99.9999% Accuracy: Minnesota Secretary of State Addresses Midterm Election Concerns

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon sat across from two community organizers at SPNN’s studios on the west side of St. Paul on Oct. 15 to address growing anxiety among immigrant voters. The live event, hosted by Sahan Journal, focused on practical steps to protect ballots during the midterm election, which takes place in five days.

Simon, appearing alongside Habon Abdulle of Ayada Leads and Jose Alvillar of Unidos MN, sought to separate statistical reality from political rhetoric. He noted that the administration recently charged 10 Minnesotans with voting as non-citizens, including immigrants from Lithuania, Germany, Bosnia, Liberia, Canada, and Ghana. Simon calculated that even if all 10 are convicted, the error rate remains at 0.0001%, or four nines after the decimal point, among the 8.5 million votes cast in previous cycles.

“Our accuracy level and our honesty level is 99.9999%,” Simon said. “That’s four nines after the decimal point.” He emphasized that while federal authorities have filed legal challenges to mail voting and raised allegations of widespread fraud, the state’s procedures before, during, and after elections maintain a secure system.

The panel addressed specific fears regarding federal presence at polling sites. Simon confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement cannot be at polling places unless expressly invited by election judges. He explained that the Department of Justice has historically sent observers to monitor for discrimination under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. During the August primaries, Simon’s office monitored those federal observers, noting they generally stayed outside the 100-foot buffer zone.

Despite the presence of federal monitors, Alvillar advised constitutional observers to avoid standing at the polls. He warned that large gatherings with vests and whistles could be used to allege voter intimidation or ballot fraud. Instead, he suggested volunteers table 100 feet away to offer coffee and cookies, acting as greeters rather than protesters.

Abdulle urged voters to help neighbors who face language barriers or transportation difficulties, while advising them not to spread unverified information online. Both organizers pointed residents to mnvotes.gov for official guidance. Simon added that if voters witness interference, they should report it directly to the election judge or call the Secretary of State’s hotline at 877-600-VOTE.

The DOJ plans to dispatch 1,000 observers nationally for the midterms, with Minnesota included in the list. Simon stated that while federal agents could theoretically seize ballots with a specific court warrant based on concrete evidence, they cannot do so based on hearsay or dissatisfaction with the outcome. The full conversation will air on MPR News at 9:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, and 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1.