Continue Discussion regarding a resolution requesting additional precincts for the 2024 Post-Election Review

This is a follow-up case to discuss additional information regarding requesting additional precincts for the 2024 Post-Election Review.     

Background: The Anoka County Elections Integrity Team presented at the April 23, 2024, work session. The packet they provided is included in the attachments. Council met to Discuss Resolution for Post Election Review and Paper Rosters brought forward by Councilmembers Musgrove and Howell at the May 14, 2024, work session.

Based on the discussion at the May 14, 2024, work session, Council directed staff to draft a resolution requesting a Post-Election review for six of our precincts, with the review to include every race on the ballot. That would entail hand counting/auditing 36 races based on the 2022 general election ballot. The first attached spreadsheet shows the estimated cost to have two election judges perform a PER for all races (36) based on the number of 2020 ballots cast. The second spreadsheet includes auditing all races except judicial offices. The estimates are based on how long it took two judges to hand count three races during the 2022 Post-Election review. The draft resolution is currently written to exclude all judicial offices and those that only have one candidate. That would significantly decrease the cost and number of ballots to hand count.

To perform a PER, each race is counted separately. For example, in 2022, when Ward 1 Precinct 2 took part in the PER - there were 1,371 ballots cast, in order to audit the three races, two judges hand counted at least 4,113 ballots that day. That estimate does not account for any piles that needed to be recounted. If that same precinct had every race audited, they would have counted at least 49,356 ballots to complete auditing 36 races. A copy of the 2022 Post-Election review procedures is attached to illustrate the process.  

Post-Election Review (PER):
Minnesota Statute 206.89 gives the authority of the Post-Election Review Official to the Anoka County Auditor. The County shared that the idea of expanding the PER to more precincts and races is the subject of conversations that are currently being held at the County. They will be in touch when a decision has been made. During the 2022 Post-Election Review, the County increased the number of precincts to hand count. The Statute required four precincts, and they decided to increase that to six precincts to hand count. They also added another race to hand count - the precincts that took part in the 2022 PER also audited the Secretary of State race. 

To view the Statewide results from the 2020 and 2022 Post-Election Review, please visit this link: Minnesota Secretary Of State - Post-election reviews. The Ramsey results are on pages 8-9 of the 2022 Post-Election Review Results (PDF). The Director of Elections for the State of Minnesota, David Maeda, presented to the Sherburne County Board of Commissions on July 12, 2022, the portion discussing the Post-Election review is from 1:00:56-1:05:16, visit this link to view the meeting: 07/12/2022 Sherburne County Board Meeting - YouTube.  

20 minutes

Brian Hagen, City Administrator
Katie Schmidt, City Clerk 

Receive direction on how to proceed.