’s report of three incidents where early voters were not marked as absentee on local rosters, the Isanti City Canvassing Board approved a resolution certifying Nov. 5, 2024, election returns by a 2‑1 vote; members urged use of county and statutory channels to investigate specific incidents.
The Isanti City Canvassing Board voted 2‑1 on Nov. 11 to approve a resolution certifying the municipal general and special election returns from Nov. 5, 2024, after debate over reports of problems with early‑voting records.
An election judge’s written statement, read aloud by Speaker 2 during public comment, described three instances in which voters who said they had voted early did not appear on the city’s roster as absentee voters. “Every voter should feel like their vote counts,” Speaker 2 said while asking the board to obtain more information from the county and to consider tabling the canvass until the scope of the errors was clarified.
The board’s presiding official (Speaker 1) said the meeting’s formal role was to verify that the tally tape and ballots matched the abstract figures transmitted to the Secretary of State and that the board did not have authority to investigate individual allegations of voter fraud. Speaker 1 encouraged anyone with specific allegations to pursue the statutory petition process in district court.
Speaker 4, who reported on the county meeting, said the county auditor had told officials there were “no major incidents” and that auditors had checked for duplicate votes. Speaker 4 also described statutory options for challenges and recourse, citing Minnesota Statute 204B.44 (errors and omissions and remedy) and noting that, if the council declined to approve the canvass, a city‑funded recount or a petition to a judge are possible steps.
After members debated whether to delay the canvass to await a written county response and whether a recount would be useful, Speaker 1 moved again to approve the canvass resolution and Speaker 3 seconded. The board recorded two votes in favor and one opposed and declared the resolution approved.
Board members said they want better clarity from county election officials about the incidents Speaker 2 reported and discussed convening or coordinating meetings closer to the county’s canvass in future cycles so local officials can review county procedures more promptly. No formal recount or petition was filed during the meeting.
The board adjourned immediately after the vote.
