The Office of the Legislative Auditor's recent evaluation concluded Minnesota’s voter registration framework generally functions as intended, but county record-keeping and some procedures fell short of legal requirements, the report released Wednesday shows.
Overall compliance strong, but problems near elections
The summary examined new voter registration applications submitted in the summer and fall of 2024. Counties processed 96% of those new applications within the statutorily required time frames, the audit found. However, counties had difficulty handling applications received within 20 days of an election, a period that presents additional time pressure and legal constraints.
The report separates the technical operation of the Statewide Voter Registration System — maintained by the Secretary of State — from local responsibilities. Counties are charged with creating and maintaining individual voter records.
Identity and residency checks mostly accurate
Across the measures reviewed, counties followed identity verification procedures correctly for 99.9% of applicants and adhered to residency verification for 99%. But the audit identified weaknesses in how counties handled certain flagged records and manual reviews.
| Measure | County Performance |
|---|---|
| New applications processed on time | 96% |
| Identity verification followed | 99.9% |
| Residency verification followed | 99% |
| Required notices sent after removing incarceration/guardianship challenges | 84% |
| Manual residency reviews with inaccurate status or missing documentation | over one-third |
When the Secretary of State’s office flagged potential disqualifying conditions — such as incarceration — counties did not always update voter registration records as the law requires. The audit found counties sent the required notices within 10 days in 84% of cases where they removed an incarceration or guardianship challenge.
Reactions from state officials and county leaders
Reaction from Minnesota leaders was mixed. Some Republican officials criticized Secretary of State Steve Simon, saying inactive voters remained on rolls. Simon, however, characterized the evaluation as largely favorable to his office.
“the report found our office has established the appropriate procedures for counties and that counties have performed their work with a nearly perfect record of accuracy.”
Cory Kampf, president of the Minnesota Association of County Officers, said counties generally accept the recommendations but want additional context. Kampf noted that residency verification was followed in 99% of applications, emphasizing the strength of those procedures.
Why it matters
The findings matter for election integrity and voter access across Minnesota. With nearly 3.8 million registered voters as of January 2026, accurate county records are essential for administering elections, ensuring eligible voters can cast ballots and that ineligible registrants are addressed according to law. Shortcomings in documenting manual residency decisions and timely notice following challenged statuses could create legal vulnerabilities and public distrust, especially in close or contested elections.
The audit highlights where state and local election officials can improve coordination, record documentation and timeliness to reduce errors ahead of future election cycles.
- Counties processed the majority of new registrations on time but struggled close to election day.
- Identity and residency checks were highly accurate overall, yet manual reviews showed notable documentation gaps.
- Officials acknowledged findings and called for context or improvements to county practices.
