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Isanti canvassing board accepts returns from Aug. 12 special election
Summary
The Isanti City canvassing board met and accepted the returns from the Aug. 12, 2025 special election; staff reported 986 total votes, 50 absentee ballots and 11 write-ins and noted two minor incidents that were handled through the county and secretary of state.
The Isanti City canvassing board voted to accept the returns from the municipal special election held Aug. 12, 2025, after staff presented final totals and described minor election-day incidents. A staff member told the council the packet contains the full returns and that the canvass was carried out “in accordance with state law and city code.”
The staff member said the tabulation showed 50 absentee votes, 11 write-ins and a total of 986 votes. Chair said that total represents roughly 24% of the registered population and noted that turnout was about three times the usual rate for an off‑year special election. "So it's really awesome that the the city showed up to vote," the Chair said.
The staff member also reported two minor incidents: one voter wore a partisan shirt and was asked to turn it inside out without further issue; another voter photographed a marked ballot and the image appeared on Facebook. The staff member said the matter was reported to the county and to the secretary of state, and that those offices handled it through the proper channels.
A committee member moved to accept the canvass; the Chair recorded the motion as moved by Council member Lundin and seconded by Council member Peterson. The transcript records the motion outcome as "Motion carries 4 0." Immediately before the vote, a council member asked, "Am I supposed to abstain from that?" — a question that was raised on the record but not reflected as an abstention in the recorded outcome.
Earlier in the meeting the council voted to adopt the agenda; the transcript records that motion as "Motion carries 5 4 0," a notation that is unclear in meaning and appears inconsistent with later recorded 4‑0 tallies. The transcript also records that George Heeman was not present and had notified the council he could not attend.
With no further discussion, the council approved a motion to adjourn (moved by Council member Peterson, seconded by Council member Lindeen) and left the meeting.
The canvass and the council’s acceptance of the returns were the meeting’s only substantive items; packet materials reportedly contain the full vote-by-vote returns for the Aug. 12 special election.
