Staff photo by Fritz Busch New Ulm League of Women Voters President Ruth Ann Webster presents observations and analysis of Minnesota’s 2024 Post- Election Review to Brown County commissioners Tuesday.

NEW ULM — New Ulm League of Women Voters President Ruth Ann Webster told Brown County commissioners that an observation and analysis of the Minnesota 2024 election shows election counts were accurate.

“The public should have complete confidence in the way elections were handled in Brown County and Minnesota,” said Webster.

She said the election report was made by 160 Minnesota League of Women Voters trained volunteer League of Women Voters members who observed the election in 43 of 87 Minnesota counties.

“I know this group has genuine confidence in Brown County voting because you hire, supervise and train staff that does it, you purchase voting machines and the rest of the equipment,” said Webster. “Observers reported that each county conduct election review meetings in a transparent manner, and the hand counts matched machine tabulation with only a few exceptions.”

The post-election review process includes a canvassing board of review. Any discrepancies found are investigated for resolution. Precincts are randomly chosen for auditing. Ballots are hand-counted to verify machine accuracy.

Webster said a Redwood County observer said the election administrator “did everything by the book” and in Sibley County, “she felt every more welcomed and gratified by the whole experience.”

She said election certification challenges made in Scott and Sherburne counties included substantive questions about vote counting and reporting processes.

“Both counties conducted transparent recounts with party-balanced election judges and observers to assure result accuracy,” said Webster.

In Scott County, 22 absentee ballots were inadvertently thrown out before being thrown out before being counted by the absentee ballot board in Shakopee. The discarded ballots would not have changed the election outcome, according to the report.

Motivated by the Shakopee experience, the 2025 legislature enacted election certification process laws to help prevent and correct errors from happening.

“We hope that this report can dispel any election misinformation and reinforce confidence that Minnesota’s elections are transparent and accurate,” read the League of Women Voters report.

Webster said Brown County election officials including election judges pick two precincts and do hand count votes and compare that to machine counts.

“Observers can watch these vote counts. Voting machines are tested before elections. The public should have complete trust and confidence that elections are handled fairly in Brown County and the State of Minnesota,” she said.

“Election rules need constant attention as people move around,” said Commissioner Tony Berg.

Commissioner Dave Borchert said he thinks its important to show that elections are fair.

“You and League of Women Voters do a fantastic job with elections, who is running and how they are run,” said Commissioner Scott Windschitl.

Commissioner Brian Braun thanked Webster and the League of Women Voters for their work to ensure election accuracy.

For more election report information, visit lwvmn.org/per.