The integrity of the election process has been called into question following the emergence of a disconcerting photograph on social media.
The image depicts a vehicle brimming with absentee ballots, left unsecured and unattended in a public parking lot adjacent to Edina City Hall.
The Senate District 50 Republicans of Minnesota, who represent the citizens of Edina and Bloomington, brought this unsettling image to light via their official X account, inciting a wave of indignation among local inhabitants and election watchdogs. As reported by Gateway Pundit, the incriminating photograph displays boxes of ballots, bound with blue and red straps, inside an unlocked vehicle with its hatchback fully ajar.
The Senate District 50 Republicans, also known as SD50MNGOP, highlighted the incident with a post that read, Do these ballots look secure to you? Photo outside Edina City Hall. They further noted, Witness watched as the driver left the vehicle to go inside to get more boxes, leaving the vehicle open and unattended.
In response to the uproar, the city of Edina swiftly claimed that the vehicle belonged to a Hennepin County courier, whose job was to collect absentee ballots from various cities. Hennepin County Auditor Daniel Rogan assured that all the transferred ballots were accounted for and securely sealed both prior to and following the transfer.
Jennifer, the citys communications officer, clarified, The vehicle pictured is a Hennepin County courier that came to pick up Edinas absentee ballots this morning. Inside his vehicle are ballots that he picked up from other cities before coming to Edina. She further quoted Daniel Rogan, stating, All transfer cases were received in sealed condition, and all expected ballots are accounted for by Hennepin County.
However, these assurances did little to quell the concerns of many, including State Representative Harry Niska, who expressed, This is extremely concerning. Others online echoed these sentiments, with one commenter stating, You lost the chain of custody, and another demanding specifics: Can you confirm the courier company, the number of drivers, and how you know those ballots are from other cities?
In an attempt to provide further clarity, the city released surveillance footage from the parking lot, asserting that it demonstrated the ballots were not tampered with while left unattended. The city explained, This was a Hennepin County courier. I am not aware of the company name. The surveillance footage from the parking lot shows one person exit the vehicle and then return with Edinas ballot transfer cases on a dolly.
Despite these reassurances, the incident had already inflicted significant damage on public trust. It raised serious concerns about the security of absentee ballots in Edina, a sentiment that was not easily assuaged.
In response to the public outcry, Hennepin County officials have pledged to reassess their protocols and bolster security measures. They issued a statement on October 18, confirming that a Hennepin County courier vehicle was photographed at Edina City Hall during a ballot transfer pick-up. The photograph showed the vehicles rear door open with ballot transfer cases inside.
The county assured that all expected ballots had been accounted for and found no evidence of tampering with sealed transfer cases. This was confirmed by comparing the ballots received from the courier with the record in the Statewide Voter Registration System for all absentee ballots accepted by cities.
Hennepin County Auditor Daniel Rogan emphasized, Election security is of utmost importance, and Hennepin County will reinforce its transfer protocols with all county staff and vendors. An incident like this underscores the value of strong chain-of-custody processes, so that risk can be addressed and integrity can be verified.
While the county's response may provide some reassurance, it is clear that this incident has struck a blow to public confidence in the election process. It underscores the importance of stringent security measures and the need for transparency in the handling of absentee ballots. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential vulnerabilities in our election system and the need for vigilance in ensuring the integrity of the democratic process.
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