Gubernatorial candidates press for paper ballots, voter ID and tougher election oversight
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Summary
At a Beebe County Republicans forum, candidates broadly supported measures they said would restore trust in Minnesota elections — including paper ballots, voter ID, spot audits and increased recruitment of election judges — while differing on whether to pursue wholesale re-registration or narrow legal fixes.
At a candidate forum hosted by the Beebe County Republicans, gubernatorial hopefuls spent much of the opening portion pressing for changes they say would restore public trust in Minnesota elections. The moderator asked how to address concerns about voter rolls and election security, and several candidates proposed returning to paper ballots and requiring voter identification.
Candidates repeatedly called for measures they said would make results verifiable and reduce opportunities for fraud. "Well, first and foremost, I think we need to bring back paper ballots and voter ID," said Candidate (Speaker 7). Several others urged spot checks comparing paper ballots to electronic tabulations and stepped-up recruitment of election judges to provide bipartisan oversight at key precincts.
The debate ranged from targeted operational reforms to sweeping proposals. Candidate (Speaker 10) recommended proactive front-end audits and cybersecurity checks, saying election administrators should "spot check various ones of these districts" to compare electronic tallies with paper ballots. Candidate (Speaker 11) proposed a statewide re-registration of voters to remove incorrect entries from rolls and called for increased criminal penalties where cheating is found. Candidate (Speaker 8) framed some remedies as contingent on Republicans winning control of state government so they could pass legislation.
Not all agreed on scope or priority. Some speakers stressed that election administration is primarily a state responsibility and proposed strengthening state law and oversight; others emphasized organizing and turnout as prerequisites for legislative change. Multiple candidates referenced examples in other states and suggested finding models for paper-ballot precincts or expanded in-person oversight.
What happens next: the forum organizers said written versions of submitted questions and candidate replies will be posted on the hosting group's website, and attendees were invited to participate in a straw poll following the forum.